The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-01
KANSAS COMAENT
THE KANSAS PROBLEM.

THE KANSAS PROBLEM.
| Buck ague. snake bite, grippe and
| just ordinary misery nave certainly
| received a blow by the provisions of
Kansas legislature Even physicians
are not allowed to prescribe alcohol
| IN any form to any supplicant and
therefore substitutes which the con-
sumerS just naturally knows are not
| as good must take their place. We
nave an idea that in the face of such
a condition, the health of the COM
munlty Will demand less surcease from
the popular internal remedy of the
past few years.
When this action of the state Iegis-
lature is coupled with that of the ma
tlonaI congress which has declared by
duIy enacted bill that shipments of
liquor cannot be sent c. o. D. and
that agents of express companies can
not deliver John Doe package to a
flesh and blood patron but must have
inscribed thereon his real cognomen,
the troubles of the personal liberty
advocate may be said to be coming
thick and fast. Something is really
being done in making prohibition
prohibit when both the nation and the
state sit up and take notice of the
demands OF the prosecuting attorneys.
Naturally the question arises as
whether the death rate will increase
as result of the action of the Kansas
solons. If three fingers, please have
servation of health, what a prospect
arises to frighten the tinid advocates
OF the Kansas climate. Either the
graveyards will be filled earlier than
anticipated or there will be radical
Improvement in the percentage of
those attacked with the aforesaid
aggravating diseases. Certainly we
cannot imagine the army of regulars
who have stood by the ancient and
accepted remedies admitting to full
inc nn a mr. "a 8
tor oil with all their terrors and ter
rible equences.-Parsons Sun.
o.
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES LAW. |
The legislature of Kansas should
not adjourn without passing the pub
lie utilities law. and it is not believed
that 1t will adjourn until this bill is
law. This proposed law was one of
the campaign promises practically of
both parties. The bill now before the
legislature is copied after the public
utilities laws of New York and Wis
consin, embracing the best features
from both those states. Like all laws
of this kind it works no hardships
upon any corporation which desires
to do business without offense to pub
lie rights. 1t is hard upon the people
only who violate their franchises and
disregard the rights and privileges of
the public which is served by these
utility companies. 1t places street
railways, telepnOne companies, rail-
way companies, light and power COM
panies all under one commission,
which has power to regulate charges,
arrive at physical valuations, require
the improvement of any inadequate
service and guarantee to the public
the fulfllment of all the terms of the
franchises given to public utility COM
panies.-Wichita Beacon.
A CLEAR SNUB
The members of the Kansas legis-
lature gave the cities of the first-class
under the commission form of govern
ment the right to recall officers during
their terms of Office who were not act
ing right. This right is denied to the
cities of the second-class, and to all
Kansas counties. The legislature gave
this right to the cities of the first
class because, it was argued by the leg
islators, these people in the large towns
are Intelligent enough to use it.
But the rest of us poor devils in
K ansas who don't know so much as
the bohunks OF Wyandotte and the
brewers of Leavenworth-we can't ex-
ercise that right. We don't know
If we of the rest of Kansas,
who are a million in the majority, ever
get a chance at that Kansas legisla-
ture We will show 'em we know some |
Gazette.