The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-09-24
Legislation of the Suecial Session

FIon the Commonwealth
The extraordinary sassicn If the Legisla.
tue il now ID ut at az end, and we are
glad TO lie able 10 compliment the body now
making Its lat appearance, on lis wisdom
moderation and good deecs. l, has not
confiatd it-elf strictly o relief legislation,
but ii has, in departing from this intention,
acc Jmplisisd 4 work ior the peo,l lie that is
aLce TO tie Sac than the relief bill, TO wit !:
the DILL relating u connfy treasnrers; whose
intent may be gathered from its title:
An act to provide for the publication Of state
menis showing the condition of the cGua Y treas
uries and examination of the same, and to prevent
the improper use Of public mencys and the punish
ment thereof:
The bill is carefully drawn and renders il
next TO impose lille for fraud 10 Occur in the
control and custody Of our public trearuriee.
The name Of every man, both in the s, nate
and House. is recorded as voting in its Ia
vor. A piece of Legislation like tbi, could
with difficulty he accomplished at a regular
session, and for various reasons. A large
Lobby Of county treasurers with bankers at
their backs would oppose it in the first place,
and every member would be 40 engrossed
with pet measures az TO he ecsily diverted
from Az enactment, even 40 wise and neces-
s,ry az this, if it should seem 10 eudanger
hi, own little bill. They We're given TO I'M
derstsnd by the lr.s' ard fy the Cove rnOr
in his message that they were expected to
confne themselves strictly 10 the interests
of the people generally. and in
the p sssge OF This dill they have &C
compiished something that will not only
reconcile the people 10 the slight outlay
for this special session, but in the lorg run
repay the STATE the cost of thousand such
special ses-ioLs as this. Experience has
lately demonstrated that the code of GRIM
inal procedure is very detective on the
point Of dsfaulting or embezzline treasurer.
A defective law has also developed in near
~ every commun ~ an unspsakably perni-
cious class called ''scrip scalp,is" who, in
COLLISION with the tressurers, drive thriv-
ing trade of the nect s,ilies Ct the straight
ened but honest creditors Of the county.
The Office being political, the treasurer is
bound t. vassalage verging on criminal, to
certain INSCRIPTIONS Spectators before he
can get his office, and it is only by accident,
often; that he e.cspes becoming q defaulier,
or, as it IS d. fined under the new Law, an
embezzer OF the public moneys. Treasures
payable for lack of funds, without s1bjecting
themselves to an examination and letting
the people know the reason why. County
means and on their salaries. for they
public money with some bank,
without running narrow risk
of the peniten,iary. l, will be too danger.
.,,,,,o G.. .yan sha moot so
play. Neither can they reward a past
little lean from the proceeds Of the poo
manager. In a word, the occupation OF
and in its place is hard ta,k fairly but
tire surer must live, with the alternative OF
recurring 10 the old pract ces and going to
prison. The lav is a good one. and of it.
the action, and safety-for the charge Of the
there should be q universal outcry raised BY
the press and the people against the first
man who shouln attempt t. alter or repeal
the law.
The other relief legislation for the Law We
nave JUST Uccu COuA1cuuhS vi 40 AZ shS AA1oos
| imporian; aud practical sense, a measure OF
relief for the whole people-enacted, con-
sists of two Laws. The first provides for the
,s-ue BY the STATE Of So, coo in bonds to be
sold at not les, than ninety five cents on the
dollar; to be used in purchasing the bonds
of certain counties mentioned in the bill,
being the counties that are admittedly unable
to provide for their own destitute at a SINH
lar price. The other is q general ensc.-
ment and provides that every county in the
state, for the specific purpose Of relieving
its destitute, shall be authorized to vote
bonds to the amount Of one half OF one per
cent. of its assessed valuation, with the re-
quirement Of a t&o-thirds vote to carry the
proposition. Both bills are circumsp city
drawn and carefully guarded, and We can
not zee how there n be sny possible abuse
under them though the relief sought is gran.
ted under bo,h