The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-23

should sssume the payment of the amount
this commission should award. by issuing to
holders Of claims 20 allowed interest-bearing
union military script, to be paid out Of any ap-
preparation that might thereafter be made by
Congress to reimburse the State for
such expenditures. This commission
awarded: For services. s2lss9675; sup
plies and transportation ssl6s2s2: damages,
sl3l. 09S.S3: property lost. sS5.5l6.A7-making
. total award of A67, 2s3.37.
By the act approved February 18th. 1862 .
commission consisting of three disinterested
citizens was created to examine in every par
| ticular into claims rejected by either of the
former commissions for want of proof. and
not having passed upon their merit, and all
claims that had not been prior thereto audited
| by either of the former commissions IL is
| further provided by this act that all claims
audited and allowed by the commissioners APP
| pointed under the provisions of the acts of
February 18th, 1865. and February 26th. 1866.
| together with all claims for services, trans
portation. forage, subsistence and property
lost in action that might thereafter be audited
and allowed by the commissioners appointed
| under this act. should be and were
thereby axsu,aed by the State of Kansas; pro-
vided. that no claims allowed by the commits
sioners appointed under the provisions of the
act of February 11th- 1865. and rejected by .
subsequent commission, should be assumed
| unless readjusted and allowed by the COM
missioner appointed under this act; and pro-
vided further, that the amount assumed by
the State should not exceed the sum of Eve
hundred thousand dollars.
The commissioners appointed under this act
allowed claims to the amount of SCI Pills.
| making the aggregate amount of claims $685.
51496. being s2S,514.96 more than was author
| lied to be assumed under the provisions of this
| act. small amount Was also allowed by the
auditor and treasurer Of State. under the act of
March 4th, 1873.
| Congress. by act of June 9th. 1877. appropri-
ated 1887 ,054.Ss, which sum was placed in our
State treasury to pay the claims allowed for
| service. transportation and subsistence of
! troops, by a commission created under an act
of Congress of February ID. 1871. This money
has been paid out by the treasurer, but not
strictly in accordance with the purposes for
which it was appropriated, a part Of it at least
| having been applied in payment of scrip issued
on account of damages and for service in the
Indian expedition, which scrip was not covered
| by the award Of the commissioners appointed
under the said net of Congress of February ID.
1871.
| Under the act of the Legislature, approved
March Sd. 1877. State agent has been appoint
| ed, whose duty, among other things, As defined
by said act. is to prosecute to q final decision
all claims of the State of Kansas against the
| United States growing out of what is COM
monty known as the Price raid. and all other
claims of the State arising ont of depredations
committed by the Indians, or occurring during
| the late war. together with all claims which the
State may have against the United States for
expenses incurred in organizing, equipping
and maintaining troops for the public ser
vice"
| While the above provisions Of the act are
| sufficiently broad and sweeping to authorize
| the State agent to prosecute the claims of the
State against the United States government, it
| by no means meets the obligations of the State
to its citizens,
| By the act of February 18th. 1869. the State
| Internationally assumed these claims of her
citizens to an amount not exceeding $780,
900. This was not done until after S467.-
| 293.37 of said claims had been passed
upon and allowed by its duly constituted
agents; and l can see reason why all of the
| S61 2l.59 allowed by the commission created
by the act of February 18th, 1869. as well as the
| small amounts subsequently allowed under the
| act of 1873, are not just, and the holders
thereof in excess of the S5o0.000 assumed by
the State in equity. equally entitled To he paid.
| i can make no recommendation that. If adopt
ed by the Legislature. would in my Judgment
| reflect more credit upon the State, and mete
out greater Justice To the citizens directly in
terested in this matter, than To ask that a COM
| mittee be appointed To ascertain, nearly as
possible. the amount of scrip connected
| with this matter yet outstanding and unpaid;
and the adoption of such measures. during
| the present session, as will provide the neces-
sary means for the prompt payment of whatever
| balance may be so ascertained. remembering that
| nothing inspires greater confidence in, respect
| for. and devotion to the State, than the prompt
discharge of every just obligation to its citi-
| zens.
| RAILROAD FARES AND FEEIGHTs.
| There are about 1880 miles of railroads in
| operation in Kansas. the assessed value of
which, rs shown by the report Of the auditor of
State. is :l5 ,525 .033.25. While it is true that
these railroads have contributed largely to the
| wealth. prosperity and progres, of our State, it
! is also equally true that not only people
but the State and general Government have
contributed literally toward their construction
| and support
| The railway corporations of Kansas derive
| their powers from. and the capital invested
therein is entitled Ia. and receives protection at
| the hands of the State. Their income arising
| from earnings. is derived mainly from the pat
| ronage of the people of Kansas, and the people
| in return have the right to demand that such
limitations, restrictions and regulations touch
ing fares and freights be imposed as will fully
protect their interests, and at the same time do
| no injustice tn these corporations.
Our present law in my Judgment. is wholly
inadequate. Section SO. of chapter q. of the
general statutes of Kansas. prohibits railway
corporations from charging over six cents per
mile for transporting passengers. Such limi-
tation affords Just protection TO the travel
ing public. Nor is it practically any restriction
on the corporation. for but few If any railroads
now in this country charge -iS cents per mile,
even where there Is limitation Sections
81, 50 and 50 of same chapter. relating to the
classification of. and charges for carrying
freight. are less restrictive. IL possible. than
said section Sc. Besides. BY these sections.
the classification of freights being left en-
tirely at the discretion of the railroad COM
panies, the restrictions and limitations therein
attempted Ia be imposed ineffective.
] therefore suggest that this Law be 50
amended a. "a clearly define the limitations
restrictions and regulations relating 10 charges
for fares and frcights and that such limita-
tons, restrictions and regulations relating To
charges for fares and freights. and tina: such
limitations, restrictions and regulations ls
made To do nearly possible equal justice
to the railroads and the people. and thus have
the rights of both parties touching this ques
ton, definitely settled.
TENrKRAScE.
The subject of Temperance in its relation tn
the Of Intoxicating liquors. 4 beverage
has occupied the attention of the people Of Kan
to such extent, that feel il my duty 10
call your attention tn some of it- evils,
and suggest. If possible. a remedy therefor
Much has been said of late years about hard
times, and e1travag7nt and useless erpeudi-
lures of money: and in this connection. de-
sire to call your attention To- the fact that here
IN Kansas. where our people are AZ least A. sober
and temperate are found in any of the
States in the west the money spent annually
for intoxicating liquors ~ould d-fray the en-
tire expenses Of the State government. inoIud-
ing the care and maintenance of all iis charita-
bic institutions. Agricultural college. Normal
school. State university. and penif@ntiary-sndI
al for something that instead of making man
kind nobler. purer and better. has not only left
Its dark trail of misery, poverty and crine. bat
its direct effects, ~ shown by the o,cial report
has supplied oar State prison with one hundred
and i've Of its present inmates
Could ve bot dry up this one great
evil that consumes annually - much wealth
and destroy. the physical. moral and mental
MEETINGS. of isa victims ne suulf hardly need