The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-01-22
LISTS OF COUNTY OFFICERS.


kept in his office. The message to the
Legislature at its last session contained
a recommendation for the passage Of a law
20 this effect, but it was not Scted upon.
The experience Of the past few weeks has
fully demonstrated the wisdom of such a
suggestion, aud I-trust that this session
will not lee allowed to pass away without
the adoption of the legislation necessary
to accomplish this end.
SALARY OF STATE TREASURER.
The salary allowed by law to the State
Treasurer is not commensurate with the
responsibility of that office, and it ought
to be increased. The Treasurer has given
bonds in the sum Of 81, 200, 900, and yet
his salary is not in excess of that paid to
many men in the State who are filling
ordinary clerkships, where no such re-
sponsibility is incurred. This is no good
economy. The responsibility which the
officer is required to assume should be
taken into consideration in fixing his pay.
1t is only by this course that the State
can expect to command the services of
men of the necessary qualifications and
unblemished integrity.
RECORDS OF TIE SURVEYOR GENERALS
OFFICE.
A communication from the Hon. G.
w. Babcock, Surveyor General for Kan
sas, in regard to the transmission of the
records Of his Office to the control of the
State, is here with forwarded. The pub
lie lands within the State have all been
surveyed, and Congress has provided
that the Surveyor Generals Office shall
close on or before the 30th day of June
next. The records of the Office belong.
under the act of Congress of January q,
1858 to the State, but it is made the duty
of the State first to provide for the safe
keeping thereof. These records sre of
inestimable value to the State, and pro-
vision should be made by law for their
reception and safekeeping. The Surveyor
General calls attention to the fact that a
large correspondence is continually going
On between the officials of the various
counties and his Office. 1t will be your
duty to see that provision is made for the
performance of this labor.
In Iowa, where similar records were
transferred to the State Government,
the Legislature provided for their safe
keepidg in a State Land Office, and the
Surveyor General seems to think that
our Legislature could not 90 better than
to follow this precedent. If this can be
done without eutaiiing an unnecessary
expense upon the State Government, /
am inclined to agree with him. Some
expense will necessarily follow the trans
fer of the records, but it should be kept
at the lowest figure compatible with a
due regard for the public interests.
ORGANIZATION OF NEW COUNTIES.
The attention of the Legislature is
again invited to the very defective law
providing for the organization of new |
counties. It's many defects were pointed
out in detail in my last message to the |
l. ,gislature, and it is unnecessary that
they should be here recapitulated. am
still of the opinion that no new counties
should be deemed fully organized until
so declared by special act of the Legis-
lature, and the adoption of such legisla-
iation as is necessary to accomplish that
result is urgently recommended.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The law which provides for the pun
ishment of criminals convicted of MUIR
der in the first degree shoald receive
your consideration. The effect of the
present law is to virtually abolish capital
punishment. l am unabletO understand
what other motive the Legislature could
have had in the adoption of this statute,
and it is safe to say that SO long as it
stands as it is. no person will be capitally
punished in this State. The law is
subterfu re for while it pretends to main
tain capital punishment, it in effect abol-
islres it. While it sentences the criminal
to death, it provides, virtually, that he
shall remain in the Penitentiary for life.
The Legislature should so amend the
law As to require that persons convicted
of murder in the first degree shall be
punished with death, or it should declare
an unequivUcal terms, against capital
punishment. Let the law be relieved of
lis ambiguity.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
The supplemental report of the Super
intendent of Insurance shows the total
receipts of that department, for the year
1875, to be Sl2, 1886, and the expendi-
lures 81, 473; showing an. excess in re-
ceipts over expenditures Of SS;3l5.96. OF
the money thus received, $500 was paid
into the permanent school fund. The
total sum paid into this fund by this
department, since it, organizat on in
1871, is $l3, $500.
The Superintendent calls attention to
the fact that there is now in the treasury,
to the credit of the Insurance fund, SlO,-
4l5.2S. The Legislature should provide
tor turning this money over to the gen
erai revenue fund.
As an evidence of good management
in this department, attention is directed
to the statement of the superintendent to
the effect that the income of the depart
meIt for the year 1879, is 81 ,225.2l more
than the average income for the previous
three years, while the expenses have been
reduced S2,059.6l.
There are seventy eight insurance com
panies doing business, under the author
ity of the department, in this State; every
One of which is able, in the judgment of
the Superintendent to meet all legal
liabilities.
The Superintendent enters into a
lengthy argument to show the import
ance CT legislation which shall result in
placing on record in his department,
complete information of all losses by fire
in the State; in the course of which he
furnishes some interesting facts tending
to show the necessity for such action.
The argument seems to me a forcible one,
and I commend it to your thoughtful
consideration.
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The able and exhaustive report of the
State Board of Agriculture is herewith |
transmitted to the Legislature. This |