Page:Kansas A Cyclopedia of State History vol 1.djvu/84

 were required to execute bond for the proper care of the arms, etc. In Kansas there was at that time no law empowering the governor to give such bond, but the secretary of war turned over to the state the arms, upon a bond given by Gov. Osborn and his promise to secure the ratification of his action by the legislature. In his message, Gov. Anthony reminded the assembly that the arms were in possession of the state, and that it was due Gov. Osborn that prompt action be taken approving his course, adding: “Without such action I shall feel it my duty to cause the return of the arms and the cancellation of the bond.”

By the act of March 7, 1877, Gov. Osborn's action was legalized and his bond thus rendered a valid obligation upon the state. Two days before the passage of this act the legislature authorized the governor to “procure the erection of a state armory,” and appropriated $2,000 for that purpose. The armory was built on the state-house grounds, southeast of the capitol, but has long since been removed.

During the session George W. Martin was for a third time elected public printer, and from Jan. 23 to 31 there were daily ballots for the election of a United States senator. Preston B. Plumb was elected on the sixteenth ballot, receiving 83 votes to 63 for David P. Lowe; 8 for John Martin; 1 for Thomas P. Fenlon, and 2 for ex-Gov. Wilson Shannon.

The legislature adjourned on March 7. The principal acts passed during the session were those creating the office of commissioner of fisheries; reorganizing the state normal school; authorizing the holding of normal institutes in various sections of the state; changing the official names of the blind and deaf and dumb asylums; making the fiscal year begin on July 1 instead of Dec. 1; and directing the governor to appoint a state agent to prosecute the claims of Kansas against the United States. Ex-Gov. Crawford was appointed to this position shortly after the adjournment.

Lieut.-Gov. M. J. Salter resigned his office to accept a position in the land office at Independence. This left a vacancy to be filled at the election on Nov. 6, 1877, when a chief justice of the supreme court was also to be elected. Three tickets were offered to the voters of the state for their consideration. The Republican nominees were Albert H. Horton for chief justice and Lyman U. Humphrey for lieutenant-governor; the Democratic candidates were respectively William R. Wagstaff and Thomas W. Waterson; and the Greenbackers presented S. A. Riggs and D. B. Hadley. The Democratic and Republican nominations were made by the state central committees of those parties. This course failed to meet the approval of some of the voters, and on Oct. 6 the Republicans of Bourbon county held a meeting at Fort Scott and denounced the state committee “for assuming authority to make nominations.” The protest, however, had but little effect upon the ultimate result, as at the election Horton received 63,850 votes; Wagstaff, 25,378; and Riggs, 9,880, the vote for lieutenant-governor being practically the same. Mr. Humphrey took the oath of office as lieutenant-governor on Dec. 1. 