The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1872-01-18

Tax levy for 1865 -, coo A.
Tax levy Tor s,GeZ -
Tax levy for lsf-; TO- :;sl 05
Tax levy ls52. -, s39 %
Tax levy for s,35l OF
Amount in iressury.. ........-........... 957 sc
Amount in Treasury, Military Fund 1918 10
sinking Fund (inyesied in Bonds .-..- 100, 5o0 90
Sinking Fund.- cash balancc...........-.. 3, 7i7 20
Total 7se. Coz IS
You Will sec from this, and by inspection
OF the reports Of the Auditor and Treasurer,
that during the fiscal year the floating debt of
the State has been reduced Sls2, 4Sl O2, lcav-
ing but So, 1912 of State warrants out
standing, which will he redeemed during
this month, leaving sufficient money in the
Treasury to meet all ordinary demands, and,
with judicious legislation, maintain the
present high financial standing attained by
the State. Also that the funded debt has
been slightly reduced. and that the Perma-
nent School Fund owns over one-third of
the bonds, which added TO the amount pur-
chased for the Sinking Furd, equals nearly
one-half of the entire bonded debt Of the
State. Daring the fiscal year, the
Treasurer received Sl,107, 1881, and
disoursed 1904, 22S.01 /; leaving a balance
in the Treasury Of Sl43, 4l7.20 belonging
to the several Funds, as provided by law,
and specified in the reports of the Auditor
and Treasurer. The fact that during the
year the total Liabilities Of the State have
been reduced $3.50, 237.5i, is indeed crafty
ing; and yet you will learn from the Audit
or's Report that the county of Wallace has
| never paid any revenue to the State; nor has
the county Of Cherokee, since the Neutral
Land League succeeded in eleciing the county
officers there. Correspondence on file in the
Auditor Office will show the delinquency to
| be the result Of dishonesty or ineticielcy. 1t
is the duty Of the State TO provide for the
protection Of persons and property within its
limits; for this purpose it has proper and
legitimate claim upon all the property in ev-
| cry county, for lis due proportion Of tie rec
essary expenses. The Executive can, and
will repress riotous demonstrations, and Sc
cure the protection Of persons and property
by the interposition of military force when
necessary; but under existing laws, cannot
| guarantee the assessment and collection OF
taxes in those anomalous cases where organi-
cations, having purposes inimicll TO law,
have succeeded. or may succeed, in the cleo
ticn Of local officers so corrupt or incompe
tent as to be unwilling unable to preserve
| the peace or assess and collsc. the revenue.
/ Ia view of these facts, | recommend the
passage of a law providing means for Il
speedy removal from Office, of any or all
county officers, who fail to do their duty in
| the execution >ol the laws; and 10 supply
their places by the appointment Of proper
persons to serye until The next election.
Under the present law, 4 dishonest or incom-
| petent official can postpone 4 trial instituted
| for his removal, from time 10 time, until his
| term expires. Provision for more summa-
" proceeding would have 4 salu,a-y effect in
| preventing unlawful combinations and NAL
feasance, or inetiiciency, in office. But few
cases would call for such process; but in
some, it is indispensable to a proper collec-
ton Of The rcuenue, and an equitable dis,ri-
bution of the public burden of taxation.
The Auditor estimates that SlGG, 900 viii
meet tie ordinary current expenses Of the
| Stale.
| There Is an eyiden. necessity for restrict
ing existing facilities for jncurring municipal
indebtedness. Such obligations necessita;e
increased taxation; and if assumed for any
other than public purposes, are unauthorized,
1 and even when legal, become onorous If in
excess of the proper ratio subsisting between
| the valuation Of taxable property OF the mu-
nicipalIty and the proper demands for reve-
nue. resting upon At. Therefore, | recom-
mend that by general law, you strictly
define the purposes for which counties, cities
| townships or districts may incur indebted
ness; and limit the amount, so that the taxa,
ton requisite 10 provide the interest and
sinking fund may in all cases be reasonable;
also that the amount and purpose of such
Obligation, with the number and description
of the bonds issued rs evidence thereof, be
registered in the auditors Office, that the
people Issuing properly authorized securities
NAV have the advantage Of certificate o!
the facts from an authority well known 10 the
financial world. Some manipulators OF
questionable enterprises, seeking municipal
aid, may be disposed to question our author
ity thus to provide, as far as possible, for all
the citizens Of tbe State, exemption from On
erous taxation, and from 4 ruinous discount
upon their local securities properly Issued
but / think that you will agree that it is a
duty of the first importance. I-believe also
that such legislation should be followed by
submission of constitutional amendment.
embodying the same principles, TO give aSsu-
rance of permanency in the policy adopted.
The market value of bond depends upon
the recognized ability and disposition of the
municipality to pay the interest upon il
promptly, as it accrues, and TO redeem it q.
maturity; consequently the general law and
constitutional amendment recommended
would aid much in the negotiation of proper
local securities at fair rates. Provision
should also be made against confusion. as tc
liability, in case OF changing municipal
bounddries.
EDUCATION.
BY examination Of the report of the Su,
perin.crdent of Public Instruction, you will
be pleased to see that the interest and efior
in behalf of education have KEEP; pace with thu
marvellous rapiiity of material de7elope
ment. This accords with ''the eternal fit
ness of things;" for the ultimate object of &
properly constituted government il, the vel
. fare Of the citizen, which is best secured b,
giving to all the youth the best mental ant
moral training a;tainable. Religion beiD:
properly beyond the scope Of your authority
there is no means within your power where
by YOU can SO benefit all the people, and as
consequence, the State in eli its departments
as by providing, so far as possible, for tn
|, education of every clild within your iu.is
diction.
The following summary OF statistics, com
piled from, the report Of the Superintendent
, will show gratifying evidence of progress il
, this direction:
su5ixAEy or STATISTIC roE ISL.
| Number OF school disiricis.....-----.. ga
Increase for the year-----.....---.---- 81
Number OF reports from district clerks 2,f7
. Increase for the year.---...-.---. IS