The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-01-04


certain supposed infringements Of the
personal rights or liberties OF individuals,
and Interfering with certain common ana
harmless customs, should be dissipated.
Amendments to some OF our laws, Win
proper aud judicious management, VIII,
think, accomplish the wished for re-
suit and then in a short time the tide of
immigration will be turned TO our State.
EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
In our present system of govern
ment the Executive of the State is |
generally held responsible, in public
estimation, for the proper manage
ment Of general State affairs; the
Asylums, Penitentiary, and other
State Institutions; the honest and
faithful disbursements of public funds;
the fairness of contracts made In the
name, or on the part of the State
Boards; or improperly or imprudently
using or misapplying State funds or
making fraudulent or improvldent
contracts; employing an unneceeary
number of employees, or where there
is danger of the loss of public funds
by Encouragement. The Executive
is powerless to protect or avert any
impending danger, as he now has no
authority, under any law, to interpose
the authority of the State, except for
completed or executed acts, and then
only by appearing as the prosecutor
in the criminal courts, or by institut-
ing civil suits in the name of the
State. Often charges are made against
officers charges affecting their char
acter and official integrity, that are
groundless, while they have no means
of indicating the honesty of their
conduct before the public, or having
the Chief Executive of the State or
the Executive Council in position to
defend the honest and faithful officer,
or show that moneys have been prop
erly and legally expended, or contracts
legally and fairly made without col
fusion or fraud. The complete pro-
lection of the interests of the State
demand, now more than when we had
annual sessions of the Legislature
that authority should be vested some
where for the protection of the in
terests of the State, its funds, its pub
lie institutions, its contracts and
public works; and also to cause inves-
legations to be made, that the facts OF
any alleged fraud or misconduct may
be ascertained, and guilty parties
removed from authority.
To accomplish such investigation
or examinations, would respectfully
suggest that the Governor be author,
lied, by "A proper law, on his OWL
motion, or on charges preferred IL
writing, to order investigation to b.
made into the management of any o
the State Institutions, contracts o.
disbursements of public funds, to thu
end that the interests of the state
and the lpublic funds appropri
ated for the different institu-
tions or other purposes may b.
properly guarded, and dishonest o.
corrupt officials be removed, anC
fraudulent or corrupt contracts an
nulled. Such power or authorit,
should be carefully guarded, so tina
no honest man should suffer, or an,
guilty one escape. The honest AM
faithful official is always ready for al
investigation, while the dishonest on
may shrink from an examination int
his conduct. There is no harm~dont
but great good has resulted, by on
laws providing for the examination {
our County and State Treasurer
without notice to incumbents. n
official objects, or can with any pre-
tense of honesty, to fair and impair
tial investigation, and there certainl
can be no valid reason why other Oft
cials, than State and County Treas
urers, who disburse, control or max
e., i,n
public funds, should not be subjecte
to the same system of investigation.
INDIRECT BURDENS.
There is a surplus in our Federal trea.
liry of $3.50, 000, 900, which, together wit
the annual expenditure, measures the al
parent burdens ON the people; This snl
plus attracts those who would Tor the
own selfish ends make spoil ofthe publ
funds. Not only the fiscal officers of Il
general government and the President
the United States, but all good men OF a
parties, have denounced and deplore
this surplus as tempting and corruptln
in its effects. 1t is consequence as we
as a cause of evil policies and practice
and denotes excessive taxation and tt
MULTIPLICATION of useless and unneeessaT
burdens on the people. 1t means exec
siye cost of fuel, shelter, food, clothin
and other necessaries and comforts OF lif
1t adds by its eXactions on iron and stee
burdens on the cost OF railroads, ana II
creases costs of transportation of the PR
duce of the farmer to the markets of Il
world and adds greatly to the price
the consumer, while it does not pay bac
ANYTHING to the producer. 1t is a tax o
food which does not enure to the benef
of the producer or consumer. 1t is IL
creasing at "a rapid rate the wealth p'
capita of the states whose people are eI
loving the effects of protective tarii
while the rate is being rapidly reduce
in the agricultural states of the West.
Whether this excess is a hundred
two hundred millions, the pernicioT
principle is the same. 1t concerns IL
people of this agricultural state TO kno
why this burden is laid upon them, an
what is the consideration they receive fC
bearing it. If the taxation blythe preseI
tariff simply furnished the funds to carr
on the government, frug ally administers,
even though there were inequalities in i
arrangement, apatienta agricultural peop
might not complain. But as the censU
shows there are states which may be calle
protected states, and others which ma
be called unprotected states, yet the la
ter furnish not only their full share
the immediate expenses of the generi
government, but they furnish immens
sums which, by the present protectiy
system never find their way to the n;
tionaI treasury, but go to swell the wealt
of those who profit by this tax on the II