Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-02-04
DuNsMoRE AND DOUGLASS.
The Speakers OF the Rival Houses ut Tope-
M Engage la u Spicy Correspondence.

| IOPEkA, Kan, teD. Just before the
rival houses adjourned Monday night,
Speaker Duusmore handed tc Speaker
Douglass a typewritton letter, and
when tho two houses met at o'clock
yesterday big crowd was on hand
to witness scene. Both sides were in
caucus several hours last night, the let
ter and the probable action of the re-
publicans being the subjects of discus
sion. The republican caucus resulted
in vote OF confidence In Speaker Doug.
lass and permission was given him to
draft letter in reply to Dunsmore.
Mr.. DUNsMoRE TO Mr.. DOUGLASS.
HALL OF THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE
jan 20. ls9a Hon. George L. Douglass. Ny
Dear Sir: As by the election OF United States
senator and state printer the political reasons
for obstruction In the house OF representatives
no longer exist can conceive OF no iustfable
excuse In your refusal TO recognize the author
ity OF the executive, the senate and the house
OF representatives rs now constituted
Ar good lawyer you are doubtless aware Of
the fact III you have taken the trouble 10 In.
form yourself in relation 10 the facts and have
consulted the journals OF the house, that the
present status between the executive and legiB.
nulled by the authority OF any other tribunal
unless such tribunal should attempt to exercise
o power not granted by the constitution and
laws and that the only possible reason for con-
tinucd obstruction now existing Is either per.
sonal to yourself and the hope that by legal
Qubbling. the laws delay and the favors OF .
partisan court tho republican party or at least
its managers and the representatives OF rail.
roads and other corporate interests may pre-.
~
| our hands.
Every we'll informed man in Kansas Is aware
OF the fact that the railroad and other corporate
managers in this state are behind you. prompt
| ing ard directing the action OF your party TO
| block the wheels OF legislation. even going so
ar, Us / am informed by good authority as 10
| advance tho pay OF yourself and other republic
ans through one Of the banks OF this city close
| ly connected with certain railroad interests.
| IT, Us you profess, you desire the legislation re-
| Quired by the debt-burdcned people OF Kansas,
is It not about time that you give evidence Of
that fact by recognizing the executive and
| legislative authorities now working In har-
| mony:
The experience OF the last session should
convince you that the legislation required can
| only be obtained by political union between
the house OF representatives and senate Upon
| this union depends In great measure the pos
| sibility OF legislation In favor OF the worlds
fair and many public institutions throughout
the state, and especially along the line Of rail.
! road control. Two years ago II was the repub-
| lican senate against the opposition house.
Many now desire y republican house against an
opposition senate In either case the result
| must be the same.
As but O few committees have been appointed
| by me, opportunities still exist for an adjust.
ment Of the present trouble In q manner honor
| able 10 all concerned and to that end would be
pleased TO receive and consider any proposition
you may deem proper 20 make, either verbally
or In writing, that does not bring into question
the integrity OF the legislature rs now orIan-
lied and the acts OF the executive in relation
thereto. II no such adjustment can be made we
will be under the necessity OF promptly pro-
ceednS to business without the valuable aid
and advice OF yourself and political friends. and
let the people OF Kansas judge between US.
With assurance OF my personal regard, am
very truly yours,
j. NJ. DUNsNoEE. Speaker
DOUGLASS DECLINES TO GIVE WAY.
Yesterday Mr. Douglass replied at
length, setting forth once more the re-
publican claims the alleged revolu-
tionary action of the populist minority
and the forging" of the rolls by Ben
c. Rich and contending in part:
II the proceedings by means OF which the
body over which you preside was organized
should ever be ncQuiesced in by the people OF
Kansas, il would be the end OF regular orderly
and constitutional government in this common
wealth The fact that the governor and mn
iority in the senate have so far succumbed to
the pressure OF partisan considerations rs
TO cOuntcnance such proceeding. In no
49, .ue q faNa
the obligation and emphasizes the duty OF all
hwnbiding citizens TO protest against It. Such
eountenance by the executive 0nd the senate
cannot annihilSte or destroy the legal and con-
stitutioual house OF representatives chosen BY
the people TO DO the peoples will The powers
OF the executive and the senate IRE many aud
great; but the power TO perform miracles Is
not one OF them and despite all assertions to
the contrary IL remains true that they arc
poweriess either to create o majority out OF .
minority or 70 destroy by their fiat the consti-
tutiOnal and lawful body OF representatives OF
the people
take issue with your assumption that tho
courts have no constitutional power TO deter
mine whether an alleged act OF the legislature
was ever In fact passed BY the legislature or by
some other body. 1t is the highest duty Of the
courts TO 80 declare.
Your tntimatton thAt IN derenulng inc rlgntS
81 the constitutional body, Of which l nm the
speaker. may be influenced by personal mo-
tiVes. and that desire TO prevent legislation
demanded by the people is an unworthy impu-
tation which must leave those who know me
best TO answer. In like manner / notice.
but pass without comment. the unwor.
thy reflection upon tho integrity and character
Of the democratic and republican members OF
the lawful house OF representatives involved In
your assertion that In this struggle for law and
order they are prompted and directed by the
railroads and other cerporntonS You will
yourself recognize the peculiar imprnpriety Of
this when / recall to you the fact that, on the
18th dav OF this month, after comforting with
many OF the members Of the house, / offered lin
event OF the then proposed adjustment OF our
difficulties TO give not only large number OF
leading committees 10 the members OF the peo-
pies party, but also TO give them the chair.
manship and full control OF the railroad COM
mittee.