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meetings, but finally a majority met and signed an endorsement in favor of Goebel, who meantime had been cruelly, and in a most dastardly fashion, shot by an assassin. Of this wound he died, but not until he had taken the oath of governor.

Mr. J. C. W. Beckham, who had been the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant-Governor, assumed to be governor and the conflict came between him and Taylor. The warfare of armed retainers, so disgraceful to all concerned, gave way to methods more sane and the final decision of the Supreme Court of the United States settled the controversy in favor of Beckham, who is now the Governor of Kentucky de jure and de facto; and it is hoped that the Commonwealth is through with what has well been called "its paroxysmal politics and homicidal proclivities."

This decision of the Supreme Court and the opinions filed by Justices Harlan and Brewer are most interesting. The majority of the court hold that an office is not property within. the meaning of the 14th amendment and that seems now to be the settled rule of our highest tribunal. Mr. Justice Brewer dissents on this point, saying, "I am clear, as a matter of principle, that an office to which a salary is attached is, as between two contestants for such office, to be considered as property. Mr. Justice Brown concurs in this view. Mr. Justice Harlan holds the same dissenting view and says, commenting upon the conclusion reached by the court, "So that, while we may inquire whether a citizen's land, worth one hundred dollars, or his mules, have been taken from him by the legislative or judicial authorities of his State, without due process of law, we may not inquire whether the legislative or judicial authorities of a state have, without due process of law, ousted one lawfully elected and holding the office of Governor for a fixed term, with a salary payable at stated times, and put in his place one whom the people had said should not exercise the authority appertaining to that high position."

The court declines to take jurisdiction on the ground of no deprivation of rights embraced by the 14th amendment, with

out due process of law; and also on the further ground that there was no violation of the guarantee of a republican form. of government and held that the action of the Legislature was final and conclusive and could not be overturned by the courts. Mr. Justice Harlan dissents from this view also, using the following forcible language: "Looking into the record before ́us, I find such action taken by the body, claiming to be organized as the lawful legislature of Kentucky, as was discreditable in the last degree and unworthy of the free people whom it professed to represent." "No such farce under the guise of formal proceedings was ever enacted in the presence of a free people, who take pride in the fact that our American governments are governments of laws and not of men." Those who composed that body seemed to have shut their eyes against the proof taken in the case, and were willing to act without proof, for fear that it would compel them to respect the popular will as expressed at the polls. Indignant, as they naturally were and should have been, at the assassination of their leader, they proceeded, in defiance of all the forms of law, and in contempt of the principles upon which free governments rest, to avenge that terrible crime by committing another crime, namely, the destruction by arbitrary methods, of the right of the people to choose their chief magistrate." "I cannot believe that the judiciary is helpless in the presence of such a crime."

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The majority of the court, however, hold to the views expressed by the Chief Justice that "in the eye of the constitution the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the state are peacefully operating by the orderly and settled methods prescribed by its fundamental law." Further he says that "any complaint that may have been well founded was the result of the constitution and law" of the state and the "remedy is to be found in the august tribunal of the people, which is continually sitting and over whose judgments on the conduct of public functionaries the courts exercise no control." "Quiet reigns in Warsaw." Kentucky apparently is quiescent, but the seeds of trouble remain in her legislation,

ready to sprout and bring as the harvest more trouble and greater tragedies, unless the corrective is applied.

COMMISSIONERS.-One of the first acts passed was to appoint a Commission of five persons, to aid the commonwealth's attorney to apprehend and bring to justice the murderers of William E. Goebel. An appropriation of $100,000.00 was made to pay the expense of the Commission and secure the

assassins and convict them.

COMMON CARRIERS are prohibited from carrying persons free, either with or without tickets or passes, to any point in the State for the purpose of intimidating an officer in the discharge of his duties under heavy penalties.

CONVICTS. A system of paroling penitentiary convicts not guilty of rape or incest is provided.

CORPORATIONS are prohibited from contributing in any form or manner to the campaign fund of any political party, or by promises or threats influencing the votes of employes, under heavy penalties and forfeiture of charter.

EMINENT DOMAIN may be exercised in favor of oil and gas pipe lines, which are declared to be a public use.

LIBRARIES that are free to the public may be maintained in Cities of the second class.

PENSIONS are provided for aged and disabled firemen, their widows and dependent children.

RAILROADS are prohibited from charging exhorbitant rates and the Railroad Commissioner may fix just and reasonable

rates.

TAXATION of shares in national banks is provided so that they may be placed upon the same plane for taxation as state banks, and certain state banks, declared by the decision of the United States Supreme Court to be exempt from local taxation, must file their written consent to pay local and state taxes or their charters are repealed.

LOUISIANA.

Extra Session in August, 1899.-Biennial Session, May 13th, to July 10th, 1900.

At the extra session the only matter of importance was the adoption of a water, sewerage and drainage system for New Orleans, ratifying the action of the City Council in submitting the question to a vote of property taxpayers, including both men and women. The tax had been voted and the act ratifies such action and submits the statute itself as an amendment of the state constitution of 1898, in such way as to sanctify, as far as possible, the issue of bonds to be made to pay for the work. Almost all of the employes upon the work are to be appointed under the provisions of the civil service feature of the city charter of 1896.

In April, 1900, the act was ratified by the adoption of the constitutional amendment.

It is suggested that the last regular session of the legislature of this state was probably the first instance in the United States where all the members of the body belonged to the same political party; a condition certainly not productive of the best results.

AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION of the state was adopted at the regular session, to be voted upon, amending the provision pensioning ex-confederate soldiers.

Resolutions were adopted favoring a repeal of the 15th amendment of the constitution of the United States and the election of Senators by direct vote of the people.

AGRICULTURE.-Statistics of condition, probable and actual yield of products are to be collected and printed each year.

Factors, brokers, and commission men must report to their principals the names of persons to whom products are sold and full details of classification.

BANKS must set aside 10 per cent. of net profits as a reserve fund, until such amount equals 20 per cent. of the capital stock, and no dividend shall be paid except from excess of net profits over losses and such reserve.

CIVIL SERVICE.-A Board of Civil Service is to be appointed for New Orleans. It is to classify all officers that are appointive and appoint examiners. Women and minors. may be examined and all examinations shall be public and free

to all voters who registered and voted at the preceding election. The general character of the examination is provided for. The Board is privileged to select for appointment any one of the grade or class who has a standing of seventy-five per cent. in a scale of one hundred. The criticism is made. upon this law that it permits a partisan board and that such board can readily select its own friends from the large eligible list.

COURTS have jurisdiction over defendants, not residents, when the action arises from business transacted in the state, and the defendants may be served by citation in any other state or foreign country and judgment had against them.

DECEDENTS' estates of less value than $500.00 can be administered upon with speed and economy.

DENTISTS can only practice after examination and license issued by the State Board of Dentistry to be appointed by the Governor.

ELECTIONS.-A law regulating primary elections has been

enacted.

ELECTRICITY.—Taking current from wires is made a misde

meanor.

INSURANCE COMPANIES shall not make any compact to maintain rates, and the valued policy system is adopted for fire insurance.

LABOR.-Female employes in retail establishments must be furnished with seats and allowed thirty minutes for luncheon. A Bureau of Labor Statistics is created, the Governor to appoint the salaried commissioner.

MARRIAGE is prohibited between uncle and niece, aunt and nephew, and first cousins.

TAX of $5.00 on each $1,000.00 of sales is imposed upon foreign corporations selling oil. A license tax on dealers in pistols and pistol cartridges is imposed.

TRADING STAMPS, used by merchants, are prohibited.

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