The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-12

being increased to such vast proportions, and
of being the foundation of SO much wealth
and prosperity that 1t Is important that it
should have whatever legislative encourage
ment and protection that can be given to it,
ton by contagious, epizootic or other infec
tive diseases, that come silently and uneX-
pectedly and without warning, and that may
lay waste to the fiocks and herds of the State,
and destroy millions OF dollars worth of
property, with no powerto stay the stream of
devastation. This vast wealth producing
factor in our State Ia not affected. materi Ally,
by floods or drouth. or the capricious contin-
gencies 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
of the world and thus supplies money for our
people when cereal crops fail. 1t is not,
therefore, too much for the stockraisers OF
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. l would, therefore. rec
ommend that you provide bv law for the ap-
pointment of a State Veterinarian in connec-
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 tn use, and the proper santa
~ methods to adopt as means of warding
off and protecting the live stock of the State
against the Introduction and spreading of
dangerous diseases, precautiOn rendered
more important on account of the law allow
ing cattle to roam unrestrained I'm the state
and thus more rapidly and efectually spread
ing destructive diseases among them.
'-.' INSANE PERSONS.
There are about 40 insane persons in the
State who cannot he cared for In the AsyIums
for the Insane. These unfortunate persons
invoke our sympathy, and humanity appeals
loudly in their favor, and asks that some hing
be done to 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 iaits, others
in the asylums for the poor, while others are
kept by individuals, but none OF them can have
and perhaps do not get, the treatment and
good care they should have. 1t is, therefore.
important thatthe capacity of Asyiums should
be increased, SO that proper care can be
melted out to this unfortunate class.
DEATH PENALTY.
The law fixing the death penalty should be
amended. As 1T now stands 1t is left discre
with the executive to issue his war
rant to carry out the sencance OF the court.
No one is willing to exercise discretionary
power in a case of life and death. while any
executive would obey the law and issue the
warrant in such cases, were it mandatory.
The warrant then would issue rs matter of
course, and the law, and not the executive
would be responsible for its effect. Though
am clearly of the opinion that the court tnat
renders the Judgment and fixes the penalty
execution the sentence, l am aware that
there is divided sentiment rs to whether or
not the death penalty should be invoked in
cases of murder. But this is no excuse for
leaving the law in its present unsatisfactory
condition, our manhood dictates that the
death penalty should be executed in IA reason
able length of time after sentence. or til at the
horrors of an anticipated hanging should be
ended by II sentence of imprisonment for life.
The person who now commits the crime of
murder, with all its attendant horrors, is on
Ia.
twenty dollars, and is free TO murder his
keeper, or the Warden of the prison, with the
assurance that n score OF murders does not
increase his punishment. There are now in
the Penitentiary 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 samelio-
rate the sad condition OF prison life, while
the victims of their crime sleep III death
and the relatives of the deceased are taxed to
feed and cloth the ones who robbed the VIE
of Il husband and the children of a father. The
e Nistlng law is simply an evasion OF a plain
manly duty, and should be amended at once,
though not made retroactive In its opera
tiOns: IL should be certain as to the murders
i'll the future.
THE DISTRICT COURTS.
The business in the district courts has in
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 n CLASS, are aDie, INDUSTRIOUS ana
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
litigants or to the interests of the public.
Cases commenced are DELAYED from term to
term for want of time for trial, till in some
il amounts almost to u denial of JUS
tiCe. This delay and postponement entails
officers costs and witness fees, term after
term, until witnesses remove from the juris-
diction OF the courts, compelling parties to
incur large expense toobtain evidence by dep
OsitiOnS that could have been had, had the
courts been able to dispose of cases in Il rea-
sonable time; thus deIeatiug Justice, or de-
fcating poor litigant by forcing him out Of
court on account of his inability to meet the
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 charge or indi-
rect tax OH those who have to invoke the
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 vindicating
their innocence or losing their evidence by
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 or the fees of witnesses. boarding pris-
Oners in Jail and juries amount to more, annu-
ally, in some counties mt each term. than twice
the salary of the Judge who holds the court.
4 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, rs most of the
are now SO large that reducing them
n third, or a half, would not furnish the 1elief
or needed, and that the only SIRE
and practicable remedy for the difficulty sur
rounding the administration of the laws, is
the creation OF ut least three more judicial
in addition to egualizing the terri
tory and business OF the present ones.
This is Il matter of serious concern, and 1t Is
to be hoped that the present session of the
will witness the Inauguration of
measures for immediate relief. In this con-
nection il is also important 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 q means resorted tn
l.A.--.