Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-01-19

ice Of the District Clerk It Is true thst the
law requires every Notary to keep fGr record
Tor failure to comply With this requirement. and
it f. doubtful whether one Notary in hundred
ever does keep such records. No Limitation u
pointed, and a . result. every person who pre-
eents petition signed By reputable citizens
known to thu Executive. Is appointed. There
commissions e. Notsries Public.
Inevitably, the loose requirements OF our laws
and the enormous number OF persons empoW:
cred to exercise the functions Of Notaries. lead
| to loose and reckless performance of notarial
duties. In several cases that have engaged the
sttention of our courts, serious frauds in the at
Legal documeHts. have been discovered. these
office q. Notary Public is made what it ought to
Is q Sssnsd law .1 Vita
penalties for their neglect. The record Notariee
are required to keep Of their official acts should
Sss1 and houd give IL
OF the instrument OF writing, the property con-
veyed, the confederation, the names Of witnesses,
and all other important facts; and it thould be
made the duty Of the Notary. in all cases, to
adopt every possible measure to guard against
being made party to the preparation OF fraud.
Limitation in the number OF Notaries author
more cert lly ins1ring the selection Of compe-
tent persons.
ALIEN LAND HOLDINGS.
The psopls. at the late election. adopted tn.
following amendment to section seventeen. Gf
the Bill Of Rights Of the Consultations,
SECTION IT, No distinction shall ever be
made between citizens of the State Of Kan
sas and the citizens of other States and Terri
tories of the United Ststss in reference to the
purchase enjoyment or descent OF property. me me
descent OF property may be regulated by law"
The well-understood purpose OF this amend
ment was to p srmit the enactment OF laws pro-
tboo lofiO nj
by aliens. Such accumulations are detrimental
to the interests of the State and should be MADE
impossible. Comprehent i've and stringent laws,
emb0dying the spirit of the amendment above
recited, should be enacted at the present session
OF the Legislature.
HONEST ELECTIONS.
again call the attsp ton of the Legislature to
Il fact that our present registration law invites
and encourages rather than prevents and pun
ishes. illegal voting. All good citizens OF ~!
political opinions recognize the necessity OF
reotness 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 OF his rights a. sh sn9 TO
vote who his not all the qualifications OF legal
voter. A just. wise and adequate registry law
should, at its PRESENT. tsion, provide such law.
THE TEMPERANCE LAWS.
There is no longer any issue or controversy In
Kansas concerning tbs results and benehcence
of our temperance laws. E1ceptin a few Of the
larger cities. all hostility to them has disap-
peared. For elk years, at four exciting general
elections, the questions involved in the abolition
of the saloon were disturbing and prominent
issues but at the election held in November last,
this subject was rarely mentioned by partisan
speakers or newspapers: Public opinion, 1t II
ard there are now very few citizens OF Kansas
who would be willing to return to the old or
The change of sentiment on this question Is
well-grounded and natural. No observing and
intelligent citizen ha, failed to note the beneh-
cent results already attained. Fully nine tenths
Kansas eight years ago have been abolished; and
affirm, with earnes ness and emphasis, that this
State is to dav, thu most temperate, orderly. So
The abolition of the saloon has no. only pro-
NOTED the personal happiness and general pros
perity of our citizens. but it has enormously di-
where vice and want and wretchedness once pre-
vailed, with peace, plenty and contentment; and
has materially increased the trade and business
some articles of merchandise. Notwithstanding
the fact that the population of the state is stead
lily increasing, the number of criminals confined
, Of our jails are empty, and all show q marked
falling off in the number OF prisoners confined.
The dOckets of our courts are no longer bur
dened with long lists of criminal cases. In the
Capital district containing population of nearly
xty Thousand, not q single criminal case wae on
the docket when the present term began. The
business 81 the poioe C@9t fi our larger c1s1ee
tons, while in cities of the second and third
class the occupation of police authorities Is prac
hcally gone. These suggestive and convincing
factsappeal alike to the reason and the conscience
of the people. They have reconciled those who
doubted the success, and silenced those who OPP
posed the policy of prohibiting the liquor traffic.
The laws now ON our statute books touching
this question. need few, il any, amendments.
Fairly and honestly enforced. they make it prac-
ideally impossible for any person to sell intoxi-l
or city. What is needed. therefore, is not more
rigorous laws. but systematic and sincere en-
forcement Of the laws we have. The one addi-
ton would suggest, is a law providing for the
swift and certain removal and punishment Of
County Attorneys. Sheriffs. and other local
Judicial officers, who fsii or d n?ssiscs
By iaS s.n': The e Attorney General should s.
empowered to commence either In the
District or supreme Court, proceedings in custer
local peace officer. Who neelscts or 1ef9.:: to %
his duty in enforcing the laws prohibiting the
sale Of Intoxicating liquors., and proofs that
81 S1ss ss,. hsss g
exist within the Jurisdiction Of such officers.
should be made Just and suthcient ground tor
their removal from office With such 9 ny e
whole duty, and wherever and Whenever tAey do
this, the illegal traffic in. intoxicating liquors
cen and viii Be s9ppreased.
to the very tull and comprehensive report of tie
Attorney General whose knoWledee OF the wor1,
ing and results OF our tempeeance laws = drawn
from prsctioal experience. and whose seal. onseUy
and courage In enforcing all laws has been con.
spicuously illustrated during his of6ctA tsEmA
TIE FORT RILxY REsERvAIIoN.
Tho Secretary OF War has. b. Letter. .sq1ested
thatea oct b passed, eedin to the United 6e,tss
juriediction over the territory included within
ths limits Of the Fort Riley Military Reservation.
ne 0tats oeaed such jurisdiotiou. yoars ego.
over the military reeervations et Forts Leavsn-
worth and Hays. The 6ensrI Goveenmeef =
nov mahlnR extensive improvements et Eort
Riley, With . view to utilizing Il - school OF
inotxuction for cavalry and Mdllery.
RKxEWD REPRESENTATIONS.
I ronsv The recommendations embodied In
pcvyio0e messages urging . reyieion ct Laws n.
Safine TO Insurance. public highWays tes Of
of6esEe, The mileage system sepit1 p9nlsnmene
iullioial xistricta and tailro4dA and 0iroee yo1
mss3s ooocernine Pablo printing ana ths naa-
aesmsnt OF our State charitable tnsdtntaoae
Oheervnfion and oxperienco have only Combined
the opinions already expre<sed upon I'll OF thsss
C0XmEHIOH.