The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-02-17
J. JAY Buck, Secret;
A Very Mean Act.

State Of Kansas did a contcmptibly
mean thing last Friday, which was
nothing less than piece of downright
robbery. 1t cut down one-half the
amount Of the respective bills of the
newspapers FOR publishing the pro-
posed constitutional amendments. As
there are only half dozen dailies in
the State, the action was direct drive
at the country weeklies. We all pub
lishcd the matter in good faith, at the
price fixed by law as designated by the
Secretary OF State. The publication
was made, too, in pursuance of pro-
vision of the constitution and by di-
reclion OF the Legislature. The pa
pers are just as much entitled to their
pay as the legislator is to his per diem.
The man who stops you in dark mie hi
and tells you to stand aud deliver is
called a highway-man, and he who robs
you by "A legal process, Shylock. The
House. that by its vote, delrauded the
newspaper men of $S4 each, is more
contempiibly mean than either. Ii
not only betrays trust, abuses delegai-
ed power, but snaiches the hard-earned
bread of the printer from his mouth
simply because he has no appeal and
can't help himself. We haven't seen a
copy of the rolI-caIl, and don't know
who voted aye or no, but such fragrant
injustice and abuse Of power can no,
be excused. Out upon that man or
body that takes advantage of power
to defraud others.
But for the newspapers, ninc-tenths
of the men who compose that body
would be unknown, and We have not
the least doubt that large majority
of the House yet owes the printer for
the tickets that elected them. The
greater number Of printers in Kansas
have for years been devoting their time
10 the development of the State; starry
ing, skrimping and doing out an exist
ence, hoping for the day when the
wealth and prosperity of lis people
would insure them comfortable liv-
ing. No set of men, not all the other
men in the State combined, have done
so much for Kansas as her newspaper
press, vet we find after twenty years
work, on this the anniversary year of
American liberty, at the very noon
time of American progress, body of
Iiio;;, who, claiming TO represent the
great and enlightened people of glori-
Gus young Kansas, drawing their three
dollars a day ana mileage, and who,
ashamed of the time aud money that
they have squandcred, now at the end
Of forty days, acting upon the brilliant
coup detat of making up their loss to
the people by forcibly retaining hard
earned money already over due, TO re-
plenish the treasury. We have the
spectacle of law-making body stand
ing around in lis ignorance of what to
do, its members cursing the daily pa
pcrs for not correctly reporting their
imbecile proceedings'at cost of hun
dreds of dollars per week, and at the
SAME time refusing 10 contribute a
cent towards the expense, or so much
as take the papers after they are print
ed. And all this, as also the cheating
of the printer, in the name of econo-
my.
Ohe hundred years ago there was a
great Nation born, with the grandest
I'd best Government that ever blessed
the human race. This same Legisla-
ture refuses to contribute a cent in
commemoration of that event. If the
Almighty should, in his love for hui
maniiy and for the teaching of the ma
tions, conclude on the next Fourth of
July 10 endorse this Government by
stretching across the heavens spread
eagle surrounded by American flags
and the stars of the armament, this
Kansas House Of Repi esentatives
would memorable Congress to make
a charge for the exhibition.
We started ont 10 say that the House
did very small thing in attempting
to beat the printers out of their money.
but we find that we can't do the sub
ject justice. Our only hope is that the
Senate may do what is right as between
man and man and force the House to
the same righteous course.