The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-06-14
A Game to Defeat the Popular Will.

We have heard repeated rumors for
the past ten days or two weeks that a
strong pressure is to be brought to bear
upon the Governor to induce him to
call an extra session of the Legislature
next winter. We do not know what
pretext is to be made the occasion for
this, but something will undoubtedly
be cooked up for the purpose.
Now, if there is any one subject up
on which the people of our State are
well nigh unanimous it is that of BIZ
ennial sessions of the Legislature. 1t
was in obedience to an imperative de-
mand expressed in the resolves of
county conventions, instructions to
legislative candidates, and the we'll
nigh unanimous voice Of the press,
that the amendment of the constitu-
ton providing for biennial sessions of
the Legislature was submitted to the
people by the Legislature elected in
1874. The vote of the people, despite
the carping of. hair-splitting pettifog
gers, was oyerwhelmingingly in favor
of the amendment. The supplement-
airy amendments to complete the sys-
tenn were almost unanimously adopted
last fall. The Legislature at its last
session made the necessary appropria-
tions for carrying on the government
for two years. The system is just be-
ing fairly tried. To now step in and
thwart the popular will, so repeatedly
and Enthusiastically expressed, by call
ing the Legislature together in extra
session, next winter, would be an as
sumption of power and an act of bad
faith which we shall not believe Gov
Geo. L. Anthony will perpetrate, until
we are compelled to.
1t is but right that the new system
should have full and fair trial. If it
should be found to work badly let the
amendment be repealed, as they were
adopted, by popular vote, but do not
let the system be straDgled by indirec-
ton and broken down through in
trigue. Politicians may rest assured
that the people will be heard from in
the matter, and that no petty device
or smart dodge will avail to excuse the
palpabIe disregard of the popular will
that would be SHOWN in calling an ex-
ira session of the Legislature.-Latc-
renee Journal.
We heartily endorse all that the |
Journal says on this subject. We be- |
lieve that ninety-nine out of every |
hundred of the people of Kansas
would, if consulted, say they did not |
not want session of the Legislature
next winter. There is nothing in the
condition of our State that would JUS
tify a call for an extra session. 1t
would cost the people from $4,000 to
$4,000, without any compensating
benefits. The last session was barren
Of important results. We can afford
to wait a year longer for such amend
ments TO the laws as the Committee on
Revision reports, and meantime we
can gee along very we'll with the laws
now in force. In brief, there is not
The shadow of an excuse for converting
Ill extra session Of the Legislature, and
we cannot believe that Gov. Anthony
mas ever seriously contemplated such
action.
Let the new system have q fair trial.
The people almost unanimously de-
handed and voted for biennial sessions
The Governor in the face of this clear
y expressed, overwhelming public sem
iment, cannot afford to at once over
urn their action by calling all extra
session of the Legislature. The issu-
lnce of such call would be virtual
restoration of the old system of annu-
Il sessions, in square defiance of the
ormal declaration of the people that
hey did not desire yearly assembling
# the Legislature. There is no public
lece ssity for an extra session. There
S not the shadow of an excuse for such
meeting. The people of the State
would almost unanimously denounce
my action looking to a rs-assembling
# the Legislature this winter.-Atch.
son Champion.