The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-04
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
StOckmen Indignant at the APP
pOintment of Inspectors.
Think 1t Is Simply a Move to
Create Jobs.
House Chaplain Prays for Cleveland
Visitors Excluded From
House Floor.

The appointment by the state live
stock sanitary commission of two in
| spectors who shall collect a fee of
cents per head on all cattle shipped to
Kansas from Texas and New Mexico,
has, as predicted in the Journal, Gre
ated a sensation among cattlemen who
are more than Indignant at this sum
mary action on the part of the commits
sion. which, it seems, rushed through
the form of adopting this regulation,
fully apprised of the opposition and
protests which would follow.
Chairman Brown was a member of
the commission under Gov Morrill,, and
with the aid of J. w. Moore, adopted
the cent fee system of inspection. Mr..
johnson, then, as now, opposed the reg
uIat1On and the opposition from cattle
men because SO patent that Gov. Nor
rill directed the commissioners to re-
scind the order.
The present commission prepared the
rule and with other quarantine regula-
lions, probably by Misrepresentation of
the facts, secured Gov. Leedy'S sigma
ture, and forthwith promulgated them,
giving no intimation in advance that
the obnoxious fee system was in con-
temptation
When cattlemen were informed, first
through the State Journal, that the dis
tasteful regulation had been again in
augurated, they were surprised This
feeling soon gave way to- indignation,
which is rapidly being augmented from
all parts of the state.
The governor is being besieged by re-
quests to annul the regulation and with
protests against its operation
EmpOria is the center of a large cat
tie country. The Emporia Republican,
VOicing the sentiment of the cattlemen
of that section of Kansas, says:
'Cattlemen here who fought the or
der and assisted in defeating it when
Governor MorriIIs commissioners at
feTnnf66 TO have oh
ed their views in the least. They regard
it as hold up, and it is difficult to see
how any other construction can be
placed upon it. Its only object appar-
emily is to provide places for hungry
patriots at the expense of the cattle
men of the state.
The term inspectors as applied to
these hold up officials is a misnOmer.
While they hold up the shipper for 2
cents for every steer that comes over
the state line, they don't inspect one
out of 10000, for the sufficient reason
that there is no necessity for such in
SpectiOn. The native cattle of Kansas
are furnished complete protection from
infectious disease by the inspection of
the general government, which is done
under law that has been on the stat
ute books for ten years. Under the
proclamation of the governor and the
rules of the sanitary board all cattle
north of a certain line established by
the government can be brought into the
state without let or hindrance. The idea
of an agent of the sanitary board re-
ceiVing cents a head for INSPECTING
such cattle is absurd. For a number of
years it has been the custom of the san
itary board or its agents to issue per-
mits upon the proper affidavit of the
shipper that his cattle were from north
of the established line and make no
charge.
''These so-called inspectors will per-
form no additional service because none
is required, yet they are to receive 2
cents for every steer that comes into
the state. Catt1emen know very we'll
that the inspection business is all a
farce and they object to being held up
even for cents head, for the principle
is the same whether it is 2 cents or 81.
'Cattlemen here without regard to
party, are hoping that Gov. Leedy will
not allow the order to stand.
This is a matter that effects every
one of the state, for a blow at the cat
tlemen is a blow at the farmer. These
industries have hard enough shedding
as it is, and it is an outrage to impose
this additional burden upon them.
There should be a united protest
against it,"