The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-15


heat of partisan politics. and it should b
the policy of the law to make the jude
ial as nearly as possible non-partisan.
Fifth-Another reform much needed Is
an extension Of the term of Office OF the
state officers. The short term OF oi1lee
now existing, and the consequent de
votion by the officer of almost his whole
term to the effort 70 secure a ren0mlna-
ton by his party, impairs seriously the
value of his services to the public This
evil mas been recognized in many OF the
states, and constitutional provision has
been made for an increased term of office
together with ineligibility to a succeed
ing term. Such provision would be
attended with the further benefit OF less
frequent elections.
Sixth-The short period now provided
for the session of the legislature, which
seems to so commend itself to the people
Kansas, seems TO me to be productive OF
much more evil than good. If the legis-
lature could by some means or other
be compelled to pass all the de
sirable laws first. and then De
cut off before any bad ones could be
passed, the short session might answer
! good purpose. This seems TO have been
| the theory upon which the constltu-
tion-makers proceeded, and it seems
to have made lasting impression upon
| the people of Kansas, Notwithstanding
the unvarying experience to the con-
| trary. The fact has been that all of the
bad legislation, all of the selfish schemes
and private interests are first pressed for
ward consideration. Probably all the
| Objectionable legislation which would be
passed if the legislature sat throughout
the year is pushed through in the short
period allotted. Probably some of the
| legislation most complained of would, if
| the session were longer, have been ex-
posed and prevented. On the other
hand, much needed legislation, that
which would be of general public value,
has been crowded out. 1t is the good
legislation, and not the bad, which is
lost sight of, in the rush of the short
terms. a review of Kansas legislation
ought to be sufficient to convince any
one that the evident purpose of short
legislative session has not been served.
In perhaps no state OF the
union are the laws upon al
most all subjects so carelessly
drawn, and so ili-considered. The net
result of thirty years experience of short
legislative sessions, is body of laws of
inferior quality and exceptional among
the states in the number and variety of
their defects. In no other state IS the
allowance of time for the sitting of the
legislature SO short. Alanifestly, the
panacea for bad legislation Is not short
sessions.
Seventh-The present constitution con-
tainS provision for the double liability
of stockholders of corporations. The
usefulness of this provision Is doubtful.
Its advantage in the case of banking cor
porations is manifest, for the reason that
they are semi-publi- institutions. and
bear fiduciary character towards a
large portion of the public. They can
not be hedged about with too much re-
sponsibility on the part of their stock
holders and directors. But, with regard
to corporations organized for ordinary
business purposes, the same reasons for
for protecting those who deal with them
do not exist. 1t would greatly promote
business enterprises and the investment
of capital if there were some means of
putting at stake only the amount of
money actually invested IN the enter
prise. 1t should be the policy of the
of capital in business ventures.
Eighth-There is another provision in
the constitution which seems to be I'M
Just, as well as without substantial rea-
son, namely: that making judges ineligi-
bic for any office during the period for
which they shall have been elected. 1t
is generally understood to be 2 fact that
this disqualification of judges was in
serted in the constitution at the instance
of political leader for the purpose of
for himself an advantage over
a distinguished rival. 1t certainly does
not seem to be founded in sound reason,
to deprive one who may be elected Judge
of substantial rights of citizenship for a
given period of time. Practically it has
little further effect than TO debar dis
trict Judge from promotion TO the SUI
preme bench, and thus to shut out from
the highest judicial Office the class of
men among whom the best candidates
would be most likely TO be found. Judges
are not by this provision prevented from
in politics, lnasmuch As II
has been wholly dlsregarded by congress. \
No other offices than those # member of
and Judge of the supreme court
are likely TO be asplred to by district
Judge.
l have not in this paper designed 10 do |
more than call attention to a few lead |
ing subjects, touching which change in !
the present constitution is desirable. In !
numerous details its deficiencies will be 7.
to any one giving 1t a casual I
examination. For example, it is pro- 4
yided, by most inapt expression, that /
probate Judges shall be their own clerks. /
This is a mat er of trivial detail, which 4
would better be left to the action OF the /
legislature.