Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-01-25

strict or extinsguish personal eufarprfgs aT DE-
- - Le2ls 9L nose lar opportunities for
Tor q century past, it has been orr boast vera
open to every American citizen. The t usfs''
invade every interest and outrage every right of
the citizen ana establiah Whenever and vhs rsveE
tnsy ere successful IN their aimsg despotism
equalied Tor audacity and rapacity In the hist rv
OF the worlds commerce.
EOTARIEs PUBLIC.
The laws providing for the appointment OF No
ltrles Fuplcs ana denning their duties should
be revised. These officers are authorized to per
FORM many important duties. They are emDOE-
ered 20 acknowledge COnveyanCes OF real estate,
to take dispositions, and TO protest bill of eT-
ehangss bonds and prOmissOry notes. Their Of
heiai functions. involving a vast range OF the
most important financial and coInunef ,siai frsng
actions should Ee discharged with scrupulous
care and eZactness. Full and accurate details OF
all their official acts should be kept in books of
record; and they. should be required to deposit
their books. at the close Of each wear. In ~ a.
nee Of the District Clerk 1t is true that the
law requires every Notary to keep a fair record
OF his official acts,' but no penalty Is imDOssd
Tor failure 70 comply with this requirement, and
IL Is doubtful whether one Notary in q hundred
ever does keep such records. No Limitation is
placed on the number Of Notaries to be aUl-
pointed and a. result every person who pre-
sents a petition signed by reputable citizens
axe now over $500 citizens of Kansas holding
commissions as NOtaries Public
1IneLYltably. the loose requirements OF our laws
ana the enormous number OF persons empOw-
cred TO exercise the functions of NOtariess lead
70 loose and reckless performance OF nOtariai
duties. In several cases that have engaged the
attention OF our courts serious frauds in he at
!!eeaI uocunaenUss nave D5en d1sc JVered. these
1nstances Will multiply each year, unless the
of11ce OF Notary Public is made what 1t ought 10
De- an important public trust, the duties OF
which are clearly defined BY law. with severe
PeAaILless Lor their neglecc- The record NOtarIes
be clear and full. 1t should give, in coaveyences
the name OF the grantOr and g antees the nature
OF ths !nsLrument OF writing the property con-
Veyed, the confederation, the names OF witnesses,
and all other important facts and il thOuld be
made the duty OF the Notary. IN all cases, to
adopt every possible mslsuie to guard against
being made party TO the preparation Of fraud
limitation in the number Of NOtaries author
lied to be appointed should also be made thus
more cert lly insaring the selection of cOmpe-
tent persons.
ALIEN LAND HOLDINGS.
The people. at the late election, adopted tn
following emendment to section seventeen, f
the Bill OF Rights Of the Constitutions:
SECTION II. No distinction shall ever be
made bstWeen citizens Of the State OF Kan
saB and the citizens OF Othsr States and Terri
tories Of the United States in reference to the
purchase. enjoyment or descent of property. The
rights OF aliens to the purchase, enjoyment and
decent OF property may be regulated by law"
The Weu-understOOd purpose of this auen1-
ment was to p 7rrnit the enactment OF laws pro
nbiting the accumulation of va landed est ats
by aliens. Such accommodations are detri.u n a.
to the interests of the State and should be maze
impossible. COmpreheliiv and string gent laws,
recited, should be enacted at the present session
Of the Legislature.
HONEST ELECTIONS.
1 again call the attsn ton Of the Legislature to
q fact that our present registration law invites
and encourages rather than prevents ana pun
lshest illegal voting. All good citizens CT all
political opinions recognize the necessity Of
stringent laws to secure purity, honesty and cor
rectness in the exercise of the elective franchise
A free ballot and an honest count WRONGS no
one. Every legal voter should be protected in
the full enjoyment OF his rights at the balIOt-box
and, at the same time, no one should to cast
vote who his not all the qualifications OF a legal
voter. A just, wise and adequate registry law
Will secure thRss results, and the LEGISLATURE
snCuIds at It's present fslon, provide such law.
