Mr. Moonlight moved that the resignation of Mr. Crowther be accepted, which motion prevailed. Mr. St. John moved that the Senate proceed to the election of a Secretary, which motion prevailed. Mr. T. H. Cavanaugh having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly elected Secretary of the Senate. Mr. D. B. Emmert having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly elected Assistant Secretary of the Senate. On motion, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Bronson until Monday next. Mr. Cavanaugh then came forward and was sworn in as Secretary of the Senate, and also subscribed his name to the following oath of office: I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of Kansas, and that I will discharge the duties of Secretary of the Senate to the best of my ability. So help me God. TOM H. CAVANAUGH. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 14th day of January, A. D. 1874. E. S. STOVER, Lieut. Gov. and President of Senate. Mr. Price moved that the Senate do now adjourn until 10 o'clock A. M. to-morrow. Mr. St. John moved to amend, that a committee of one be appointed to notify the officers elect to appear at 10 o'clock to morrow. Mr. Murdock arose to a point of order, that the motion to adjourn was not amendable or debatable. The point of order was overruled by the chair. The question then recurring to the motion of Mr. St. John, the motion was lost. The question recurring upon the motion of Mr. Price, the motion was adopted, and the Senate adjourned. T. H. CAVANAUGH, Secretary. MORNING SESSION. SENATE CHAMBER, TOPEKA, Kansas, The Senate met pursuant to adjournment; President in the Roll called. The following gentlemen were present and answered to their names: Messrs. Blair, Brandley, Butler, Barker, Crich- ton, Edwards, Ely, Grimes, Guerin, Johnson, Judd, Martin, Mar- tindale, Matheny, McFarland, Moonlight, Morrill, Murdock, Palmer, Price, Rogers, Simons, St. John, Topping, V. P. Wilson, Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. F. S. McCabe. The journal of yesterday was read and approved, as corrected. I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the State of Kansas, and well and truly per- Lieut. Governor and President of the Senate. Mr. Blair offered the following resolution, and moved its Resolved, That until otherwise ordered, the regular hours for the meeting of the Senate shall be 10 o'clock A. M., and 2 P. M., The following message from the House was received and read: MR. PRESIDENT: I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has organized by the election of B. H. ALEX. R. BANKS, Chief Clerk. dent of the Senate, to act with a like committee on the part of the House, to inform the Governor that both houses are organized, and are ready to receive any communication he may have to transmit. The chair appointed the following committee on the part of the Senate: Messrs. Morrill, Ely, and Butler. Mr. Simpson offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the President of the Senate is hereby authorized to appoint only such assistant enrolling and engrossing clerks as the chairmen of the Enrolling and Engrossing Committees may require, upon the requisition of the chiefs of their several departments, said assistants to draw pay from the commencement of service as such assistants. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Simpson offered Senate concurrent resolution No. 1, relating to Congressional relief for the settlers on the Osage lands, which was read the first time, and laid over under the rules. Mr. Crichton offered Senate concurrent resolution No. 3, “A memorial and concurrent resolution to Congress, asking the passage of a law to authorize the testing of the title to the Osage ceded lands in the United States court," which was read the first time, and laid over under the rules. The Judiciary Committee having appointed James M. McFarland to fill the vacancy in the clerkship of said committee, caused by the non-appearance of the former clerk, the said James M. McFarland appeared, took and subscribed the following oath of office: On this 15th day of January, A. D. 1874, personally came before the undersigned, the President of the Senate of the State of Kansas and Lieutenant Governor thereof, James M. McFarland, of lawful age, who being by me first duly sworn on oath, says that he will support the constitution of the United States and of the State of Kansas, and faithfully and truly discharge and perform the duties of clerk of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate of the State of Kansas to the best of his knowledge and ability. So help him God. JAMES M. MCFARLAND. Sworn to and subscribed before me at the Senate Chamber, at Topeka, Kansas, this fifteenth day of January, A. D. 1874. E. S. STOVER, Lieut. Gov. and Pres't of the Senate. The following message from the Governor was received and read: GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. TO THE LEGISLATURE: The growth of the State during the past year has been rapid and continuous, the bulk of immigration having apparently been directed to the western and southwestern portions. Ford, Barbour, Harper, Ness and Comanche counties have been organized under the general law. A significant and cheering indication of the future of the State is found in the gradual extension of settlement and the corresponding extension of our frontier limit. The crude and erroneous ideas which formerly prevailed as to the adaptability of a very large proportion of our soil to profitable cultivation-ideas which took form in the earlier geographies, and in the romances of early adventurers have been exploded by the test of actual experiment, and individual enterprise has so far extended its operations as effectually to demonstrate the capacity of the State to support with its productions many millions of inhabitants. The history of the nation furnishes no parallel to the rapid growth of our State, whether in population or in the varied evidences of productive wealth. Substantial improvements among the older settlements are not less noticeable than the multiplication of new farms and the establishment of new communities. To this end the enlargement of the means of inter-communication by the construction of railways, the increased and increasing interest manifested in the cause of popular education, and the comparative financial independence, secured by increased production, have largely contributed. The fruits of the labor devoted to the improvement of fences and farm-houses; to the planting of trees; to the erection of excellent school buildings, and to the numberless enterprises, general, local and individual, which tend to the advancement of civilization, arrest the attention of the observant visitor, and are full of hope to the thoughtful citizen. Wherein legislation may be made effective in promoting a continuation of such enterprise, it is your duty to legislate, as it is the duty of all citizens to encourage it by their influence and example. THE FINANCIAL CRISIS. If the progress of our State has been remarkably rapid, it has doubtless been somewhat impeded by the financial crisis which has so recently prevailed, and from which we have not yet entirely recovered. To the precipitation of this crisis many causes have contributed, the principal among which, perhaps, are the mania for unprofitable railroad building upon borrowed capital, and the absorption of capital through the iniquitous process of "watering stocks." To such an extent has the system of borrowing upon inadequate or worthless securities been carried, that American credit abroad is now utterly prostrated, except as regards such undoubted securities as are beyond the reach of material depreciation. To these causes of disaster is to be added, in my judgment, the manifest tendency of Government policy prematurely to hasten the return of specie payments by undue contraction of our present circulating medium. The business interests of the West demand more rather than less currency, and it is to be hoped that Congress will correct the vicious policy which has increased, if it has not directly occasioned, the embarrassments of the country. The monopoly of the national banks ought to be summarily disposed of, and a free banking system established. STATE FINANCES. The reports of the Auditor and Treasurer exhibit the financial condition of the State. Our total liabilities are $1,345,400.67, and our resources $576,878.51. Of our bonded debt, $635,125 belongs to the permanent school and sinking funds, and is in the vaults of the treasury. The receipts into the treasury for the general revenue fund during the past year amount to $744,856.99, and the expenses of the Government, as apppears by the exhibit of warrants issued by the Auditor, $446,376.76. There has also been paid out, in the redemption of warrants outstanding at the beginning of the last fiscal year, upwards of $200,000, leaving a balance in the treasury belonging to this fund of $86,001.16. For the first time since the organization of the State, the year has closed with no warrants outstanding, and a balance in the treasury. Since the 20th of January last, our State warrants have been as good as the national currency. It is hoped that our financial interests may be so managed in the future as to continue this condition of |