The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-02-20
The Adoption of The Substitute to
'dr. Leg.ts's MoIiCn, an
Ingalls, Victory.
Being That the Investigation Shall
no Longer Assume Star
Chamber Character.
Ard That Everybody Viii Have a
Chance 10 Receive Fair
ErestmeHt.
How lhe Legislature Has Been Fritz
tering Away the Peoples
Time snd Money.
Proceedings in the Kansas Senate
ard House of Representatives
for Yesterday.

for Yesterday.
special Correspondence OF THE TINES.
ToPEKA, February lS.-The proceeding
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, o.
this week. in the Kansas House OF Repre-
sentatives, have added but little TO the
glory, honor or prosperity Of the State.
On Monday nearly all the time was spent
in discussing resolution Offered by Mr..
Legate relating 10 the manner of carrying
on the investigation OF charges and rumors
affecting the honor aud integrity Of men,
bers in connection with the Senatorial elec.
ton.
On Tuesday a pTolrsc,ed wrsngIe over
the Senate joint resolutions relating 10 the
same thing occupied most Of the day.
On Wednesday the fight was renewed on
the Monday resolution which had been laid
over. and II got away with at least half the
time of the days session.
Ii was bitter, bitter clash Of parts an
animosity which the Senatorial contest had
wrought up 10 a very hot pitch. On the
one side were the members who had done
their hest to defeat the election of Ingalls,,
including Mr. Speaker Clarke, and on the
other, those who had been his friends, and
who naturally felt themselves TO be in
honor and duty bound to guard his rights
and honor from calumniOus assaults now
that he is absent in the legislative Halls
of the nation, and in no position TO be
present and speak for himself.
The anti Ingalls, party had the advantage
OF superior hunters, and the rulings OF a
presiding officer who evidently would give
| his right arm TO have the Senator elect
ruined politically, and bedrsggled TO death
| in the slime OF scandal.
The Ingalls, party had no lack Of resolu-
| lion and staying" capacity, and the best
parliamentarians and the longest winded
debates were theirs.
The point raised in Mr. Legats's resolu-
ton was this. The investigation az pro-
vidad for under Clapp's resolution was un-
fair and uniu-t, as the members Of the COM
mittee were allowed to hold a secret inqui-
sition, and no member or other party with
honor or character at stake. allowed to come
in and explain or defend himsell. The
resolution provided thst the plan Of inves-
tigalion be changed, and that any member
or Senatorial candidate whose honor or H.
tecrity should be impugned by evidence
adIuced before the commission, be allowed
to appear in person and defend and that
no charges be entertained against members
or candidates unless specific and in writing.
Mr.. Legate and other leading Ingalls,
men adhered to this point with 50 much
tenacity, that the investigators were
compelled at last TO yield TO
the extent Of allowing all members and
candidates for Senator 10 appear and have
a fair hearing before the committee. Yes
ter,iay Mr. Stumbaugh embodied this prop
osition in the form Of substitute 10 the Leg
ate resolution and in a motion that il be
adopted called the previous question. The
adoption Of this substitute was substantial
ly an Ingalls, victory. Legate declared him
self satisfied. In the fullness of his salts
faction he exclaimed: "Now go on with the
investigation, Investigate late and early.
Lay on, Msciuff, and damned be he who
first cries, Hold enough 30
The investigators also accepted the result
in good nature, as it gave promise Of atruce
TO all further warfare on tine. floor OF the
House upon the inquisitorisl business they
have in hand. Tney profess TO believe,
and many of them without doubt, hope,
that before the thing Is over, evidence OF
most damaging and damning char
acter will be developed, which will
hurl Ingalls from his high position and
bury him beyond the po: :sIblity Of resur-
rection, in iniamy ard disgrace. Their
concern tor the homer and good name OF
members of the House, that Of course Is all
bosh; mere hypocritical assumption of a
virtuous garb with which to cover the I'M
worthy animus OF their undertaking. Do
they really hope oI expect by this proceed
inc TO put an end to the established system
of m snaging elections in Kansas? Do they
expect by this proceeding to usher in a
millennium OF political purity? Nonsense.
They think, not having succeeded in carry
ing their point by the ballot, that they may
succeed by the inquisition, even granting
to the parties aimed at the benefits secured
by the substitute.
II the question should be raised, OF what
bensf has all these three days wranSle
been TO the people OF Kansas, the answer
readily occurs none whatever. 1t afforded
diversion 10 the thronged lobby and specia-
tor. in the gallery. 1t enabled ambitious
members TO Distinguish themselves for par
iiameutary strategy and forensic ability
and to those who did not 30 distinguish
Themselves, it afforded opportunity TO dis
play an extraordinary capacity TO endure
beng bored lOr small com tii.ali'H anu
all { the good OF the State.
The newspapers will say-citizcns who
have an eve TO public D'atters will say.
cont upon all such idle p')titless pitteriDg
away OF the peoples time AID money! Why
don't you resign, your t.ree dollars day,
pass the necessary approx ration bills and
90 home ," To all this. ! say,
Agreed. But remember Senatorial elec-
| ton is an affair involving any amountiOi
| trickery, contention, and bad blood. For
| all this, and the yenal Influences and con-
fusion OF selfish interests that enter into
and surround it, the Legislature is by
no means mainly or primarily responsible:
| You, the people, must take your share OF
the responsibility. The regulations you
have made for conducting the election must
also he taken in the account. The candi-
dates YOU send here must come in for their
share of the responsibility. You are not
here with all this hurry -burly and ideas on
your hands, to be adjusted by appropriate
and acceptable measures of legislation. Put
yourselves in our place and would you do
more and better?
As no more disturbing controversy Is
likely to grow out OF investigation, | am
inclined TO believe that business will be
strictly attend to during the remainder OF
this session. A. Il.