The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-25
nAsr NrGHr's SESSION.

j udge James Humphrey Thinks Govern
nent should Not own the Railroads
Representative hall had enough people
in 1T to prevent any feelings ST lonesome
ness last night There were probably
400 in the hall. more than half being
Topeka citizens. There were only two
papers read. one by President Humphrey
and one by Henry Vi AIDE Rogers
After prayer by Rev. Dr. Embrees
Judge James Humphrey of Junction City
in his annual address, took for his SUBJ
ject the relations OF the American lawyer
10 the people and his influence on the
commonwealth. liza beginning, he spoke
4 good word for the bar associations by
saving. Man isOlated is unpr0gres sive.
and 10y association IS he expanded and
improved in his profession.
SIT IS the function of the lawyer to
take charge OF the business end OF socle-
To do this requires rare and delicate
44lll and mlsmanagen not only may
o0struct progress but be Of irreparaDIe
i.The nation records its life and history
ia its laws. The supreme court has iIa-
parted strength to the national spirit 10y
decisions backed by sound sense and
reasOning-
The speaker changed the trend Of his
address to more material things. and con-
finueds 1.-Two men put their values to-
gether and make greater value, #
which they are joint owners. "a third
~
to the success OF the enterprise Inc
latter gets his necessary living expenses
plus wear and tear, the wear and tear
Including the raising of children to take
his place when he is worn out. IL would
lie just as fair 10 reverse this picture.
Let THE manufacturers get expenses plus
wear and tear for d change.
Railroad legislation and state inter
ference has not only been demonstrated
proper but necessary to secure the best
results to which the people are entitled.
Railroads are Indispensable, Dut their
vastness makes them power for great
evil as well as good. They might sway
and dictate the political and social life
of the people Interference thus Tar IS
restricted to charges, and il is sometimes
impossible to tell which side IS being
wronged. The state should 60 further
than this. The condition Of the finances of
the read should be made public property
by the publication OF monthly statements.
AFatered stock should he made a punish
able crime BY this means ankruptcy
and receiverships should be made less
frequent and the stockholders and the
people would be better satisfied. The
creation of fictitious capital should be
strictly prohibited.
Referring to government ownership of
railroads the speaker said, There is too
much vim and energy in this country to
allow the business Interests of the coun-
try to lapse into the hands Of the govern
IuenT. w 1aIeNer else the gOVernIu enl
may do besides take care of the general
good. don't put into its hands a business
that viii conflict with itself"
What Henry wade Rogers said.
The address of Henry Wade Rogers
AL. d., Of Chicago, president of the
/ Southwestern university and late dean Of
the Ann Arbor law school, was a scholar
lv treatise on 1.-The Law Making Power
DIR. Rogers is nearly as good speaker
As our own George RI Peck, and he re-
ceived the thoughtful attention Of every
person in the hall He wore a full dress
suit and talked more than an hour. lie
said. "When the American government
was founded it was realized that the law
making power should be kept separate
from the law-eXecuting and law-lnterp-
reting powers To this end the legisla-
tive, executive and Judicial branches
/ have been kept distinct and separate. OF
4 these. the legislative is the most power
4 full. and the founders Of the country
/ placed no restraints on it except the veto
/ power. Toe much legislation is as dan