The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-19


1896.
The small amount Of humidity in the
atmosphere, the small number OF rainy
or cloudy days. the absence Of great ex-
tremes, the cool nights and almost con-
| slant breezes make OF Oklahoma de-
sirable place OF residence for invalids
and those afflicted with lung troubles
and rheumatism.
In 1886 the superintendent Of public
| health requested the physicians in Okla
| homa 10 answer a series OF questions
presented by him, among which occurred
the following: "29. Is il your experience
that consumptives from the states north,
east, southeast, and cas-, OF US find relief
on coming 20 Oklahoma?' Eighty per
| cent answered that ''elief is obtained II
subjects come here before the disease IS
too far advanctd;" a few had no cases
under observation, and very few an
swered in the negative.
LEGISLATION.
No vicious leglshti ton has been enacted
| in This territory. The fear somewhat
generally entertained by investors OF the
east that Populistic legislation inimical
10 the enforcement OF contracts would
find home in Oklahoma is not founded
upon sound and logical premises. The
| people OF Okla homa are as honest as
| those OF any state in the Union, and no
| legislation is ID be found that will not
scrupulously regard the proper enforce
! ment Of all lawful contracts.
Sufficient care in the preparation Of
/ l. 49, N -i N
! however. and in consequence many OF
our laws are crude and ambiguous in
their text.
This state OF affairs, however, is not
! likely 10 continue TO exist under the sys-
lem now generally in vogue in the states
OF holding biennial sessions Of the legis-
lature and those sessions limited to sixty
days. Careful and perfect legislation can
not be obtained under this system.
THE COURTS.
| Owing to the many troubles arising
| out Of claim and town lot contests and
the uncertainty and conflict of the laws
| during the first few years Of the terri
| tory's existence the courts have been
| burdened with an unusual amount Of
| business, both civil and criminal, dur
| ing tne past few years and the dockets
were far behind in many counties.
There has been a great decrease in
new business in all the district courts
the past year and the dockets have in
| many counties been practically cleared
| of the old cases that had dragged along
for years.
| Considerable business has accumula;-
| al in, -
the plan Of having the district judges sit
as supreme court is daily coming more
| into iisfavor, both with the members OF
the bar and the iitig3nts. Such court
| cannot give the requisite time and at
tention demanded by the many cases
! coming before the supreme court OF so
| populous a territory as the judges must
of necessity give almost their entire time
and thought 10 their work in the dis.ric,
courts. and the disqualification OF judges
| 10 participate in the decisions by the su-
| prame court arising from their partici-
| patton in like cases on the district court
| bench frequently leaves the appellat e
court without quorum.
| Suggestion is made that the laws OF
| Oklahoma, instead of those Of Arkansas
! 10 affairs in the Indian territory and
! that a supreme court be established hav-
! ing jurisdiction over both territories. In
| view OF the logical and desirable union
! 81 these TWO territories in one state the
| creation OF such system Of appellate
/ jurisdiction seems altogether preferable
10 the presen; one.
CRIMES AND PlTNISHMENTS
| Territorial cOnVictS are. under contract
with the territory, confined in the Kan
! sas psni5entiary.
The total number confined on June 80.
| 1896, was i2S. During the past year
| discharges, which leave total Of 14S in
! confinement on June 80. 1897.
The expense to the territory during the
| year has been: For transportation OF
| convicls s3.599.35; care and keeping s12,-
905.05: making a total Of sl6,504.3O.
As the territory grows in years crimes
! against person and property have de-
| creased so that there Is no more law
| abiding community on earth than Okla
! hon:a. Mob violence mas so far been un-
! known here and the criminal laws have
| been and are strictly enforced in all
parts OF the territory.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
| No legislation has yet been enacted
! for the erection and establishment OF
! public buildings except the educational
/ institutions heretofore mentioned. 4
! fund. however. il gradually accumulat-
! irg in the territorial treasury aTisins
I from the leasing ~ land made applicable
( 70 such purposes. which fund now
| amounts 20 s35. SOTO. This fund by the
! action OF the late legislature is inves 81
/ in general fund territorial warrants.
thus saving TO The territory the interes.
! that would otherwise accrue upon such
! Wa.rnt Indebtedness. The general sen
| timent prevails in the territory that the
/ permanent location and Establishment Of
! public buildings should he deferred until
such time as the territory becomes a
state and the people have determined
! ne location OF the capitol.
COUNTIES.
Under the provisions Of an act passed
/ by the legislature % 1885 The counties %
/ the territory ara all now On cash basis.
| being prohibited from making any con-
/ tracts or mourning any Indebtedness
! greater than 50 per cent o. the tax levy
I t)- tae curran; year. The debts created
/ in TIE early history OF al the counties
/ by the expense OF running a county gov
/ eminent a year o. more before any
I taxes could be collected have nearly a.
! oeen bonded These bonds are 5ae 5es,
/ ot securities and VII De paid wiih0u,
( II any way becoming braienscme as the
/ lands are proven up and ne assessed
/ valuation increases accordingly. In u,
/ instance has any county regulated 4
single Just debt and county warrants