Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-01-25

and obedience to, all laws on the stat
ute books.n
Speaking further of the metropolitan
police system, he says:
This system, apart from its relations
to prohibition seems to have developed
into sort OF corrupt political adjunct
or the party in power, SO that vena
methods for the control of local and
state politics have been more consider
ed than duty under the law. Appoint
ments under this system are often made
as reward for party service more than
fitness for the duty TO be performed.
and thus the support of additional Off
Gals is added to the burdens of the
taxpayers, to say nothing of the meth
DDS OF extortion approximating black
mail which are said to prevail under
the practical operations of the law. 1t
may be said that judicious exercise of
the appointing power should result in
complete obedience to the law; but
lead to other conclusions. While this
is true. it still remains that none of
these difficulties nor all of them war
rant the citizens of the state. much less
the officers of the law, in disregarding
the law Of the land, nor in suffering its
violation with impunity. Nothing can
be more demoraliZing in community
than the open violation of a law unac-
companied by wholesome effort for
its enforcement: and however lame or
inadequate it may be, the duty of those
who administer the laws is clearly in
dicated''
The governor advocates giving to the
railroad commission something more
than advisory power; giving their or
ders the force of law with a right of
appeal to the supreme court reserved;
giving them, too, enlarged powers reg
ulating interstate freight rates. lie
further urges the abolition of the free.
pass system. The message urges
thorough revision of the statutes or in
case this is not done, series of consti-
tutIonal amendments to be submitted
to the people. Among others, he men
tions one togallow the legislators more
than so days pay; some effecrive and
fair way of determining contested cleo.
lions to the legislature; an amendment
permitting the governor TO veto part
without vetOing all of an Appropriation
bill; to allow the supreme court to as
sign the judge CT one district to sit as
judge in any other district; to allow the
supreme court to suspend a Judge
pending impeachment; to extend the
term OF Office for county attorney to
wears.
The message recommends also the
Australian ballot system and longer
residence in the precinct to acquire the
right to vote; also in our larger cities
registration laws with published lists
Of all who register with age and place
OF residence prior 10 election. In case
OF tie votes, the matter should be refer
red back to the people. Speaking of
mortgages, the governor advocates their
taxation, the repeal Of the waiver OF
appraisement clause, and the absolute
prohibition or the gold clause. Speak
ing of the taxation of mortgages, he
recon- mends that said taxes be a lien
against the property. to be paid either
by the mortgagor or by the mortgage.
If paid by the mOrtgagOr, then to count
as a payment on the mortgage. He al
SO favorS removal Of the severe penal
ty for delinquent taxes.
He shows that the amount paid for
grain inspection is altogether too large.
The governor favors the furnishing
of textbooks by school districts free to
the scholars
1t is quite noticeable how large a por-
ton of the message is given to edu-
cational affairs, and how emphatic that
portion is for extensive improvement.
These are the main features Of the
message.
Considering the governors political
views, its conservatism must be sur
prise to his opponents. Nevertheless;
| the governor recommends such reforms
as are immediately practical. He shows
no signs of weakness. His message
illustrates what we have always claimed
| that theoretical reforms are ALWAYS
far in advance of practical application
and so they ought to be. 1t was so in
the days of abolition. The theorist
was the fOre-runner of the practical
reforming statesman.
Slowly and through difficult process SEES
even through war and bIoodshed were
| the radical dreams of the fanatic
sbolitloniSt wrought into the practical
reality by the reforming statesman.