The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-21
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0daiehita Gag | E
M. M. MuKD ocK, EDIToR
As TO THAT EXTRA SESSION.
N. M. N y r D o c <, z D

AS TO THAT EXTRA SESSION.
The legislature of Kansas meets in extra ses-
sion. next wednesday. legislature esteems itself
the guardian of the liberties and the almoner OF the
neoples welfare That's about the light in which
tbe average legislature views itself But iegis-
lature in fact is an exploter of advantages, pro-
moter of personal hobbies, conservator of poiltl-
cal interests and an all around ffty-day menace to
the taxpayer The average member Of the fegls-
lature is not chosen citizen. who Is anxious
and willing TO make sacrifice of time and money
in the interest Of the public and Of good govern
noant but he gets there as politician in his own
personaI interests With the average member it
is an individual opportunity, the main chance, an
extra advantage and possible "divy" or an appro-
priation.
But the Kansas legislature meets in extra ses-
sion at Topeka next Wednesday, at 2 O'Clock, IN
response to the converting proclamation Of the gov
ernor. It is to meet in the afternoon pass an en-
abling act, which has been already drafted in the
evening and take the night trains home. Wednes-
day afternoon at 2 o'clock anytime on Mon
day or Tuesday for its majority. Having arrived
upon the ground lately devastated by the flood, the
assembled members viii proceed to compare polit1-
cal notes and to review in general way, the politi-
cal situation TO express individual opinions as to
who should be Hooks successor and to incidentally
venture an estimate of the damage in dollars done
by the flood. BY Thursday it viii be discovered
by the majority that the regular session of last
winter proved a lamentable failure, such as makes
it now their plain duty to rectfy. Then at SO per
diem and mileage and reinforced by that army of
subsidiary officers that body will in ignoring the
snecial message Of the governor urging prompt
action and speedy adjournment proceed to grind
The first thing that will be dumped into the mill
will be an appropriation bill, not an appropriation
bill for the relief of hood-suerers, but an appFo-
nriaon bill to pay the per diem and mileage OF the
r,embprs and officers constituting the legislature
in extra session.
The foregoing is the Eagles estimate of what
will probably happen, or rather commence to hap
pen. in Topeka this week. Our only consolation is
the hope that we are mistaken and that the egisla-
ture NAV prove what it claims to be- and not what
the people think it is
The damage sustained by the residents of the
farms and towns along the Kaw valley was very
great almost beyond estimate, far greater than
the state can possibly through its legislature or in
any other way make whole. The immediate de-
mand for relief was very pressing. Funds are still
pouring in from the inside and from the outside.
But with each day this demand will become less
pressing the cry of distress fai ter. In shorter
time than would week ago have been thought
possible the food viii be heard of no more, or only
referred to in a reminscentia kind of way. The vic
lions. and the sufferers will have otherwise found
new if but partial compensatiOns. All that the
Eagle, which has been opposed to the converting
of the legislature in special session, started out to
say is II it is found upon comforting, and by trusted
legal opinion, that any relief be afforded to
municipalities through an enabling act without
unduly burthening the Taxpayers, and the home
owners of such municipalities, by all pass
the measure. but pass it promptly. As for general
or specific appropriations of treasury MONIES or the
issuance of state Understanding bonds to be sold
in the market for a relief fund. or the authorizing
OF the issuance Of state Understanding scrip don't
do it.
As for anything else no additional general or
special legislation is demanded at this time If mis-
takes and oversehts occurred last winter better let
them go at that than proiong the extra session.