Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-06-13
STATE CAPITAL GOSSIP.
Jefferson City Deserted-Inter-
State Commerce News-An In
teresting Clipping.

Correspondence of the Ledger.
JEFFERSON CITY, June 4.-The
capitol is a deserted building ap-
parently since the adjournment of
the Legislature, but as matter of
fact there is a great deal of werk
being transacted in it daily by the
State officers who, with their assist
ants, are now the. sole occupants of
the stately pile.
The Governor stole away from
Jefferson for two days this week,
taking a drive across country with
his handsome wife to Columbia,
where he witnesses the organization
of the new Board of Curators of the
State University, and Mrs. Francis
participates in the festivities of
Commencement week. Gov. Fran
els is more concerned in the State
University question than in any
that has come up SO far during his
administration. He feels that this
is a critical period in the history of
an institution which should be and
must be made to be the greatest
seat of learning in the West. He has
appointed a Board Of Curators
which is conceded to be as strong
and able as could have been select
ed, and as every member of the
Board has personal interest in the
welfare of the institution, there is
no doubt that, with the ability and
experience they will bring to bear
on the questions coming before
them, they will place the institu-
ton on such footing that there will
| be no more sensations there here
after.
Judge Cooley, Gen. Bragg and
Col. VIM. r. Morrison, interstate
commerce commissioners, held a
session in the office of the railroad
commissioners a few days ago to
determine question brought be-
fore the commission by Mr.. Abiel
Leonard and other farmers and
stoekmen of Saline county. Mr..
Leonard made complaint against
the Chicago & Alton Ry. Co. of ex.
tortion, based on the ground of a
change in rates made by that com.
pany on the 1st of January, this
lyear. The change abolished the
system previously in vogue of rent
ing a car to stock shippers fer $50
say from Mt. Leonard, in Saline
county, to Chicago, and submitted
the one of charging so much pei
100 lbs. of stock carried. The com.
plainants averred that this was ar
increase of rate of from % to 80 pei
cent. and was therefore exorbltant
The commission heard the com
plants and the railroads attorneys
and will announce its decision il
| due time.
The passage by the Legislator,
Of the electoral reform bill, the an
ii trust bill and the anti-optior
trading bill has attracted the atten
tion of the country to the progress
iveness of Missouri, and not only
is the Legislature being praised fo.
its timely acts, but Gov. Francis
comes in also for large share of thu
encemiums for having so prompt
ly approved these measures. Al
an instance of what some of thu
Eastern papers are saying the fol
lowing is appended:
cit would be too much lik.
Iplaying prophet to suggest tha
Gov. David r. Francis, of Mis-
souri,, can have the Presidential
nomination in 1892 if he wants it
But events are Enthusiastically point
ing that way without any assistanc
from the Governor himself. H
has been Mayor of st. Louis an'
made a fine record in that position
He paid out of his own pocket tn
Is7 900 necessary to give his State
creditable representation at tn
| Washington Centennial, thus bring
ing himself into honorable promi
nence before the country. He i
not free trade crank, but is deep
lily concerned In the development o
his own State with its immense re
sources of wealth that the blight o
| slavery kept hidden from viey
while great commonwealth grew
Iup on every side of it. He is ais
right On ballot reform and an hon
est suffrage, as his latest official &C
demonstrates. The Governor j
not a candidate now. He is to
sagacious to invest in Presidentia
stock three years in advance of an
possible return. But it is not wis
for the Democracy to forget tina
Missouri has in training a youny
man of great ability and prudence
of boundless popularity at home
and with reputation that has no
received a stain.o
II Electric Bitters.
This remedy is becoming SO wei
known and 80 popular as to nee
!, M snaeiaJ raor41nr All vho how