The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-10
LAW MADE HARML LESS
As a Dead Rabbit Says Governor
Altgeld,
BY the Courts in the Interest of
Corporations.
BEING RUSSIANIZED.
Is What4He Says of the Country
Under Cleveland.
Danger Not from Anarchy but
II from Wealth.

SPRINGFIELD, Jan. 9.-The biennial
message of Governor AItgeld to the
thirty-nin.h general assembly of Illinois
is very lengthy document of nearly
10000 words. In beginning the governor
devotes much space to review OF the
condition of the various state institu-
tions, and makes numerous recommen- =.
dations. Among other things he takes
up the question of capital punishment
and asks whether the death penalty does
any substantial good; whether we
are any better off than they are in
those states where it was long
ago abolished; whether it is not
barbarous and degrading in its effects,
and whether it would be better to have a
more rational system of managing our
prisons and abolishing capital punish
ment. entirely.
On the question of civil service the
governor says there is urgent need of
Legislation that will relieve executive
officers, both state and municipal, of the
constant and overwhelming importantly
/ for place. He doubts the wisdom of
! system that forever keeps the same men
| on the pay rolls, for it is not calculated
to produce the highest degree of pro-
| ticiency. A line should be struck be-
tween the retention of incompetents and
| the distribution of spoils.
! The governor, speaking of the admin
/ istraton of justice in large cities, says
| the condition of business in the courts of
| Chicago almost amounts to a denial of
| justice. The whole system should be re-
vised and simpiified at once.
! Chicago Courts a Disgrace.
[ The governor. also calls attention to the
! conditions surrounding the police and
( justice courts in Chicago, which he de-
| clares disgrace The revenue system
1 in this state is declared in its practical
workings to be a great injustice.
The governor speaks at length of the
/ manner in which the rich escape proper
taxation and urges legislation especially
looking to the proper assessment of cor
porations. He says the state board of
equalization is failure and should be
abolished
| The governor calls attention to the act
providing that companies formed for the
publication of newspapers shall be as
sessed as the property of private indi-
viduals is assessed When carefully ex-
| amined IT is found that only the tangi-
BILE property Can be assessed and many
newspaper corporations which have not
much tangible property, but do have a
| large business that would sell for cash in
the market and which makes enormous
profits, practically escape taxation.
Coming down to the labor troubles, the
governor says the question of dealing
with them is difficult one. No practi-
cal method of enforcing decree of com
pulsory arbitration has been found. but
there is no difficulty in the way of max
| ing a compulsory investigation in every
case, and this alone will be a great pre-
| ventative as we'll as corrective.
Promptly ascertaining and making
public the actual conditions in each case,
arouses a moral sentiment that often
forces settlement The governor
strongly urges legislation on this sub
ject, and also to prevent laborers being
brought into the state by squads, as they
generally have to displaee an equal num-
Der, who, being suddenly thrown out,
become public charge.
The Great Strike.
Taking up the question of the great
strikes he reviews the many reports
which have been made, and says the
placing of the United States troops OF
duty in Chicago under rne conditions
existed, presents a question of the
most far reaching Importance. The
old doctrine of state rights says the
governor, is in no way involved. Nobody
for a moment questions the supremacy
of the L Union. The great civil war set
|
1t remains to be settled whether we
shall be destroyed by despotism.
If the president can, at his pleasure il
the first instance, send troops into an,
city, town or hamlet in the country uude
pretense of enforcing some law, hi
Judgment being the sole criterion, ther,
can be no difference whatever in this re
spect between the powers of the presi
dent and those of emperor, or tn
czar of Russia. If the acts o
the president are to stand unchal
then we have undergone complet
change in our form of government ant
whatever semblance we may keep up il
the future, our career as a. republic
over We will have rapidly increasin,
. central power controlled and dominate
by class and corporate Interests.
1t is a matter of special regret to man
of our patriotic citizens, says the COVER
nor, that this blow at free institution
should have been struck by presiden
who was placed in power by party tha
had made local self government cardi
: nal principle for more than century.
Government by Injunction
"Government by injunctions." is deal
with severely by the governor, who say
!, the usurpation of power on the part @
the federal Judiciary has assumed forI
, | where it is destroying the very founds
; tions of Republican government Thes
injunctiuns. he said, are a very great cor
venience to corporations, when they ca
be had for the asking by corporatio
| lawyer, and these were the processes c
court to enforce which the president sen
federal troops to Chicago.
Gov. Altgeld speaks of the numerou