The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1891-01-31
The Capital Removal.

There awaits the Constitutional Con-
vention an important question which
the newspapers have tried to fan into
flame.
At the beginning of this session
some drivers of the quill tried TO stir
up removal of the capital, but that
movement soon spent its force as it
was ascertained that few members
were in favor of adopting such a
measure when no public interest of
the State would be served by its
adoption and they have failed as yet
to give any plausible reason why the
the removal should be made. Louis
vile and Lexington are each striving
to be the possessor of the seat of
government, and all the reasons that
either has given so far are local, al
though they have tried to 'sugar-coat
them with "best interest Of the
State'' appearances. While they are
engaged in the pleasing diversion of
making faces at each other Frankfort
is in the attitude of the negro on
trial for stealing chickens, who told
the Judge he was ''willing to let the
matter drap."
Louisville has construed the action
of the Convention in retaining in the
report on revenue the clause permit
ting taxation by cities to raise money to
defray expenses Of the removal of the
capital as direct proposition to sell
the capital out to the highest bidder,
consequently her Commercial Club
is sending forth throughout the State
what they term as reasons for the
location Of the capital in Louisville.
1t is urged that Louisville has better
railroad facilities that will enable our
legislators and officials from all parts
Of the State to reach that city more
easily than Frankfort. We do not
concede the correctness of the propo-
i, sition but, granting it's truth for the
sake of argument, did it ever occur
to the agitators of our sister city of
the Beargrass that the same railroad
facilities that would carry members
ofthe Legislature to the capital would
carry them away as easily? Take as
an illustration of this proposition the
delegation from Louisville in the
present convention and in legislative
assemblies for years past. On Satur-
days and Mondays several vacant
seats of Louisville members may be
counted in those bodies. 10 this the
result Of lack Of railroad facilities?
Assuredly not, for we know that the
sessions of those bodies are so ar
ranged on those days that every
member Of that delegation may
spend his Sundays at home with his
family and never miss roll call on
any proposition pending.
If this is a fitting illustration it
proves one thing clearly, and that is,
if you increase the facilities of travel
you increase the number Of absen-
tees.
One Of the eloquent orators in the
Louisville mass meeting gave utter
ance to some curious expressions
while protesting great consideration
for Frankfort. He said he thought
Frankfort had enjoyed the capital
long enough, but it seems that "she
wants the earth" The true mean
ing of this expression seems to
be that the capital is luxury that
should be passed around to the diff
ferent cities Of the State every few
years. Acting in the line Of this
suggestion it would be well for the
Convention to build government
buildings on wheels SO that they
can be trundled down to Louisville
this year and to Paducah, Middles-
borough or Beattyville the year
following.
He also delighted in saying that no
one ever came to Frankfort on pleas
ure, but came to this "side-
tracked" town as matter Of duty.
He accounted for the immoralities
that some members of Legislatures
have INDUCED in by saying that here
''satan finds something still for idle
hands to do" and that cards and
liquor were INDUCED in for want of
4. hi IL,