The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-29
Mr. BowersOek viii Not Press
K. q. Appropriation Bill.
Will Wait Until the Next Session
of Congress.
CLAIM IS FOR ss5, 900.
This Is for Destruction of the
Free State Hotel.
Present Policy of Retrenchment
DiscOurages the Appropriation.

Washington, Dec. 29.-Mr. Bower
sock will not, for certain fiscal rea-
sons, press his bill for the payment bv
the government of the sum of $4,000
to the University of Kansas, with par
ticular zest during The present session
of congress; but when the session con
venes next December, he viii make the
effort of his life to secure its passage.
The history connected with the bill
is interesting. During the Buchanan
Observation-Disclosures TO 1861=the fed
eral officers in Kansas sorely harassed
the free-staters. They did them every
possible injury and even insult. They
did it under the guise of carrying out
the instructions of the government and
protecting the government from the
acts of Insurgents
One thing done at Lawrence was
the gross destruction of property be-
longing to the Emigrant Aid society,
that great New England association,
with which the names of Eli Thayer,
Governor Charles Robinson and Sam
uel Q. PomerOy, the latter one of the
first Kansas United States senators, are
intimately connected, the burning of
the Free State hotel being the prlnci-
pal loss
The United States marshal for the
territory of Kansas did this work of
destruction, under the guise of inforc-
ing the finding Of a grand jury. There
was much feeling; but the free-staters
had to accept the situation.
Later the Emigrant Aid society as
signed it's claim, which it had made, in
due time against the government, to
the University Of Kansas. For years
the university has sought to collect this
claim from the government.
The claim is not one that can prop
erly be brought in the United States
court of claims. Hence the effort that
has been made to collect through act of
congress.
The reason Mr.. Bowersock will not
press the measure at the present ses-
sion is that on account OF the policy
of retrenchment the prospect of its go
ing through would not be the best this
year.
A good deal was said in Kansas by
''boss- busters" and tanti-ma chine" Re
publicans during the past few years be-
cause Governor W. J. Bailey, in 1903,
interested himself in the candidacy of
J. T. Pringle of Usage county to be
speaker of the house of representa-
tives. It was charged that it was
usurpation of power by the executive
to interfere in matters pertaining to
the legislative branch of government.
Probably the attack made by the. crit
les of Governor Bailey on this one point
alone mad everything to do with the
failure of Bailey to secure renomina-
ton, and the triumph of the boss
busters in the campaign of last year.
The papers the last few. days have
been full of the attitude of President
Roosevelt in respect of the Republican
row in New York. It is stated, and
has not been denied. that the president
is greatly interesting himself in the
candidacy of James W. Wadsworth,
Jr., to be speaker of the general as
sembly; and Wadsworth is referred to
constantly as the candidate of the pres
ident The young man came over to
Washington twice in a week to con-
suit the president about his candidacy,
all of which is absolutely known to the
public. 5-
This is precisely what the +boss-
busters" through their organs, ac-
cused the friends of Governor Bailey
of doing; but it is hardly likely that
they will apply to the president all the
epith cts and accusations that they did
to the Kansas governor, even though
the cases are parallel.