The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-12-09
CHAMP CLARK TALKS.
He Speaks of the Probable Work
of the Coming Thiriy-sixth
Assembly.

A correspondent OF the st. Louis
Republic, called upon Hon. Champ
Clark, a recognized leader of the last
House of Representatives, a few days
ago at his home at Bowling Green.
Mo-, to ascertain what in bis iudg.
ment would be the measures of must
importance before tht next legislature.
Mr.. Clark was 10th to express any
opinion, but finally said: "lhe dem
ocrats, having a large majority to
both houses. ought TO make the Aus
trslian system of voting apply to the
whole state, after removing from il
such detects as have becon apparent.
This should be made party measure,
Tor if there is any one thing for which
democracy especially stands more
than another it is a fair and free cleo
ton. Even with its crudities the
Austria ian system has given ample
satisfaction tO hVU1et anu InIenIgeuu
people. 1t would be a great boon if
it could be made to apply to primary
elections.
The prosperity or NJ c...o IL:
versity would be greatly promoted if
the state would give it a permanent
endowment of liberal amount. It'll
is crippled in its influence by the fact
that it has to beg every legislature for
an appropriation. IF is were ade.
quately endowed there is no reason
why it would not take rank with
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Johns,
Hopkins, Michigan and Virginia uni
versities, but it viii never be Sd until
it is properly endowed.
The most troublesome question that
will confront the legislature is that of
how to dispose OF the convict labor.
someone proposed in the last legisla-
ture to work the surplus convicts in
building two great reck roads-one
running east and west and the other
north and south through the state.
That Was a good plan, only there
should be three or four each way
throughout the state instead
of one. For instance, there
is already ~ miles of fine
gravel road from Louisiana westward
to Bowling Green. The State could
continue this westwardly through
Mexico to st. Joseph. Another
might be advaptageously built from
Hannibal westward to St. Jae, an
other from ST. Louis to Kansas City
and still another from Cape Girardeau
TO point ON the Kansas and Mis-
sonri line opposite Fort Scott. This 1
is about the only service to which
convicts can be put which would not
conflict with the Union Labor vrsan I
izations, and would be universally c
/ think, and be of untold S
benefit to the State. The building of
three or four State roads each way t
through the State would soon induce |
the various counties to put their Jail 9
to work on roads connecting G
with these great State roads, and in a e
few years every thoroughfare in Mis-
souri, would be macadamized or grav-
elled.
"During the canvass the F. and L. s
unions discussed the great problem of
taxes and remedelling our q
system so as 10 prevent double taxa a
ton. A man who can accomplish '
that will most assuredly deserve the {
good will of the country. 1t is hard c
to do, but some lucky fellow may 1
suggest feasible plan, and for many q
reasons it is to be hoped that such s
will be the case.
1.-The last legislature passed law I
taxing the express companies 2 per !
cent of their gross earnings. That !
was my bill. 1t was right and the '
state needed the money, but the ex-
press companies simply raised rates. a
The legislature should give the Rail J
road commissioners power to fix
express rates as we'll as railroad rates.
''These measures are in my opinion
of most pressing necessity"