The Globe-republican., 1895-01-18
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
foreign Markets Constitutional C0nven
tion-Judicial Districts-Taxation-In
Surance-Irrigati0n-
State Institutions Etc.

hardly have courage to undertake them
did I not feel that in every honest
effort i may make to give to the people
Of the state good government shall have your
hearty and undivided support A third Of a
century has passed since kansas was admitted
into the union. and you meet in this session
under conditions strikingly in contrast with
those that presented themselves to the first
state legislature Of Kansas. Tlere has been a
EOnderful increase in wealth and population. a
wholly changed condition of things. demaad-
ing an entirely different consideration of
Affairs. You will pardon me if remind you
that weighty responsibilities rest on you, and
1pOn your action will largely depend the sue
Tess of the present administration.
I am not aware that there Is any demand
from the people for q radical change in the
laws. but they do ask for relief from excessive
taxation that the expenses Of the state shall
be reduced to the lowest possible point con-
Sistent 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 years, in some respects
the SevereSt that has ever been known and
the partial failure Of crops for the same period
there has been q serious depression in values
and decreased demand for labor. which rem
ders our burdens far more oppressive than
they would be in years Of prosperity. 1t
should be a source Of hearty cOngratulation to
all that Kansas has passed through the terri
bic crisis with so few failures, and SO little to
discourage citizens.
While legislative enactmentS are important
In opening the channels of trade, in Stimula ting
industries, in protecting the individual in his
life and property and his ri sht to pursue hap
piness 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and which cannot be repealed by any statute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 BODY. The waters OK the
river, obeying the law of gravitation, will
fow to the sea, and while the building of dams
Or putting in Instructions may reSard the cur
rent it will not change its course, nor can it
stop its how Wise legislation would provide
Tor the removal of the driftwood and Snags in
order to accelerate the current. So industry
and economy wisely directed will always find
their reward in a measure, regardless OF what
human laws may decree. Still it is u recog-
niZe fact that legislation may disturb and re-
strict trade.
Foreign Markets.
And in this connection desire to call Your
attention to one branch of the trade of this
country that especially interests our people,
and that is the increased demand for our farm
products from, 4 foreign market For several
years steady and determined effort was made
to open up the markets of the old country to
some Of the products in VIII Oh kansas eXceiS,
especially Indian corn. beef and pork. Under
better light, secured by wise legislation,
prejudice and cupid;ty We're gradually yielding.
and our exports of these products were becOm-
Ing an important factor OF great value to our
people. and gave promise OF al increased de-
mand for the articles in producing which Kan
sas can lead the world But the present con-
gresS has. in my Judgment, By lila iviSed and
crude legislation. assumed to dictate to foreign
nations their internal policy of protection to
their home industries b: diScrimn ItinS duties
on sugar imported from countries having export
duties on that article. This has lie to active
retaliation on the part OF those countries. and
all the nations of central Europe have become
commercially estranged frO;n our country. and
are taking active and what prove to be effec-
tive, measures to prevent the importation o.
our meats. justifying themselves by a revival
Of the exploded and senSe.eSs claim that our
meat ANIMALS are diseased. The repeal OF the
reciprocity provisions OF our tariff laws has
caused Spain AMI csher countries to make &.
most unjust discrimination against the inlpor-
tation OF our farm products. To relieve us OF
this emba -raSsment By the removal Of this en-
barge. and to restore us to a condition where
We can increase to its utmost limit the expor-
tation Of those articles which are our main
support. is 4 matter OF universal concern to the
oeOple of Kansas. would therefore urge the
the passage Of concurrent resolution b. your
bodies. instructns our senators and
our representatives in congress. to
and work for tae passage of the most
effective remedial legislation in this regard.
Constitutional Convention.
When the present constitution was adopted.
3 large portion of the state was an unorgaIized
waste. Only 1886 persons voted for its adop-
lion. and 5.52l voted against it: the whole num-
Der Of votes cast being only one-twcnt;eth as
many as were cas-: at the lust election. There
we're only thirty-tivc organized counties at
tina. time: seventy counties OF the state had no
legal existence. The population OF the state
had Teen so deci,natcd BY the terrible drought
Of 1851. that there were really less III n 4 hun
bred thousand people within the borders OF the
state when it was admitted into the ualOn. It
would hardly be possible for the small number
Of people living in the state 1T that tine. with
nearly o-thirds Of the entire state practically
to understand. or to anticipate. the
wants and needs of u state as large as this has
become.
The practical limitation upon the sessions of
the legislature was 1T that time wise one,
with the siE;s. population and annual sessions:
but now that the NUN rer OF the inhabitants is
fifteen times create ami tie sessions of the
legislature bienn. !. it is impossible for any
legislative body to give the calm elaboration
and thoughtful study OF the needs OF the state
that are imperative!y demanded
There is an urgent demand for reorga2iza-
ton of the judiciary system Under the pres
ent constitution the number OF judges of the
court is limited to three anu the leg
stature is only authorized to provide other
courts which shall be inferior to the supreme
court The rapid increase in population and
wealth has necessarily produced a large in
crease in litigation. until the supreme court is
no longer able to hear the cases as fast as they
are filed For years the work has been gradu-
Ally Accommodating. unit. at the present rate Of
progress cases filed to-day would not be heard
Tor six years Present relief might be
had By the formation OF another court,
inferior to the supreme court. but it seems to
be the concensus OF opinion that an enlarge.
nent of the supreme court is the only practical
Iolutt0n of the question, and the only one that
EtN be entirely satisfactory. At any rate. |
hose skilled In the Law, who have given the |
subject the most thorough study. agree in the |
opinion that larger supreme court will better |
the interests Of the people A litigant
3 better satisfied with an adverse decision !
rom . superior court than from an inferior |
NE, ~ such decision is not only final de- |
examination Of the case, but it is also finsl |
Of the law governing the case |
and iA the event Of an increased membership /
II the supreme court, the constitution should |
'onfer upon the legislature power to anord tenn |
>orary relief when the court found itself UNI
bile to keep mp With LIS business.
There should also be change In our appor- |
ioument laws. BY increasing the number Of
members In both houses. By doing this the |