The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-01-23

T7'
Z By de 81 o. February II, 1859. thu
Stafe uncondition&I1y assumed thes<
! claims Of her citizens 70 m amount moi
. exceeding 600 900. This was not done
. until after 81, 1851 Of said claims had
, been passed upon and allowed by it,
lduly constituted agents /; and can see
lno reason why III of the @6l ,22l 50 al.
. lowed BY the Commission created by
. the oct Of February II, 1859, as well a.
the small amounts subsequently allowed
. under the act of 1873, are not as Just
and the holders thereof in excess of the
$500 900 assumed by the State in equity
. equally entitled to be paid.
/ can make no Recommendation that,
, | If adopted by the Legislature, would in
my judgment reflect more credit upon
. the State. and mete out greater Justice
, 10 the citizens directly interested in this
. matter. than to ask that committee be
appointed to ascertain, as near as posi-
bic, the amount Of scrip connected with
this matter yet outstanding and unpaid:
and the adoption of such measures. dur
ing the present session. as will provide
the necessary means for the prompt
payment Of whatever balance NAV be so
ascertained, remembering that nothing
inspires greater confidence in. respect
for, and devotion to the State, than the
prompt discharge of every just obliga-
ton to its citizens.
There are about 2 800 miles of railroad
in operation in tho State of Kansas, the
assessed value of which. as shown by
the report of the Auditor of State, is
S15.525. O33.25. While it is true that
these railroads have contributed largely
to the wealth, prosperity, ard progress of
our State, it Is also equally true that not
only our people but the State andG enerai
Governm mt have contributed liberal Y
toward their construction and support.
The railway corporations of Kansas
derive their powers from, and the
capital invested therein is entitled to
and receives protection at the hands
of the State. Their income arising from
earnings is derived mainly from the
patronage Of the people of Kansas. and
the people, in return, have the s;riction.
and regulations touching fares and
freights be imposed as will fully protect
their interests, and at the same time do
no injustice to the corporations.
Our present law in my judgment. is
wholly inadequate. Section Sc, of chap
ter %, ofthe General Statutes of Kan
sas, prohibits railway corporations from
charging over six cents per mile for
transporting passengers. Such limit
alton affords no just protection to tn,
travelling public. Nor is it practical,
any restriction on the corporation. for
but few if any railroads in this country
now charge six cents per mile, even
where there is no limitation. Sections
81, So and SO, Of same chapter, relating
10 the classification of and charges for
carrying freight, and less restrictive. il
possible. than said section 81. Besides
these sections the classification of being
left entirely at the discretion of the |
railroad companies the restrictions ana |
limitations therein attempted to be i'm |
posed are Ineffective.
therefore suggest that such law be
so amended as to clearly define the lin |
itations, restrictions and regulations re-
lating to charges for fares and frcights.
and that such limitations, restrictions |
and regulations be made to do as nearly |
as possible equal justice to the railroads |
and the people, and thus have the rights
of both parties touching this question
definitely settled.
The subject Of temperance, in relation
to the use of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage, has occupied the attention OF
the people of Kansas to such an extent
that deem it my duty to call your at
tention to some of its evils, and suggest.
if possible, remedy therefor. Much
has been said Of late years about hard
times and extravagant and useless ex-
penditures OF money; and in this con-
nectiOn desire to call your attention to
the fact that here in Kansas, where our
people are at least as sober and as tenn
perate rs are found in any of the States
Of the West, the money spent annual,
for Intoxicating liquors would defra,
the entire expenses of the State govern
ment. including the maintenance of al
its charitable institution. Agriculture,
College, Normal School. State Universe
;y and Penitentiary-and all for some
thing that, instead of making mankind
nobler, purer and better, has not only
left its dark trail Of misery, poverty ano
crime. but its direct effects. as shown BY
The official report, has supplied our
State prison with one hundred and five
IF its present inmates.
Could we but dry up this one great
Evil that consumes annually so m,Icl
wealth. and destroys the physical. mora
md mental usefulness of its victims, W,
would hardly need prisons, poorhousee
md police.
fully realize that il is easier to talk
bout the evil flowing from the use III
oxicating liquors as a beverage than il
5 to provide remedy for them. If il
Ould be fully accomplished, | am clearly
If the opinion that no greater blessing
ould be conferred by YOU upon tn 4
PEOPLE of this State than to absolutely
nd forever prohibit the manufacture
and sale of intoxicatine
liquors as a beverage. But many peopl.
INSIST that prohibitory law could NOT.
= at least would not be enforced. ana
hat any law that cannot be or is moi
is worse than no law at ALL
/ have too much faith in the people OF
KANSAS to believe that any law intended
D, and the effect of which would be to
romate the more physical and mental
of mankind, would not be
igidly enforced by her citizens.
Yet, desiring the passage of no law in
elation to the enforcement of which
lere could be a doubt, and with
lew of the adoption of such meas
res only rs will be backed up and
nforccd by the moral sentiment of our
eoplc, | respectfully call your attention
, the first section of what is commoni, ,
nown as the dramshop act, which. q
lads as follows:
Before dramshop license. tavern
cense, or grocery license shall be gran
d to anyone applying for the same.
lch person, if applying for a township
cense. shall present TO the tribunal
county business petition
: recommendation signed by maiori- =.
of the residents of the township, OF II
wears of age and over. both
ale and female, in which such dram
op, grocery or tavern is TO be kept:l
: if the same is 10 be kept in any in
rporafed city or town, then to the
ity Council thereof. a petition signed
majority of the residents of the
ard. of twenty one years Of age. both
ale and female, in which such dram
OPP. grocery or tavern is to kept. rec
such a person "a n tit person
keep the same, and requesting that
ense be granted to him for such pur-
Sc: provided. that the corporate
of cities of the first and sec
ID class may by ordinance dispense
III the petition mentioned in this
ction." And earnestly recommend
ut said section be amended by striking
t the proviso therein contained. and
luiring the person desiring such
onse 10 publish his petition. with the
mes of the signers thereto. in some
wspaper printed and of general cireu-