The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-01-21

tho peuttent1ory, - WIN joo1N thoe
that Institution nov eoqtatn9 ~ co..
vict1, ~ inexeaeo - DIZZY IN 11oee
Tie c3oeo ~ - r5ey1eps Noo13 ylnr-
The number gocsived dprinG - yer
was rs, and leo wefo Discharged Is
is = fact worthy Of Observation that,
as shown by the reooEds Of conviction,
less than one per cent. Of our criminals
are females, there being but three of
that sex now confined in the peniten-
tiary; aud this ratio generally holds
good throughout the United States.
More than two-thirds Of those received
were single men; less than one-fourth
were mechanics; and fOrty-eight could
neither read nor write. Ignorance
and idleness are the great promoters
Of crime.
The constitution makes it the duty
of the legislature TO provide suitable
asylums for the accommodation of the
insane, the blind, and the deaf and
dumb. That this requirement of the
organic law has been faithfully observ-
ed, in SO far as it relates to :he two
latter classes, the reports Of the Of
ficers Of those Institutions sufficiently
attest. There is not law in all our
statute books more defective than tina
providing for the organization of new
counties. County governments, no
matter how economically managed,
arc expensive. aud it may well be
questioned whether. population of
six hundred people, scattered over the
territory usually embraced in one of
our counties, should, on the applica-
ton of few of the citizens, be forced
TO submit to the burdens incident to u
county organization. In my opinion,
the law OF that subject should operate
as an enabling act, simply, and should
authorize. on proper application to
the executive, the taking of a census,
20 be submitted to the next succeed
ing legislature for its action: and no
county should be fully organized until
SO declared by legislative enactment.
The taxation of mortgages is SUBJ
ject which has received its due share
of attention of late, and the iegisIa-
lures of some of the states have deter
mined that these securities should be
omitted from the tax rolls. A similar
law was passed in this state two years
ago, but it was not received with ia
vor by the people, and last winter it
was repealed. AS the law now stands,
real estate encountered By mortgage is
doubly taxed-that is, it is assessed at
its full value against the owner of the
land, while the mortgage is also COM
PEELED to pay tax upon such security,
usually exacts an amount at least
equivalent to this tax from the bor-
ROVER, in the shape of interest and
thus it is that the citizen who may be
so unfortunate as to be forced to bor-
row money upon the security of his
land, is twice taxed upon the property.
In both of my former annual mes
sages urged the importance of SUBJ
hitting to the people an amendment
to the constitution providing for BIZ
ennial sessions of the legislature. The
legislature cost the people of the state
last year one hundred thousand dol
iars, and it is probable the expense at
tending this will not fall much short of
that figure. Apotent remedy is in BIZ
ennial sessions, and earnestly recon-
mend a proposed constitutional
amendment to that end. / think the
time has come when there should be q
thorough revision and codification of
our laws. The work of systematizing
and condensing the statutes should be
confided to capable and efficient men,
and provision should be made for its
completion this year, and report to
the next legislature.
The records connected with the set
Element of the Price raid claims of 1864
have been very loosely kept, and early
provision should be made for their ex-
,minatiOn, classification and arrange
ment. recommend the enactment of
A law requiring county clerks, at a
stated time in each year, to forward to
he secretary of state certified lists of
the officers of their respective coun-
Ties, to be recorded by the secretary
and open to public inspection.
The legislature at its last session
failed to make provision for the pay
mcnt of the salaries of the officers of
the Insurance department. These sal
aries are fixed by the law, and, while
the department continues Q branch Of
he government. there can be no valid
excuse offered for a failure by the leg
stature to make the appropriations
for their payment. There may be, and
fbToDdDit arc sOtut tulubT uttcctS III
he insurance law, but am fully con-
WINGED that the present system has
been of great benefit TO the people of
the state, and that it ought to be re-
tained.
The salaries of the superintendent
and chief clerk are higher THAI they
need be, and recommend reduction.
AS the constitution compcls the ex-
ecutive to share with the legislature
the responsibility Of inconsiderate, as
well as Of wise legislation, feel war;
ranted in urging you to give the first
consideration to matters of the first
consequence. No reason can be as
signed-a pernicious custom alone ex-
cepted-why the leading appropriation
bills, the revenue bill, and other i'm
portant measures, should be passed
and presented to the executive during
the closing hours Of session. There
are no grave questions of political
character which exact the preference
in your deliberations, and it cannot DE
doubted that the people would regard
a material reduction m the usual ex-
pense of legislative session as rec
ognition of the prevalent demand for
economy. TnoMAs A. OSBORN.