Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-08-26

Judges That Have Been Re-
moved for Cause by the
Republican Party.

able and almost inevitable result of the
discrimination made in taxable property
by the railroad assessors.
That there is a discrimination as to
the value of property between different
railroad companies, and also as COM
pared with the property of individuals
and corporations, is universally conceded.
The owners of railroad property are
human and like others who think they
have been imposed upon, will naturally
take legal measures to correct the &C
knowle3ged wrong.
How will this be done? I have not
heard word from any source or any in
timation as to the probable course of the
railroad companies in this matter.
I only Judge what they will do by
what has been done in the past by rail-
road companies, and by individuals, I'M
der similar circumstances. The stock of
railroad companies is held by individu-
ais in almost every state in the union.
That one or more of these stockhold-
ers can 60 into the federal courts and
enioin the state of Kansas from collect
ing taxes imposed this year, does not adj
NIT of doubt, Such things have been
done in this state and in other states.
That the federal courts will enjoin the
state or it's officers from collecting this
tax there is no doubt. Then the suit has
got to 60 through interminable plead
ings and arguments and finally reach
the supreme court of the United States.
1t is absolutely certain it will take three
or four years, at the lowest calculation,
to get a final hearing on the subject.
Meantime no taxes will be paid by the
corporations whose stockholders take
the course I have suggested. This is 60
ing to be great hardship upon many
counties, in fact almost every county,
in the state. In some counties the rail-
roads pay nearly or quite half of the
taxes levied therein. How are these
counties, the school districts, to get along
without this money? What is to be-
come of the school teachers who depend
upon this money for their pay? What
is to become of the various municipali-
ties all over the state? write this so
that people can begin to look around
and see what is to be the end of this
discriminating assessment OF property.
1t is high time that they did SO, for the
matter is one of serious moment to the
people of the state. There is no remedy
for this matter, except as pointed out,
unless the Legislature is called together
and a special session held to correct the
evil caused by discriminatory taxes levied
on the property of this state. The tax
es levied this year are one-half due next
December. The legislature, unless called
in special session, will not meet till a
year from next January. Thus, there
can be no remedy unless special ses-
sion is called, until after two years tax
es are due and payable; or, at least, one
year and a half I know that it has been
reported that some one in high authori-
ty has said that if the taxes we're not paid
the sheriffs in each county of the state
would attach the engines and other
property of the companies who had not
paid their taxes. take it that no sher-
if in the face of an injunction in the
United States court will attach property
for the on-payment of taxes under such
circumstances. They certainly will not
do so unless the state give an indemni-
flying bond to them. That the courts
are proper authorities to consider ques-
tions like this, and all others that come
up, is undoubted. In point of fact I be-
lieve that the courts of this state and
the United States are the bulwarks to
save the people from unjust legislation.
There is this to say about the courts of
this country that as a rule, and in al
most every case, they are above reproach,
so far as being reached by money con-
sideration to change or modify the rules
of law which govern them. admit that
in some cases courts are swerved from
the strict construction of law on account
of popular prejudices. In other words
the courts are inclined to carry out the
wishes of the people, fairly expressed,
when it can be done without straining
the proper rules of law and practice.
But, the courts have not, in such
cases, been governed by money con-
sideration but only by desire, as I
stated above, to carry out the expressed
wishes of the people. I regret very much,
as every sensible man must, that there
has been disposition of late to charge
corruption on the part of our courts and
his has been done without an iota of /!
proof to sustain the charges. remem-
Der seeing in one paper lately a state
nent, an account of the death of Judge |
late of the supreme court of the |
United States, that when he died he was
worth So, 100000. The paper in question |
added, "his opinions must have come |
high" Such statement as that works
great injury. Judge Blatchford had been
IN the bench, either in the United States
courts or of the state of New York, for
fifty years. There never was a, particle |
# scandal against him in any position
hat he held. He may have been worth
3, 000,0 900. About that know nothing,
,ut to intimate that he sold his opinions
or money was an outrage on decency
nd common sense and the repetition of
UGH statements ought to receive the
condemnation of every honest man.
i remember m one article that wrote