The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-15
MORRILL'S MESSAGE.
The Document Sent tOsthe Leg
islature Today,
One of Great Length and Full
of Suggestions.
THE CHANGES ADVISED
In the States Charter Are SO
Many That
A Constitutional Convention is
Advocated.
A RADICAL REFORM
Governing the State Charitable
Institutions.
State Printing Fees Declared to
be Extravagant.
A RADICAL REFORM
Governing the State Charitable
Institutions.
State Printing Fees Declared to
be Extravagant.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the Stafe Kansas.


To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the State of Kansas:
l think it may not be deemed inapprO pirate
TO say to you that while l apr eciate the hIgh
honor conferred upon me by the people of Kan
sas in selecting me the chief executive OF the
state Tor the coming two years am nQt uii,
deVOlve upon me. and should hardly have cOur-
age to undertake them did not feel that IN eN-
cry honest effort I may make to give to the peo-
pie of the state good government. shall nave
Your hearty aud undivided support. A third OF
Il century has passed since Kansas was admit
Ned into the union, and you meet in this session
under conditions strlklngy in contrast with
those that presented themselves to the first
state legislature of Kansas. There has been
wonderful increase in wealth and population,
q wholly changed condition of things. demand
Ing an entirely dlnerent consideration OF anairs.
YOu will pardon me if | remind you that welghty
responsibilities rest on you, and upon your ac-
ton will largely depend the success OF the pres
ent administration.
am notaware that there is any demand from
tAe people LOT faaleal chang6 III the laws,
but they do ask for relief from the eX-
cessive taxation; that the expenses of the state
snail be reduced to the lowest possible point
consistent with a wise and economical admins
tratiOn of the state government Owing to The
financial panic. through which the country has
passed during the last two years, in some re-
spectS the severeSt that has ever been known.
and the partial failure of crops for the same
period, there has been a serious depreSS sion i'll
values and q decreased demand for labor, which
renders our burdens far more oppressive than
they would be IN years of pros perlGy. 1t should
be Il source of hearty cOngratulatiOn to all, that
Kansas has passed through the terrible crisis
with so few failures, and SO little TO discourage
Its citizens.
While legislative enactments are important in
opening the channels of trade. in stimulating
industries. in protecting the individual in his
life and property and his right to pursue happi-
ness according TO his own Judgment. there are
laws OF trade which will control business and
which cannot be repealed by any statute of any
legislative DOuy Inc waters OF the river. OBEY
ing Uhe law OF graVltatlon. VIII How TO the sea.
and While the building of dams or putting in
Instructions may retard the current, il viii not
Ghdh8e It's course nor can II stop It's II W. wise
legislation would provide for the removal Of
the drift-wood and snagS in order to accelerate
me current. so industry and economy wisely
directed will always find their reward in a
measure, regard ess of what human laws may
decree Still it is a recognized fact that legiSla-
ton may disturb and restrict trade.
Foreign Markets.
And in this connection 1 desire to call
your attention TO one branch of the
trade of this country that especially in
terestS our people, and that is the Increased de-
mand for our farm products from foreign
market For several years steady and defer
mined effort was made to open up the markets
of the old country TO some of the products IN
which Kansas eXcelS. especially Indian corn.
beef and pork. Under a better light, secured
by wise legislation, prejudice and cupidity were
gradually Yielding and our exports of these
products were becoming an important factor of
great value to our people, and gave promise of
IN increased demand for the articles in n Oduc-
ing which Kansas can lead the world. But the
present congress has, in my judgment, by ill
advised and crude Legislation. assumed to die
tate to foreign nations their internal policy OF
protection to their home industries by dIscrImi-
mating duties on sugar imported from countries
having export duties on that article. This has
led TO active retaliation the part OF those
countries. and al the nations of central Europe
have become commercially eStFanged from our
country, and are taking active. and what prove
to be effective. measures TO prevent the impOr-
tation of our meats. justfying themselves by a
revival of the exploded and senSeleSs claim that
our meat animals are diseased. The repeal of
the reciprocity provisions of our tariff laws has
caused Spain and other countries to make d
most unj uSt discrimination against the imporla
ton OF our farm products. To relieve us OF TIL S
embarrassment by the removal of this embargo
and restore US to a condition where we can in
crease to its utmost limit the expectation of
those articles which are our main sup
port, is a matter of universal con
Germ to the .peope of Kansas. 1 would
luton by your honorable bodies nstruc5Ing
tiveS in congress, to Introduce and work for the
passage of the most effective remedial IeglSia.
tlOn In his regard.
Constitutional Convention.
When the present constitution was adof5ed, a
large portion OF the state was an unOrganlzed
waste. Only 1886 persons voted for its adop
ton. and 1921 voted against it; the whole mum
Der OF votes cast beng only One-twentieGh a:
many as were cast at the last election. There
were only thirty-fiYe organized counties at tina
time; seventy counties OF the state had no Iega
existence. The population of the state had beer
SO decmated by the terrible drouth of 1850 tina
there were really less than a hundred Thousand
peope within the borders OF the state when j
was admitted into the UuiOn. 1t would hardly
be possible for the small number of neople nv
ing IN the state at that time. with nearly two
thirds OF the entire state practically unsettled
to understand or to anticipate the wants an(
needs OF state as large as this has become.
The practical Limitation upon the sessions o
the legislature was at that time wise one, will
the small population and annual sessions: bu
now that the number of the inhabitants is tifteel
times greater and the sessions of the egislatur
are BIENNIAL II IS Impossible for any Legislative
body to give the calm elaboration and Thought
fui study of the needs of the state that are i'm
peratiVely demanded.
There is an urgent demand for the reorgan
cation OF the judiciary system. Under the pres
ent constitution the number of judges of the 81
preme court is limited TO three, and the legisla
ture is only authorized to provide other court
which shall be inferior to the supreme court
The RAPID Increase in population and weait
has necessarily produced a large increase i
litigation, until the supreme court is no lOnre
abe TO hear the eases as fast they are lied
For years the work has been gradually account
latlng. until at the present rate of progress
cases nled today would not be heard for 81
years. Present relief might be had by the for
nation OF another court. inferior to the Suprem
court, but it seems to be the concensus of oplI
Ion that an enlargement of the supreme court
the only practical solution of the question an
the only one that will be entirely satisfactory
AT any rate, those skilled in the law who hay
given the subject the most thorough study
agree IN the opinion thata larger supreme conf
WOuIu better SuDSerVe the interests of the pee
pie A nllgant IS better satisfied with an aC
verse decision from supreme court than froI
an inferior one. as such decision is not only
final determination of the case. but il is also
final determination of the law governing tn
case. And in the event of an increased men
bership of the supreme court. the eonStitutio
should confer upon the legislature power
afford temporary relief when the court foup
itself unable TO keepSup with its business
There should also be d change in our ammo
tonmcnI laws, by increasing the number {
member in both houses, BY doing this ii