The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-07

answer to the people Of the. state for
Amend the tax law and tax every
thing in Kansas at its actual cash value
will be his own assessor and file his
own property valuations at such prices
as the public may have the privilege or
buying.
spectacle by requiring that q man
who holds that Office should know a
deed from porous plaster. Make IL
an Office of record and fix a system Of
, charges. Deeds and other Instruments
of Importance should contain the sworn
statement Of consideration and the
postofHce address of all parties concern
ed. The law relating to abstracts
should be amended so as not to require
a record of over Is or 20 years back.
Cut the circle out OF our present bal
lot law or substitute the Massachusetts
law in its place.
The bill prohibiting free passes on
railroads and fixing a rate of two cents
per mile for passenger travel is law
the people want Our public officers
should be protected against influences
OF all kinds and this is a long step in
the right direction. When a Transport
tatfon company doing business as a
public institution adYertses time caro-
it ought to be compelled to have its
trains there on time, barring accidents,
or be liable to the public for damages
to business and to the United States by
Gelay IN the QellNGly OF Ancll-
Thousands of dollars were lost last
year by people who failed to get
freight cars. The reason given the
public was the old song of car famine,
but it did not explain how q lot OF
superannuated engines with cyStltis
collectively did not have the pulling
powers of a jaded and sore-back team.
When it cost $40 to ship $40 worth OF
hay it looks like we ought to return 10
the early day conditions of Kansas
he fed nOOnSnlne
the delightful climate. You VIII De e1-
pected to do something along the Inc
of better terms for shippers or the man
who believes that what all of the
own will have got in his work.
1t is not my province to furnish you
statutory pabulum or entertain you
with intellectual sabulosity. but 1 want
to remind you that Kansas is the corn
ueopia of the universe and you are It's
legally elected representatives to see
that the blessings of the earth are pro-
perly distributed and the store house
under the earth s.pIaced there by an all
wise Providence when the beautl1ul
stars sang together in the great morn
ing of creation shall be protected and
preserved to the chosen people Of a
great commonwealth. If I call your at
tention to few things at this time II IS
only to warn you not to tread the
primrose path of dalliance" but to play
ball. In other words L want you 10
shoot or give dad the gun" I do not
want to be audacious and appear as a
dabbler or the ringer of an alarm bell
at midnight, but I close this chapter
with the self assurance that if you neg
lect the great opportunity and are lost
In the labyrinth of Doodle and eorrup-
ton or drawn into the more common
vortex of partisanship, my words will
go with you as you kneel before the
Stygian king in the great temple OF tor
ment or are turned away from the
door of the New Jerusalem as St. Peter
inform you that the passport you hold
is not a passport at all but an old rail-
road pass on which is written across its
face the startling announcement that IS
good only in Kansas.
Assuring you of my sincere sympathy
in your efforts and again reminding you
that craftsmanship must be forgotten;
that political parties exist on preJudlce
and the spoils of office: and that men
live in history and in the hearts OF
their countrymen by brave deeds and
honest actions, I am sincerely yours.
G. BILL COFFIN.
Council Grove, Kan, Feb. 6, 1905