Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-01-18

NJ auth0riZiny the examination OF corpora-
tions and reasonable tax should be imposed
for every charter
Trusts and combin ations TO enhance prices
sbouId he prohibited in the constitution
Tbere should be limit TO the value OF the
homestead exemption allowed so that
properties OF rreat value may not be held
beyond the reach OF creditors The present
clause in the constitu iion WAS placed there
when very few quarter'section' we're worth
than sl0J1 whilo now many with improve
,nents are worth each from 81 t0l to $4,000
The provisions with regard to the elective
franchise should be so chan .c1 that parties
guilty of bettin, on elections. or OF giving or
receiving brides, or OF promising CT receiving
PROMISES OF emolumcnts, should not be en-
titled to vote
The receiving OF passes, franks or spec Ia
privileges from railroad sleeping car, tcle-
graph. or telephone companies should be pro-
hibited to all public Officers
The constitution vests the FIJI management
and investment q III, school funds with the
secretary Of state. attorney General and
SUPERINTENDENT OF public instruction, and
provides that any two Of ;hcm shill con-
stitue quorum These onlters are chosen
without any reference TO their special htn esS
ns anenciers They are liable to be changed
every two years. The ere OF the school
fund now amounting TO more than sjo ooJo,
involves reat responsibilities and on hi not
To he left to the absolute control OF two three
inoxnerlenc ied men A change OF the con-
stitutlon in this respect IL imperityely de-
handed
Many ether reasons in M jud mcnt ur ent
an unanswerable, might be presented in favor
Of constitutional convention The ex-
pense I pro June, would be the most seri-
GUS objection urged against 1t but / am
satisfied that u simple clause LIMITING tho
power Of the lie islatlrc to ap lropriate money
md TO allow the incurrence Of debt by munic-
ipalities and the further provision allowing
the roverncr to veto any clause In an appro'
priation bill. would save the st .te moro every
five yolrs thin the entire cost Of q convcn
ton. For tho 80 reasons 1t seems to me i'm
practicable to mako any violent or radical
chan. e. in our laws now but such amend
ments mi hit BIO made as will correct present
Inconsistencies unwise laws new con-
stitution when adopted will nc-essltate re-
vision Of the laws to conform 10 the new limi
tations.
Tho Supreme Court
Unless IL Is intended and desired to delay
Justice to q large class OF our citizens IL IS
imperative that immediate steps be talk en- to
relieve the supreme court OF some OF Its bur
dens The increase OF business has been so
great that the court Is now hearing cases
that wero fllel four years ago and at tho
rate OF pro res 1t has made since the com
mission expired it will be six years before
the cases fled TO. day can be heard
There is now q general demand from the
peope OF the state for an intermediate or ap-
pellate court, inferior to the supreme court
There seems no othor feasible method OF re
lieying the pre- sent congestion. which works
great hardship to many worthy litigants,
especially those who have suits pending
thu
enough to be able to take appeals for the
sake Of delay II however, a court OF this
character is established, 1 would earnestly
recommend that it be temporary one. 1t
could DO so arranged that it would terminate
in five or six years. and any future lcgisla-
ture could provide for Its continuance IL 1t
was found necessary
Judicial Districts.
During the years when the population OF
Kansas was rapidly increasing :, and new coun-
tic, we're being organized at each session OF
the lie .islature new judicial districts were
created, many OF them anticipating future
growth OF the western portion OF tho state
that has not been realized There has been
in certain sections OF the state marked de-
crease in population, and as the titles to the
lands have become settled, and the specula-
tive fever OF tho times has subsidized, litigation
ial districts is far in excess OF the require
ments OF the people, entailing needless ex-
pensc OF from twenty five to forty thousand
dollars per year
There ought to be o complete rcdistricting
OF the state for judicial purposes, and reduc-
ton OF at least twelve districts in number
This would save to the state in salaries OF
judges alone thirty thousand dollars per year.
am not unmndful OF the difficulties In the
way Of redistricting OF the state, but have
confidence TO believe that this legislature has
the good jud yment, courage and the ability to
carry out reform which commends itself TO
the intelligence of every voter in the state.
Intcmpcrance.
Tho blishtiny inhu ence of intcmperance Is
still seen in our state There Is scarcely q
community that does not suffer from this
curse, and happy is the family that's not d.
rectly affected by 1t, Its approach is so in.
siduous that its danger is scarcely realized
until II is too late TO stay its evil effects How
to cure or even lesson the evil, has com
manded the earnest thought OF every lover OF
his race be he statesman or moralist Its de-
moralizlng effects are universally conceded.
and can hardly be exaggerated Much OF tho
poverty and crime, the suffering, and the sor-
row exis ting to-day. can be clearly traced to
its evil influence.
In 1880 an amend mcnt to the constitution
and sale OF Intoxicating liquors, except for
medical, scientific and mechanical purposes.
In 1881, 1885 and 1887 laws were pass ed provid'
ing for tn. enforcement OF this provision OF
the constitution. Three legislatures have
since been elected, and no attempt has been
made to repeal or essentially modify these
laws 1t is, therefore, fair to assume that the
people desire this to be the settled policy OF
the state upon this subject Tho only fair in
tcrpret 4 tion to be placed upon their action is,
that they are determined that the open sa-
loon shall not return to our state, and that
they believe that tho effect Of the prohibitory
law has been to lessen the evils Of intemper-
ancc
That the law is but imperfectly enforced,
Is conceded by all Law is but rejection OF
public sentiment and the enforcement OF law
will always depend upon the action OF the
people Experience has fully demonstrated
that the enforcement OF any law. in oppos-
ton to the pronounced sentiment OF the com
munity, cannot be long successfully ace ON
pllshed. Whenever the people in any com
munity demand the enforcement of law
their voice will be heard" Without the
support OF public sentiment, the efforts OF the
officers to enforce the law will not be crowned
with success All laws ought to be enforced,
for the open violation of any law Is demoraliz-
ing TO the public conscience 1t is the
governing power and o disregard OF the law
is disregard OF the government itself A
continuation Of the open violation of any law
can only result in evil to I he state The duty
OF every officer is plain the legislature declares
what the law shall be II is the duty OF tho
executive to obey and enforce 1t
Assessment and Taxation.
There Is an almost universal expression Of