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

TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. 15.-Ihe 1oF
lowing is Governor Morrill's message
to the legislature:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
OF the State of Kansas: I think II may not
be inappropriate to say to you that whiie
appreciate the high honor conferred upon me
by the people OF Kansas in selectin me as
the chief executive Of the state for the com
ing two years, am not unmindful OF mo
great responsibilities that will devolvc upon
me, and / should hardly have courage to
undertake them did not feel that In every
honest effort may make to give to the people
OF the state good government L shall nave
your hearty and undivided support "A thir1
OF . century has passed sjdce Kansas was al
mitted into the union, and you meet In this
session under conditions strilSin lily in con-
trast with those that presented themselves
to the first state legislature OF Kansas
There has been q wonderful increase In wealth
and population. o wholly changed condition OF
thing 3, demanding an entirely dinerent con.
sideratica of affairs You will pardon me II
remind yc-i that weighty responsibilities rest
on you. KID upon your action VIII Largely &C.
pend the success Of the present administra'
ton
I am not aware that there is any demand
from the people for a radical change In the
laws, but they do ask for relief from the OK
cessive taxation that the expenses OF the
state shall DO reduced to the lowest possible
point consistent with wise and economical
admins tratlon OF the state government
Owing to the financial panic, through which
the country has pass ed during the last two
years in some respects the severest that has
ever been known, and the partial failure OF
crops for the same period, there has been
serious depression In values and decreased
demand for labor. which renders our burdens
far moro oppressive than they would BIO In
nj
hearty conqratulation to oil, 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 stimlat-
ing industries In protecting the individual In
his life and property. and his right to pursue
happiness according to his own judgment,
there are laws OF trade which will control bus
mess and which cannot be .repealcs by any
statute OF any legislative body. lis waters
OF the river. obeyin, the law OF gravitatlon,
will flow to the sea, and whilo the building
OF dams or putting in distractions may re-
tard the current. 1t will not change Its course
nor can II stop its flow. Wise legislation
would provide for the removal Of tho drift
wood and snags in order to accelerate the
current So industry and economy wisely
directed will always ind their reward in
measure, regardless Of what human laws may
decree. Still 1t Is recognized fact that log
islation may disturb and restrict trade.
Foreign Markets.
And in this connection desire TO
call your attention to one branch OF the
trade OF this country that especially in
terests OF our people, and that is the In
creased demand for our farm products from
foreign market For several years steady
and determined effort was made TO open up
the markets OF the old country to some OF the
10 In vh aYcala axpaci lllV
Indian corn, beef and pork. Under 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 q promise OF an increased demand
for the articles in producing which Kansas
can lead the world. But the present congress
has, In my jud yment. by ill-advised and crude
legislation, assumed TO dictate to foreitn ma
lions their internal policy OF prote ction to
their home Industries by dlscriminatinl duties
on sugar imported from countries having ex-
port duties on that article This has led to
active retaliation on the part OF those coun.
tries, and all the nations OF Central Europe
have become commercially estranged from
our country. and are taking active and what
prove to be effective, measures TO prevent the
importatiof OF our meats. justifytn. them
selves by revival Of the exploded and sense
less claim that our meat animals are diseased.
The repeal OF the reciprocity provisions OF our
tariff laws has caused Spain and other coun.
tries to make o most unjust discrimination
against the importation OF oar farm products.
To relieve US OF this cmbarras sment by the
removal OF this embargo, and to restore US to
. condition where we can increase to Its
utmost limit the expectation OF those articles
which Is our main support Is a matter OF uni
versal concern to the people OF Kansas
would therefore urge that the pas i 20 OF q
ant NJ
bodies, instructin our ssnstori AMI request
ing our representatives in con IreSs to intro
duce and work for the passage OF thc most eff.
fective remedial lie hslatioi in this re, gard
Constitutional Convention.
When the present constitution WAS adopted,
large portion OF the state was an unor ran
lied waste Only 1885 persons voted for its
adoption, and 5.52i person. voted asalnst 1t:
the whole number bein only ole-twentieth Us
many as were cast at the 10 i election
The practical Limitation upon the sessions
OF the legislator, wat at that time n wise one,
with the small population and annual ses sions
but now that the number OF inh lbitants is AZ
teen times lreater and the &c ,siJns OF the
legislature are bienni IT. II IL mpossible for
any lie iSlative BODY to 1--WE tho calm deliber-
rtion and thoughtful stulv OF the needs OF the
state that are impe:ativ,ly demanded
There is an ur !ent demand for
reorganization OF tho judiciary sys-
tenn. Under the present constitution
the number OF judges Of tao supreme
court is limited to three ana the lc yislature
is only authorized to provide other courts
which shall be inferior 10 the supreme court
The rapid increase Of population and wealth
has necessarily produced q urge increase in
litigation. until the supreme court is no
Ion er able TO hear the cases as fast Us thoy
are filed For years the work has been grad
ually accumulatlng until at tho present rate
OF progress cases filed to-day would not DO
heard for six years Present relief mi hit DO
had by the formation OF another court inferi.
or TO the supreme court, but II seems to be
concensus OF opinion that m eniar &c ment OF
the supreme court Is the only practical solu-
tion Of the question. and the only one that
will be entirely satisfactory
There should also be q chan 90 In our Ip-
portionment laws, by increasing the number
OF members in both houses BY doll; this
the people would be more closely represented
and there would be less Jan .er o, unvise or
corrupt legislation
The provisions OF the constitution with re-
gard TO the time when ths lie gislature should
convene or the section nxin the time when
the term OF state oficers should begin. should
be so amended that the In coning state officers
should alwavs enter upon their re :ular terms
before the legislature convcncs
The iettln OF convict labor 10 contractors
should be prohibited. and such labor should
be employed only on behalf OF the tate OF
where IL will least conflict with the interests
of other labor In this state
There should be clear and Eelldenned lint