Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-01-24

vision allowing the governor TO veto any clause
in an appropriation bill, would save tho state
more every five years than the entire cost OF u
convention,
Ine supreme court.
Unless II Is intended and desired 10 deny
Justice TO large class OF our citizens, II is
imperative that immediate steps be taken To
relieve the supreme court Of some OF It's bur-
dens.
- It is doubt
less true that the fact that the court Is Ave or
six years behind with It's work. induces the
filing OF many appeals which would not other
wise be taken. There would be loss induce
ment for litigants In many instances TO take
their cases TO higher court II they knew q
decision could be reached In few weeks. Ltd
cation ought 10 be discouraged rather than en-
couragod; and while IL may be q heayen-born
right for the average citizen TO go to law when
ever he please3, could never see the justice OF
taxing community several hundred dollars to
dofray the expenses Of q court In order that
two stubborn men might have the ownership
Of ten-dollar calf decided
judicial Districts.
During the years when the population OF
Kansas was rapidly increasing and new coun-
ties were being organized at each session Of tho
legislature new judicial districts were created,
the western portion OF the state that has not
been realized.
The number OF judicial districts is far In excess
OF the requirements OF the people, entallng
needless expense Of from $2j, 900 to $40 900 per
year
There ought to BIO complete redlstricting
of the state for judicial purposes, and reduce
tion Of at least twelve districts In number.
u'hiu hn rot In sol iii ~
judges alone 100000 per year, ~" v
Permanent School Fund.
No penalty whatever Is attached to the vlo-
lation OF the law by the school fund commits
Bioners In regard to the class of bonds they
may purchase for the permanent investment of
the various school funds There are now thou
sands OF dollars invested in bonds which are
not authorized by Law, and which may prove
total loss to this fund. Bonds have been pur-
chased that arc not even recognized by the
counties from which they purport to have been
Issued. The laws governing this board should
be made more stringent, and severe penalties
should be provided for any violation
of them. Each commissioner should
give bond as loan oiIicer OF not
less than 100000 and the law should provide
that he should be held liable on that bond for
any loss that might arise from the purchase Of
bonds not authorized by law. No more inn
portant duty devolves upon you than to guard
with jealous care the funds set apart for edu-
cational purposes,
Intemperanco.
The
great work Of removing intemperance from our
land must be done through the churches,
schools and other elevating helps. Law Is
only help-an asslstant-and never should be
placed before moral influences, 1t In fact can
only be enacted when moral forces have Gre
nted healthy public sentiment against intern
perance. 1t is valuable as an aid to help Gre
ate and maintain q healthful public sentiment,
but ought never to be substituted for It, The
great work OF advancing the cause Of temper
ance can only be done by thorough organiza-
ton and active effort along the lines OF educa-
ton and moral suasion, aided by laws fully
abreast Of the public sentiment.
In 1880 an amendment to the constitution was
adopted prohibiting the manufacture and sale
OF intoxicating liquors. except for medical,
scientific and mechanical purposes In 1881,
1885 and 1887 laws were passed providing for
the enforcement Of this provision of the consti-
tuition. Three legislatures have since been
elected, and no attempt has been made to re-
peal or essentially modify these laws. 1t Is,
fair to assume that the people desire
this to be the settled policy OF the state upon
this subject. The only fair Interpretation to
BIO placed upon their action Is that the open
saloon shall not return to our state, and that
they believe that the effect of the prohlbitory
law has been to lessen the evils Of intemper-
anCe
to Do enforced for the open violation
of any law is demorallzing to the
public conscience, 1t breeds disregard for
law, which is dangerous to any community.
In this country the law Is supreme. 1t Is the
governing power; and a disregard OF the law Is
q disregard Of the government itself. con-
tinuation of the open violation OF any law con
only result in evil to the state, The duty Of
every officer is plain; the legislature declares
what the law shall be: 1t is the duty Of the ex-
ecutive to obey and enforce it,
Assessment and Taxation.
When one piece of prop
erty Is assessed NJ 10 per cent, Of what 1t is
really worth and another piece is assessed at
Its full value, and other property Is not as
sessed at all, great injustice Is done to some Of
tho taxpayers; and yet that condition Of things
actually exists in our state to-day. Millions
of dollars worth OF property escapes taxation
entirely as q result OF ignorance, ineficlency or
willful dishonesty on the part of assessors,
Other property Is assessed at from 10 per cent
to 100 per cent OF its actual value, according to
the Judgment or within Of the assessor.
After pa
tient and careful examination OF the law, am
unable to see where it fails to provide for an
honest, impartial assessment The fault seems
to be rather in the administration OF the law
than In the law itself II the proper
officers complied strictly with every pro-
vision Of the laws relating to assess
ment and taxation there would be little
cause for complaint More severe penalties
might be attached for violations Of the law, but
that remedy would hardly accomplish the de-
sired results, for when an assessor makes his
return, with property assessed at from 10 to 70
per cent. of It's real value, and swears that he
has to the best Of his judgment given the true
value he knows, and everybody else knows,
that he commits willful perjury But how can
you prove that he has not used his best judy
ment In deciding valuesP
1t would be q great
step In the right direction II there were but one
assessor in each county, and he should be APP
pointed for term Of four years by the Judge of
the district court in which that county is To-
Gated, the appointment to be approved by tj-3
county commissioners, who should also decide
the number OF deputies that he should have,
and should also approve his selections.
By having the appointment Of the as
SCISSOR made by the judge and for period
Of four years, he Is removed from the
temptation to favor parties for their political
influence, and he would be far more indepeud-
ent in his attempts to discover property that
Is withheld from assessment, Now we have
about sixteen hundred assessors, largely men
with little practical experience, selected more