Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-01-19

producing. This interest Is capable OF
being increased TO such vast prOpo rtions, and
of being the foundation of so much wealth
and prosperity that liz Is important that IL
should have whatever legislative encourage
ment and protection that can be given TO it,
so that 1t shall be protected against destruc-
ton by contagious, epizootic or other infec
tive diseases, that come silently and unex-
pectedly and without warning, and that may
and destroy millions or dollars worth of
property, with no power to stay the stream of
devastation. This vast wealth producing
factor in our state Is not affected Inateri ally
by hoods or drouth. or the capricious contin-
gencie5 OF sun or sky. and hence is certain in
its reward to him who thus adds wealth TO
the State, and furnishes meat for the markets
fthe world, and thus supplies money for our
people when cereal crops fail. 1t is not,
the State to ask that an industry of such vast
capabilities, and worth so many millions of
money to the State, should have some pro-
lection against the dangerous and deStruc-
tive diseases that may lay waste to so much
valuable property. would, therefore, rec
ommend that You provide bv law for the APP
ton with the State Board of Agriculture who
shall be charged with the duty of looking af-
ter, and aiding the people in protecting, the
live stock Against contagious diseases, warn
Ing them of their approach and directing
what remedies to use, and the proper santa
~ methods TO adopt as u means of warding
OF and protecting the live stock of the State
against the Introduction and spreading of
dangerous diseases, a precaution rendered
Ing cattle TO roam unrestrained I'm the state
and thus more rapidly and effectually spread
ing destructive diseases among them.
INSANE PERSONS.
There are about 40 insane persons in the
State who cannot be cared for in the Asylums
for the Insane. These unfortunate persons
invoke our sympathy, and humanity appeals
loudly in their favor. and asks that some hing
be done 20 ameliOrate their unfortunate con-
dition and place them where they can have
proper care and receive that kind treatment
that humanity dictates.
Some OF them are confined in jails, others
in the asylums for the DOOR while Others are
kept by individuals, but none OF them can have
and perhaps do not get, the treatment and
important that the capacity of Asylums should
be increased, so that proper care can be
meted out to this unfortunate class.
DEATH PENALTY.
The law fixing the death penalty should be
amended. As 1t now stands IL is left discre-
tionary with the executive to issue his war.
rant to carry out the sencence of the court.
mo- on9 T.; caI 20 exercise discretionary
executive would obey the law and issue the
warrant in such cases. were it mandatory.
course: and the law, and not the executive
would be responsible for its effect Though
am clearly OF the opinion that the court that
renders the Judgment and fixes the penalty
of the law should provide for carving into
execution the sentence, 1 am aware that
there is divided sentiment as to whether or
cases of murder. But this is no excuse for
leaving the law In its present unsatisfactory
condition, as our manhood dictates that the
death penalty should be executed in a reason
able length of time after sentence, or tn at the
horrors OF an anticipated hanging should be
ended by a sentence of imprisonment for life
The person who now commits the crime of
murder, with all its attendant horrors, is on
an equality with the criminal who steals but
twenty dollars, and is free to murder his
keeper. or the Warden of the prison, with the
assurance that a score OF murders does not
increase his punishment. There are now in
the Penftentlary about twenty-five persons
who are under the sentence of death who
have all the kindly treatment, and the bene-
fits OF all rules, and the laws made to 'amelio-
rate the sad condition of prison life, while
the victims of their crime sleep III death,
and the relatives OF tho deceased are taxed to
feed and cloth the ones who robbed the vile
OF husband and the children of q father The
existing law Is simply evasion of a plain
manly duty, and should be amended at once,
tions; it should be certain as to the murders
committed i'll the future.
THE DISTRICT COURTS.
The business in the district courts has in
creased to such an extent, and the districts
are so large, that in most of them the Judges
are unable to transact the business and dis
pose OF cases In a reasonable time. While the
Judges. as a class. are able, industrious and
earnest in their efforts TO expedite business
the accumulation OF cases in the last few
years has made it impossible for them to dis
charge their important duties with Justice to
itigants or to the interests of the public.
Cases commenced are delayed from term to
term for want of time for trial. till in some
counties it amounts almost to a denial of JUS
tice. This delay and pOstpOnement entails
officers costs and witness fees, term after
term, until witnesses remove from the juris-
d1ctiOn OF the courts, compelling parties to
incur large expense to obtain evidence by dep
ositions that could have been had, had the
courts been able to dispose of cases in a rea-
sOnable time; thus defeating Justice, or de-
feating a poor litigant by forcing him out of
court on account of his inability to meet the
accumulated cost of this continuous delay.
While it may be claimed that this delay is
not at the expense of the public, the argu-
ment Is only specious. 1t is a charge or indi-
rect tax on those who have to invoke the
authority of the courts to vindicate their
rights, or to- protect their person from wrong
or their property from spOliation, and is a
cruel and mOnstrOus wrong when persons are
charged with crime and delayed in vindicatmg
their innocence or losing their evidence bT
this delay, or laying long seasons in Jail while
not able to give bond; thus violating the
principle of our Constitution which declares
that all persons shall have remedy by due
course of law and justice administered with
| out delay: The expense OF the courts, the in
crease OF the fees of witnesses, boarding pris-
Oners in Jail, and juries amount to more annu-
ally, in some counties ut each term. than twice
! the salary of the judge who holds the court.
y remedy for this difficulty should be pro-
vided without delay, and therefore recon-
mend that the Legislature redist-ict or re-
model the judicial districts, so that the work
in each may be equaliZed, that business of the
courts can be disposed of with less delay than
at present. But am satisfied this plan would
only produce temporary relief, as most of the
districts are now so large that reducing them
a third, or a half, would not furnish the relief
required or needed, and that the only sure
and practicable remedy for the dificulity sur
rounding the administration of the laws is
the creation of at least three more judicial
districts, in addition to equalizing the terri
tory and business of the present ones.
This is a matter of serious concern, and IL Is
to be hoped that the present session of the
Legislature will witness the Inauguration of
measures for immediate relief. In this con-
nection it Is also impor, ant TO inquire whether
such legislation should not be had as to pre-
vent the encumbering of the dockets of the
district courts with petty appeals from
justice courts, which is a means resorted to
by unsuccessful litigants to obtain delay that
Is assured to them by the crowded condition