The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-01-11
GoT ERNoR GLTcKls MESSAGE.

showing of the material re- '
sources OF the stat; N exhibit Of the !
public finances whic'. is highly gratiiY- /
ing, and refers 10 tue progress OF our I
young commonwealth in terms Of pride
and congralulanon which is a significant
upon the judIcious and
capable administration Of its affairs by
the Republican party for the past TWEEN
ty-hve years.
The message contains Tecommen-
dations which we regard as worthy OF
early and earnest consideration a, the
hands of the legislature. Among the
most important Of these is that suggest
ing legislation which shall promote the
efficiency of the Judiciary and assist the
administration Of justice by removing |
the judge and the court out Of the-aTena |
of politics, and thus place them on a
plane where they shall be above re-
proach and beyond criticism. We most |
heartily concur with the views of Gov |
ernor Click touching the corrupting in
fiuence of the thirst for political az
grandizement upon the Judicial charac-
ter and regard his recommendations
looking toward the correction of an
evil which has become rife in Kansas as
worthy of all acceptation and decided
action
The suggestions touching the amend
ing of the Law fixing the death pen
atty, merits confederation, and the en-
barrassing position of the executive,
under the present regulation is set forth
with sufficient force to indicate the
necessity of speedy relief. The laws of
Kansas contemplate the punishment OF
/ murderers by death, And the ends of
sound government demand that the way
should be made clear for their execu-
| ton.
A very timely reuqest is made by The
governor to the effect that the legisla-
ture, in choosing United States sena-
tor to succeed Hon p. b Plumb, shall
keep steadily in view the honor and
good name of our state, and so perform
this duty that the unsavory scandals of
some past elections may not be repeat
ed. The indications all point TO an easy
and rapid solution of this question, and
the advice of the executive in this regard
will doubtless be needed.
The governor avails himself of the
opportunity of giving expression TO his
free trade views, and pronounces the
present protective tariff system onerous
and prejudIcial TO the agricultural in
terests OF the state. While he comedies
that the legislature has nothing to do
with this question in direct way, he
regards il important that the members
should understand what burdens are
borne by the people in order that the
taxes which their representatives inn
pose may be tempered so that their nee
essary exaction may not be made OPP
pressive.
The governor treats the railroad qaes-
tlon at length, and expresses himself in
the most unequivocal manner on the
necessity for legislation which shall
correct the abuses from which the people
have suffered at the hands OF the carry
ing corporations of the state. He forci-
bly, and clearly asserts the mutual
dependence of the public and the rail
roads and shows that while the latter
! have done much TO develop the re-
; sources of the state, and have proven an
invaluable agency in this direction, it is
equally true that the state has made
the railroads, and that a reciprocal OBJ
legation exists between them. The en-.
croachments upon the rights of the peo-
5 pie of the monopolies which have waxed
2 strong through their fostering aid is sci
!. forth in a convincing manner, aud tho
4 pernicious influence OF the Oppressive
D and unjust determinations in rates, a!
: practiced by the railroads, upon the in
dustrIal and commercial interests of tn,
state, are abundantly indicated, no
< to speak of the persistent
a tendency on the part of railroad
] managers 10 control the politics of thu
9 state by manipulating conventions, sub,
y sidizing Legislators and establishing
t newspapers to corrupt public sentiment
n on this vital issue. The governor, aftel
specifying many of the hardships L
which the people of Kansas have beer
i subjected by the railroads, recommend
9 the establishment of irregular passenge
e rate, Independent of any commission, o
o three cents mile, and that roads shall
n be prohibited, under proper penalty re
e coverable by civil action, from charging
r more for short distance than for a loni
h one, and that the Legislature fix by law
independent of any commission, low
bat just and fair maximum of freigh
IS for coal, stock, lumber and products o
C the soil The persistent refusal of tn
IS railroads to heed the gathering
/ storm which their own al
: rogant course has evoked renders neces
IS sary the application of summary an,
II efiectual remedies. and the recommends
! tions of the governor on this question
should engage the best thought AM
wisest action of the legislature.
l. The governors views on the prohibi
J ton issue, as set forth in his message
y are but reflex of those opinions t
l. which he gave utterance during tn
d canvass preceding his election, aud ar
p" in close conformity with his persona
8 bias in this matter. His assertion tina
the policy OF prohibition has proved
&c failure is not borne out by the result
e which have attended its trial though
e out the state, and his position that pro
, hibition has wrought injury TO tn,
cause of genuine temperance and in
creased the consumption of intoxi
: eating liquors is abundantly refuteC
by the bitter hostility which the polio,
has encountered at the hands of the liq
:. uor interest in this state and through
out the country. the governor concedei
that temperance is virtue which al
good citizens should practice. and ye
he favors the removal of the stronges
; possible help for its observance The
experiment of prohibition In Kansas ha.
I, been more than vindicated by the bene.
ficent influence which it has exerted
> upon the morals of the commonwealth
and no sophistry, however ingenious
can establish the fact that that which
inevitably corrupls and impoverishes the
/ individual can ever be made source oil
I, material wealth 10 the state The high
: license system which the governor sug.
E gests as a means of regulating the
, liquor tcafiic places the seal of legal
: ity upon a monstrous evil, aud thus i'm
/ measurably increases its power fol
: harm The policy of Prohibition rem