The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-01-29

attended with many happy results in adjust
ing serious complications. ADd Il 10. in my
opinion. vitality important TO the peace and
order of civil society. as vel ~ 10 the happi-
ness and prosperity alike OF employers and
employed, that American workingmsn shall
be enabled to submit their grievances. real
or fancied, TO the decision Of an intelligent
and impartial tribunal. which will carefully
investigate the facts and pronounce judg-
ment.
This is especially true Of disputes arising
between railroad and other great corpora
tons and their armies Of employees. And It
seems to me that the State which fnterpoees
and fares. to locate depots. switches and side
tracks, and to compel corporations to pro.
vide adequate safeguards for the protection
Of animals. has ample power to provide for
the arbitration of differences between cor
porations and their employees, where such
differences may rot only disturb the peace
of the State and interrupt its commerce. but
AFFECT the well being and happiness OF thou
THE 3Oth or May is recommended to be de-
clared a legal holiday. The outbreak Of
ed and the attention OF the Legislature called
to the subject
Application has been made for the enroll
ment OF companies of coiored citizens es
portion OF the militia of the State. But Sec
ton of article VfIl of the Constitution pro-
vides that 'the militia shall be composed of
able bodied white male citizens" This limi-
tation ie not in accordance with the spirit
and genius OF our institutions and should lie
stricken from our organic law. During the
war of the rebellion colOred men demon
strated their patriotism. courage and endur-
ance on dozens OF desperate battle fields.
They possess and exercise all other privi-
leRes of citizenship. BY their votes they as
sist in making our laws. and it should not be
their right alone. but their duty to bear arms
in any emergency calling for military force
to vindicate the supremacy of law and the
integ rity of popular government. At pres
ent the cOlored citizens OF this State are
really a privileged class, endowed with the
sovereignty of voters. but exempt from the
responsibility resting on all other able bOdied
voters to sustain at any peril the constituted
authority and laws of the land.
GENERAL LEGISLATi DESIRED.
These are subjects demanding immediate
legislative action, for the consideration of
which have convened your honorable body
in special session. Perhaps the interests OF
many communities demand the enactment.
at this time, of laws having a local scope;
and it may be that practical experience has
suggested needed changes in, or modifica-
tions of few general laws. But, in my
Judgment, the interests of the State do not
demand. and public sentiment will not APP
prove many changes IN our statutory laws
ut this session. In adopting the constitu.
tiOnal amendment for biennial meetings of
the Leg stature. the people of Kansas gave
emphatic expression to their preference for
greater permanence and stability in stat
%0r The s~s no. ops confuse seanf se
public mind, but inspire a lack of re-
epect for law. Aud this Is especially true
when such changes affect the general course
of procedure in courts. or establish new prn-
ciples or methods which necessarily have to
be settled by q line of judicia interpretations
and decisions. Pending these, uncertainty
ia created, the administration of justice is
delayed and public sentiment is deinoralized.
The American people are law respecting and
iaw-obeying. and when the courts have fully
and fairly defined the directions and limita-
tons of any law, ami the methods of its en-
forcement, they quickly adjust themselves to
its requirements. But If laws are subject to
frequent and whimsical notifications and
changes the public understanding of their
policy and scope is confused and uncertain,
and public respect for their requirements is
vitiated. have, therefore, no recommends
tons to make looking to the enact
ment or repeal of statutory laws.
do not forget, however. that you.
gentlemen Of the Legislature. are alone
charged with the duty of making laws, and
that you alone must decide whether any real
necessity exists for general legislation at this
session. You come direct from the homes OF
the people and should understand their
wishes. And, if you decide to engage in gen.
eral legislation at this session. wish to re-
new the recommendations made in my first
message. touching municipal debt and taxa
ton, the assessment and equalization OF
property values. the State school lands. the
Secretary of the State charitable institutions
the st'pulations and cond tions of insurance
policies, the revision and Qualifications of our
laws, capital punishment. rates OF interest.
improvements by occupying claimants. and
the registry law by observation and ex-
perience since assuming the dut es OF the ex-
ecutive Office have only confirmed and
strengthened the views have expressed on
these questions, none of which were made
the subject of legislative action at your lass
session.
PRICE RAID AND OTHER CLAIMS.
The Price Raid Commission and the Com
mission relating to the invasion of euer;llas
and marauders" will submit for your consi'-
Grafton such reports As they are able TO pre-
sent L reiternte the opinion expressed in
that the State is morally bound to make good
the amount of S2l,sI2 ~. which, as trustee for
certain Price raid claimants, il received from
the United States i'm ls12. and which the then
State Treasurer paid to persons whose claims
were rejected by the United States Commis-
sion
In this connection I respectfully suggest to
the Legislature that ii is net just to devOlve
upon the State officers or any number of them
the labor and responsibility of auditing such
claims as those growing out of the Price and
Quantriii raids. In 1865 a joint committee of
the Senate and House of Representatives. ap.
pointed 10 investigate the sction OF several
to audit the Price raid claims,
report in which IT was said;
judgment of your committee. than to have
State officers compose this board OF exam
liners. either in whole or in part. 1t would
be unjust to impose extra duties. not re-
Qured by law or expedency, without paw,
and. il they are to be paid, other citizens can
better attend to the discharge of such diff
service"
This opirion, expressed in 1858, has far
more weight at the present time. The popu.
coed 100000: it is now fully 1.350.OOo The
labors of every department of the State
have been increased fully four
find time for the proper discharge Of
such delicate. laborious and responsible
duties as are involved in the examination
of claims of this character, aggregating
mi n dnllarQ nd I'm
audit, class fy and support by proper cyl
dence such a mass of claims cs are now On
file. and to review and systematic the awards
made by the numerous commissions of the
past twenty years, would require months of
patient, pa Estaking work, involving q vast
amount of clerical labor. And this work it is
gard for their other duties. to properly per
form.
THE INDIAN TROUBLES REVIEWED.
About the middle of June last. very alarm.
ing reports were widely published, in the
public press OF this and other States. con-
corning the turbulent and threatening spirit
in the Indian Territory 10 only q
short distance south OF our southwestern
border. On June % 1 addressed a letter to
the Secretary of War. calling his attention to
these reports. and requesting him to adopt
measures for protecting our borders against
the possibility of an indian raid. Dispatches
were at the same time sent to the General
this military division, request
ing him to station an adequate cavalry force
1t some point on the southern line of Kansas. |
On July l. receiving q dispatch calling for |
arms and ammunition, and etating that the |
settlers in Southwestern Kansas were greatly +!
harmed. I again called the attention OF |
she General commanding this military |
division to the reports received.
in response General Augur, under |
late of July 9, advised me that an |
ample force had been, or soon would be. con-
in the Territory. In reply urged
hat 90 long as the Cheyennes were well sup
piled with arms and ammunition they would |
continue to be a standing menace TO the |
peace and safety of the people of Southwest
,rn Kansas, and suggested that they be dis |
armed
Alarming reports continued to be received,