Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-09
DuNsMoRE AND DOUGLASS.
The Speakers of the Rival Houses at Tope-
ka Engage In a spicy Correspondence.

ka Engage in spicy Correspondence
TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. Just before the |
rival houses adjourned Monday night |
Speaker Dunsmore handed to Speaker
Douglass a typewriter letter, and
when the two houses met at 9 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.. DUEsMoRE To MR.. DOUGLASS.
HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPREs ENTATIvEs,
Jan 90, 1893 Hon. George L. Douglass, My
Dear Sir: AS by the election of United States
senator and state printer the political reasons
Cor obstruction in the hC-sse of representatives
no longer exist, can conceive of no iustifiable
excuse in your refusal to recognize the author.
ity of the executive, the sers.te and the house
of representatives as now constituted
As a good lawyer you doubtless aware of
the fact Gf you have taken the trouble to in
form yourself in relation to the facts and have
consulted the journals of the house, that the
present status between the executive and legis-
lative departments cannot be disturbed or
nulled by the authority of any other tribunal
unless such tribunal should attempt to exercise
a power not granted by the constitution and
laws, ana mat the only possible reason Tor con-
t1nueC obstruction now existing IS either per-
sOnal to yourself and the hope that by legal
Quibbling. the laws delay and the favors of
partisan court. the republican party. or at least
its managers and the representatives of rail-
roads and other corporate interests. may pre-
vent the legislation that the people demand at
our hands.
Every well informed man in Kansas is aware
of the fact that The railroad and other corporate
managers in this state behind you prompt
ing and directing the action OF your party to
block the wheels OF legislation, even going so
ar, as am informed By good authority. as to
advance the pay of yourself and other republic
through one Of the banks OF this city close
~ connected with certain railroad interests
II, as you profess, YOU desire the legislation
QUired by the d sbt-burdencd 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 Iequired can
only be obtained by political union between
the house OF repFeSen tatiYeS and senate. Upon
this union depends in a great measure the pos
Sibl1ty OF legislation III favor OF the worlds
fair and many public institutions throughout
the state, and especially along the line of rail-
road control Two years ago it the repUb-
lican senate against the opposition house.
Many now desire republican house against
opposition senate In either case the result
must be the
AS but il few committees have been appointed
ment Of the present trouble in a manner honor
able to all concerned aud to that end would be
pleased TO receive and consider any proposition
you may deem proper to make. either verbally
or in writing. that does not bring into question
The integrity of the legislature now organ
lied and the acts of the executive in relation
thereto If such adjustment can be made. we
Will be under the necessity of promptly pro-
cecding 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, l am
very truly yours,
J. NJ DUNsMoRE. 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 popuiist minority
and the forging OF the rolls by Ben
Q. Rich and contending in part:
IF the proceedings by mean of which The
body ovec whiyh you preside organized
Sholld ever be a:quiesced in bv tn. ncool- Of
Kansas, it would be che end OF regular orderly
and CONSTITUTE mai government in this comm
wealth The fact that the governor ami a ma
jority in the scrat; n I've so far succumbs Il TO
the pressure OF partisan consi leraJious as
to ntcnancc such proceed ng, in no
wise changes the fast, excep- as it idtausiies
the obligation and empna >iZes the duty of all
lawabiding citizens 10 protest against it. Such
counten..ace by the executive ana the senate
stitutioual house of represen tn tiveS chosen by
the people to do IL peopie's will The powers
OF the executive and the senate are many aad
great: but lhe power to perform miracles is
not oneeof them and despite al assertions to
the contrary, 1t remains true that tleV are
powerless either 10 create q majority out OF d
minority to destroy by their fiat the conSji-
tutional and lawful BODY OF representatives Of
the people
take issue with your assumption that the
courts have no constitutional power TO deter
mine whether an alleged act of the legislature
ever il fact passed b. the legisla ture or by
some other body 1t is the highest duty of the
courts to SO declare
Your in tirnatiou that in defending the rig. g
OF the constitutional body OF which I am he
speaker. may be Influenced b. personal mo-
tives, and that desire 10 prevent legiSl1tion
demanded by The people is an unworthy impu-
tation which must leave those who know mo
best answer. In like INNER I notice.
but pass without comment, the unwor-
thy reflection upon the integrity and character
of the demotrati- and republican members of
the lawful house Of represen tatives involved in
your assertion that in this struggle for Law and
order they prompted and directed by the
railroads and other corporations. You Will
yourself RECON, re the peculiar improperly OF
this VIXEN 1 recall to the fact that, on the
18th dav OF this month after comforting with
many of The members of the house, I,Oifered tin
event of the then propos ed adjustment of our
difficulties to give no. onlI u large number OF
leading committees TO the members of the peo-
pies part, ont also TO give them the chair
manship and faA troll OF the railroad CON-
mittee.
have always been ready, and still am. to
confer with yourself any member with a
view to secur n e. honorable adjus tment OF
the present dim .uitieS to the end that leyisla-
ton proceed But any af1us :ment which
involves assent 10 tn extraordinary and revo-
lutiOnary n sthods whereby the bod over which
you preside was organized is and will remain
an impoSsibiiitS.
With the best OF personal feeling. beg leave
TO Ynu that the Institutional house OF
representa- ives Is here to perform The high
duties intrue ed "a it o. the people. and here it
viii remain Ncry,re~psctfully yours,
EoRGE L. DOUGLAS, Speaker.
Recover for Kansas Bank
WICHITA. Kan, Feb IA receiver
was appointed this morning for the
Citizens bank. of Kingmau, by the