Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-01-26

CLASSIFIED nxxBxRsHIR.
Othsr changes in our fundamsntal law are sug
| gested by experience and demanded ~ our y
| tered conditions. In revising the Leeislanve q
ticle. it would seem wise to classify the memoe
.hp Of the two houaes providing tna ~ me tS.t n
| the commencement of each ees.ion. comma
bic number of members OF either mouse Va
have had Legislative experience
ganisation, save time insure ACCURACY ana EN-
cheney in tie transaction of public business, ane
be of incalculable bsneft in many ways.
LIMITED SESSIONS.
Under our biennial system the limitation Of
the session to fifty day. is no logger advisable.
Excluding Sundays and counting out the time
necessarily consumer in organization and IN tne
election of State Printer and United States
Senator, the time remaining IL wholly IN
great State. Local and special bills consume
much time. the work done is often crude and IN.
Considerable: aud important general measures o1e
consider them This limitation should be re-
moved or extended. and members allowed q rea.
sonable Ter diem or fixed salary. The present
compensation of members OF the Legislature II
inadequate, unjust, parsimonious, nlggardly.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Notwithstanding the evident purpose OF the
trainers of our constitution to prohibit it. The
provision that ~ special law shall be enacted
There general lay can made
easy of evasion and utterly fails of its
purpose. The result is that special bills crowd
the calender each session. providing for RENE
dies in specia! cases, oftsntimes miechievous, II
not vicious, in character and design, adding
much to the general expense. REGARDING public
business and consuming time that should be de-
To- Dfy A.
ment specifically forbidding the passage of any
act to change name. coaferring the rights of
majority, to authorize the issue of bond& or q
sns0si ssH levy IN any particular case By
officer or body, to authorize particular roads or
highways, or to vaca; Streets wonld be effective
and wise. Parties should be compelled to seek
remedy, in all such cases, in the courts or the
board of county commissioners. upon whom the
needful authority should be conferred If it does
not exist.
THE JUDICIARY.
Scarcely anything can be more important to
the people than tn. prompt dispatch Of business
CANT, to whom the laws delay are especially
grievnus. And this applies with added force to
the courts of last resort. Our Supreme Court,
t. the
ers of people. 1t should be better paid and re-
lteved by an amendment adGing more justices, of
an intermediate appellate court should be
from the courts below. Provision
should also be made for increasing the number
of district judge in those counties constituting
a single judicial district, where one district
Judge cannot transact the business. It might
be well, also. to prohibit the creation of judi
cial district containing less than given popula-
ton. or the reduction of any existing district
below such basis.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Changes in the fundamental law can come
only through convention, or by amendments.
1t would take several years to reach the end by q
it the initial steps vera at once
taken: though am sure that such a convention
would afford the most satisfactory means of
curing the many infrmities that have crept into
the constitution by the lapse of time. I am
can never receive the Endorsement of
4 majority of the people of Kansas, unless tome
assurance could be given that neither of several
important features of the present constitution
IN peril, of which may mention the prohibitory
and the homestead exemption. And
proposed new constitution which should not
re. would be Overwhelmingly rejected by the
,eople when submitted to them for ratification.
ID no restrictions respecting these features could
rs imposed upon convention that would neces-
ar1ly bind that body when once called into ex-
stence, it is doubtful if such a. call would meet
nth popular favor; and the surest, cheapest and
peediest mode of relief would seem therefore
8WROOmS0C8.
AMENDMENTS. ::
No more than three propositions to amend the /;
constitution can be submitted at one time; but |
cannot we'll be doubted that each proposition |
lay include all. or any number of the sections |
any article; 80 that three propositions could |
mbrace amendments to all the sections of as |
lany articles islativs. judicial and execu- :
devised. could thus bs given q |
idth of scope sufficient to reach at once the |
klsItlne defects calling most urgently for i'm
lediate cure.
TIME OF SUBMITTING.
The practice as to the time when amendments |
1ould be submitted has followed the generally
ccepted though doubtful conclusion that they /
an be lega! ~ voted upon only at elections for |
representatives. in the even-numbered years.
ell be questioned: AT the next election for !
is the time Indicted by sec
on !, article Il, wnen proposed amendments
LENDERS to the Legislature" is the time fixed !!
y section OF said article, when a call for
institutional convention may be submitted.
ccordinGly. up to 1875 there was NO question
bout submitting amendments annually or a
III for convention biennially. for the House
I'D Senate terms were one and two years, re-
'ectiveIy. But the amendment to the Legisla-
two and four years, beginning with the cleo
on in 1876, the Il ct underline biennial plan; and
is commended hist this change operates to ex- .
nd the Limitation of time in said sections one
cordlngly. SO that propositions to amend the
institution can be properly submitted only .v-
, second year, and call for a convention onIy
II this is the correct conclusion. then article
urteen has been altered and amended in both ;;
ctlons, without any action upon it by the peo-
Q or the legislature, which 10 impossible. II
o House and Senate term, has been to Likewise =,
ange the time originally indicated by sections ,
g and two of the superintendent article to two