The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-10

state himself, politically, and come
back to congress before many years.
Most people have an impression
that the court verdict carried with it
not only the loss of his seat in the
senate ard a prison sentence, but also
prevented him from ever holding pub
lie Office again. Many are even of tho
opinion that Burton has been disfran-
chfsed. There is nothing in this.
The decision holds that Burton lis
rendered forever hereafter incapable
of holding anv Office of honor trust or
pront under the government of the
United States"
But in the very next paragraph the
while the senate. as a branch Of
the legislative department, owes its ex-
istence to the constitution and partici-
pates in passing laws that concern the
entire country, its members are chosen
by the state legislatures and can not
be said to hold their places under tho
government of the United states
Burton is barred from holding
government job, such as United States
marshal, district attorney, postmaster,
or something within the gift of the
president or his subordinates. He is
not barred from holding a job as con-
can hold any state or municipal office
that he is fortunate enough to corral
Burton has become deeply religious
He spends considerable time each day,
the Bible. The record he is making in
prison is reported good"
1t is expected that the legislature
which meets next month will make
number of radical changes in the exist
ing order of things and one of the i'm
portant changes may be an increase IN
the length of the term of governor. This
change can only be made by submitting
a constitutional amendment to the peo-
PIE at the next general electtpns 5slf IL
should be adopted then the term OF the
governor who follows Hoch would be
four years in length. In this connection
a candidate probably would be prohibit
ted from taking the Office for second
term
Leavenwcrth, Kan, Dec. 10.-The pas
sage by the lower house of congress Of
a bill tending to prohibit the sale OF
convict manufactured merchandise from
one state into another may interfere
with the sale of binding Irvine from the
Kansas penitentiary. More than half
million pounds of Kansas penftentiary
Irvine was sold in Oklahoma last year,
and should the house bill pass the SEN
ate and become law this market pro-
badly would be shut off. In addition,
considera BILE twine from the prison was
sold in Nebraska and Iowa and the
southern states to bind rice.
The closing Of other state markets for
the Irvine will not prevent the operation
Of the plant, as Kansas farmers are ex-
pected to take the entire output in any
good wheat year.
At present two contracting firms OPP
Grating with convict labor sell goods
outside of the state. One makes furni-
ture and the other overal1s. It is proba-
BILE that both firms Will arrange to sell
the prison made goods exclusively with
in the state. In the event that the ok
lahoma prisoners are taken from the
Kansas penitentiary, which is expected
within a year. it is doubtful if any OF
the prison labor contracts will be re-
newed. Both of the present contracts
run about two years either Of which
can be abrogated by the board of direc-
tors on six months notice