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

ness of the State from becoming oppressive
monopolies. And should the Legislature, in
its wi itom deal with this importsut question
as the public demand. and should it be de-
cided that the railroads shall be placed under
the control OF a cOmmi .,ion appointed for
that purpose. would fail I'm my duty to the
state and to you did l not specially request
that you shall fix by law, independent OF any
commission, the rate OF passenger fare at
three (3l cents per mile. and that you provide
by law, indapendentof any commission. that
penalty, recoverable by civil action. from
charging more for n short distance than Tor a
long distance. That you snail NIX by law IN
dependent OF any commission a low but Just
and fair maximum rate of freight for coal,
wheat, corn, oats, broom corn, cattle, sheep,
nogs anu IunnDer, SO tnat no c0ntlngency OF
weather or combinations shall deprive the
pubic on fnel nc reasonable rates, or prevent
ting his nrodmce tn market at reasonabIe
rates aud In the quickest time, so as to give
anah LnG auv y, , Oh ,ne oesI ann
enaDle nm 10 OBTAIN areasonaDie returnlroin
MS iaDor anu capital lhfeSteu.
Railroads should not be permitted to in
crease their rates on any articles transported
by them, until thirty days notice posted in
the station where the goods are received and
delivered; and that they should not be al
lowed to increase the rates on car lots by ex-
cessive terminal charges, or for switching
and that the rate per hundred pounds shall
be specified in the shipping bill or receipt
given for the article shipped, and the con
sisnee shall not be required to pay greater
rate than that named in the shipping bill or
receipt
These suggestions are urged upOn Won for
YOUR action for the additional reason that IL
may he urged that IL ia beyOnd the newer Of
the Legislature to confer any such power on
commission, while Legislative authority is
beyond question. These safeguards, once Sc
cured and rigidly maintained, will prove of
incalculable benefit; first, to the producer,
second, to the consumer. and third, to the
rli Il fhnpnEnlrnl will IN a
farmer to dispose of his crop and to derive a
reasonable profit from the availS of it, and
give new life and energy to the business and
commerce of the State. They will enable the
consumer to supply himself with the staples
of life at fair price, and will give the rail
roads not only "A fair compen satiOn, but will
conduce to u feeling OF goodwill and help
fulneSS to all concerned.
ppou,prr,ox
At the session of the Legislature of 1879, a
proposition to amend the Constitution of the
State was adopted, to be submitted to the
people at the general election, held Novem-
Der I'd, 1850, in the following words: "The
manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors
shall be forever prohibited in this State. cx-
cept for medical, scientific and mechanical
purposes"
At the election in November, 1890, this pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution, was by
u majority of the votes cast upon that ques-
tion but not by majority of the electors of
the State, ratified, and became n part of the
fundamental law of the state. The succeed
ing legislature in 1881 enacted q law whose
provisions were intended to make the consti-
tutfonal inhibition in respect to the traffic
in manufacturing liquors effectual and opera
tive.
Tbe; nnb,ic nolicv embodied in tbis amend
ment ppnI Statnta have baen in force since
their adontion Int durinp vii that time this
nolicy, bas haen a faiInre and iniur;ons to the
eeauSs Of Genuine temneroncn diyert;ng i,nm; ,
Sro,;on VI tEn,n nnr State anSendarna strifa in
Sa;abhnrnnods nron,otinsy cTcasIiyo Et;I,o
tion Ioadin,, down fine dociets of rho courts
mnLing heavv cost hill. tn he maid nv the
naonIa ;ndncip ginI the cl.ndestine nse If in
fox,catinu iionora in club rooms and in the
homes OF the people. setting a friehtful exam
ple of'the use of Intoxicating LIQUORS before
the Young drinking to excess caused by the
nurt,base of liaIoI.s in quantities. and Iosin
to the cause of temperance good and sincere
people by the meddlesome inter-
terence with the habits and Established Gus
toms of long standing OF many good and
worthy citiz,,ns by 'buSv- bodies whose ONLY
ambition was to magnify their own impor-
lance, instead of working for real temper
ance. -
The exercise of that portion of the public
power that relates TO the maintenance OF pub
lie dccency and social order can not be re-
strictsd within the limits OF auniform and in.
flexible rule without greatly impairing its
efficiency and in many instance, rendering
it nugatory The policy of prohibition NAV be
practicable and beneficial in some localities
wherein the conditions conducting tn success
are favorable, and sustained by large pre-
ponderance of popular sentiment, whilst in
others wherein the public sentiment is mimi
cal to the policy, and strong pubic senti-
ment and interest opposes it Notwithstanding
it may have received the strong sanction OF
as part ot the CONSTITUTIONS the laws
creating the policy, ana tho Sc enacted to en-
force 1t, fall into "iSrepnte ana cont ,mpt; n
sucn a condition W AFFAIRS 1t Is dlticult to
estimate the magnitude OF the evils that must
G. 1sne. The decentralization CONSEQUENT upon
hnbituai disobedience to constitutional and
legal oDi1gatlons existing when the line OF
policy indicated IS impracticable and disre-
gardel, must necessarily exert an unfavora-
bic influence throughout the state.
The primary purpose of the Constitution has
respect to, and was intended for, the regula-
ton of the most general concerns of the Gov
eminent and people. Under it, before the
adoption of the amendment respecting the
liquor traffic. the most ample police powers
were possessed by the Legislature, powers
which the public welfare required, except
wherein necessary to protect those personal