The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-06

Hanging around this legislature are
number of people who are asking for
what is due them. They know they
ought to have it, because the money
was sent to them by their Uncle sam
ueI many years ago, and they gave a
recent for #. But their attorney, the
state of Kansas, calmly put the money
into his pocket and told them to go TO-
Many years ago, when Kansas was
rather new there was a war. AS 1ar
as Kansas knew. Judging from appear
ances the war was started for the sole
and only purpose OF making the new
country look like a feather-duster
which had been playing with New
foundland pup. Kansas got entirely the
worst of it. Among those VINO TOOK q
dab at Kansas was one Price, VINO,
with several henchmen, blew IN one
day and started something. MI Price
burned barns and houses and shot peo-
pie and stole horses, and altogether, a
good time was had. The people whose
property he had harried with raised a
howl to heaven and the United states
Never mind" said the government.
IT will pay you for what Mr.. Price did
to you. He was a bad egg, and we
raised hob with him later. Accept our
cI,eclx for the damag esf' But alas, the
government did not mail the check dl-
rectiy to the losers. 1t was sent 10 an
alleged state legislature. which electeu
tO act as attorney for the injured Ones
and distribute the dough. The attorney
calmly stole that wad, and slowed II
deep in the treasury OF the state me
holders of government promises went
around and wanted to cash in, but the
stare said NAY, nay, Pauline, we had
to use that money for something else
It was hardly enough to pay for the
last session. Pursue yourselves around
the state house square, and forget It.
Your claim is outlawed, anyway.
Goodday.'
victims of a war they did not bring
about. are wanting their money. They
are willing to let UP on the interest,
although the state has had the use OF
the money for over p years They
thought the signature of the state ana
the great state seal was good as cash,
hit alas. they are destined to discover
that the state is a cheap institution and
a common embezzler- Every TWO years
since the United States government left
that money in trust with the state, they
have appeared and asked for their just
dues In each instance they have been
turned down fiat. Sometimes the legis-
lature needed the money for private
crafts and couldn't spare 1t. Now the
Stubbs-idized legislature wants to make
A showing of economy, and are begin
ming to. do Great Good Work by per-
petuating the theft
IN every instance the legislature has
nut up the plea that they. as bunch
of individual law makers, were not re-
sponsible for the theft. and that it was
committed by a legislature OF many
years ago. and that the majority of the
members of that body are now deceas-
ed.
that it is the heir and assignee Of
ali former bodies. and responsible for
the debts and thefts of its forebears.
IT is not for the Kansas legislature
"a saw whether or not the claims are
lust. whether that mule was worth $50
or $50. That is mona of the state
business The United States govern
ment turned over money enough to
cover the scrip. AS long as any of
that scrip is out, the state should have
the money to cash it. The state has
used the money for many years and
the use of money is worth something.
The present legislature should at least
have the decency to waive the statute
of limitation and give the scrip hold
ers a chance to sue the state and re-
cover their just dues.
We may now look for interesting
doings. It is rumored that a regiment
of oil men. armed with sections of gas
pipe. are coming to call on Governor