TIE TEMPERANCE LAWS
There is no longer any issue or controversy IL
Kansas concerning the results and benehcsnce
or our temperance lave. ExcepU1n q te " or Jh5
larger clr4ess al hostility 10 them has dlsap-
peared. For elk years. ct four exciting gene a
elections the questions involved in the abolition
or Lhe saloon WeTe GlsUQrnlng aga prominent
Issues, but at the election held in NOvem Der la +
this subject was rarely mentioned b. partisan
speakers or newspapers. Public OpioluD, 1t Is
p ainly apparent. mas undergone d N 4rked change
and there are now very few citizens Of kausas
Who would be willing TO return to the Old or
der Of things.
The change OF sentiment OF this QUESTION IS
we'll grounded and natural, No observing d q
cent results already attained Fully line- te LLhs
of the drinking and drunkenness prevalent in
Kansas eight years ago have been abolished; and
state ia to Cigv tho most tsInu eraIe OrdsrIy -
Der community of people in the civilized world.
The abolition of the saloon has no. only pro-
NOTED the personbl happiness and general pros
perity Of our citiZsns. but it has enormously dI-
minished crime; has hlled thousands of hOln-s,
where vice and want and wretchedness once pre-
has materially increase ID the trade and business
of those engaged in the sale Of ueeful and wao-C-
some articles OF merchandise. NJtWl thstandlng
the fact that the pOpulat of the state Is stead
ily increasing, the number of criminals confined
in our penitentiary Is steadlly decreasing. Many
OF our jails empty. and all show marcel
falling off in the number Of prisoners confined.
The dOckets of our COutts ere 20 longer bur
dened with long lists OF criminal eases. IN the
Capital district. containing pODu alton OF nearg
sixty thousand, not a single criminal case Yves on
the docket when the present tern p5gan. ms
business OF the police con IS OF oar larger cities
has dwindled TO One-fourth OF its former proper
tions, while IN cities or the second ana Julrd
class the occupation OF police authorities IL prac-
facts appeal alike TO the reason ana the conscience
OF the peOpls- They have racOnciled those who
doubted the success, and sllenced those who OPP
posed the pollcy or prOh1Dl ing the 4iqoor CE4LIo
The laws now on our statute books touching
this question. need lew, II any, amendments.
Fairly and honestly enforced, they maze u pf45-
ideally impossible for any person to sell 1ntOxt-
eating hqnors, as beverage, IN any Kansas town
or city. What IS needed, therefore, Is not more
rigorous laws, bat a Systematic and sincere en-
forcemenL OF the laws We nave. Tae one a5di-
swift aud certain removal and punishment of
Comfy Attorneys, Sherids, and other local
to Discharge their official duties, as dirssted
by law. The Attorney General should be
EN- powered to commence either in the
District or Supreme Court proceedings in custer
against any County Attorney, Sheriff, or other
local peace officer, who neglsCts or refuses to do
his duty in enforcing the laws prohibiting the
S,ioinfs d" or other places where Intoxicating
exist within the jurisdiction Of such officers,
should be made just and sufficient ground for
their removal from office. With such Law to
stimulate them, local officers would do their
whole duty, and wherever and whenever they do
this, the illegal traffic IN Intoxicating liquors
can and will be suppressed.
Your attention is directed in this connection,
to the very full and comprehensive report OF the
Attorney General, whose knowledge OF the work
ing and results of our temperance laws IS drawn
from practical experience. and whose zeal, energy
/ and courage in enforcing all laws has been con-
spicuOusly illusu ated during his official terms.
THE FORT RILEY RESERVATION.
The Secretary of War has, by letter, requested
that an act be passed. cedin to the United States
| jurisdiction over the territory included within
the limits of the Fort Riley Military reservation.
I The State ceded such jnrisGi elton, years ago,
over the military reserV atoms at Forts LeaVen-
| Ngarth and Han. The General GOVarnment ia