Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-01-11

the younger States, on accOuns o. the great
expense and heavy taxation entailed on the
real estate to carry them out in a proper and
satisfactory manner. Good roads add greatly
to the value, convenience and beauty OF
farms, and aid materially in reducing the eN- ,
pense and time of Transporting the products
of the farm to the markets and the depOts.
Good roads save the heavy wear and tear on
teams wagons aud harness, and enable the
producer 10 move larger quantities of pro-
duce to market in less time, and to take
advantage of the rise in the markets, and
a profit on the farm.
You will remember that as the law now
stands the only legal means of opening, max
ing, or improving our public highways, Is the
two days work required of a certain class or
individuals, and the annual road tax not ex-
ceeolng three mills on the dollar, Wnicn Sne
tax payer is allowed 90 work out in his dis
trict. While this may be sufficient to keep
many roads IN repair, 1t IS wholly inadequate
for the purposes OF opening new roads, cut
ting down hills, or making needed nils.
county boards have no authority now, under
the law, to appropriate money out of the
County Treasury Tor making or repairing
roads. 1 have no special plan to suggest TO
remedy these defects of our road laws, but
tention. with A view of renedying the de
fects OF the system and securing better high
ways for the use of the public, in as econOm-
To this end | would recommend, however,
that the board of county commissioners be
authorized TO levy Il tax annually, not eS-
ceedins. one mill on the dollar, to be used eX-
clusively by the county board in the repair
OF, or grading roads, where public necessity
means provided by law are inadequate.
! There is no tax that could be levied that
would be OF SO great benefit to the farming
interests as one that could be used eNclu-
siVely, in q prudent and economic Il manner.
for the betteriug of public highways, and
none that viii give more immediate and
beneficial return to the farmer Tor such a
small eXpend- ture.
APPROPRIATION BILLS
Should be Introduced as soon as possible
SO as to give ample time and opportunity 5Or
their careful examination and considera-
ton.
1t is important to the Taxpayers who bear
the bur lens and So nobly respond to every;
! demand made on them, that the strictest
| economy may be observed, and that all eX-
traneOuS and unnecessary expenditures may
he avoided ana omitted. 1t Is ImDortant that
noappropIlatlon DilI should contain an appro-
priatiOn for more than one object This course
will permit the Executive to interpose any
| oDjectlonS he may nave TO any Items without
interfering or delaying the passage OF inn
poItant and meritoriOus appropriations.
| BY pursuing this course you will make
every appropriation bill stand or fall on its
own merits without endan yerinG the passage
! OF bills that are unObjectiOnabIe and thus
enable the Executive to practice that wise
/ principle embodied in many State Constitu-
/ tions of vetOing single Objectionable items or
appropriations.
CONGRESSIONAL APPORTIONMENT.
In the lecennial apportiOnment made by
Congress in 1882 seven members of Congress
| were RsSgne to the STATE of Kansas. BY the
| third section of the law providing for such
| appOrtionment it requires the members of
of contiguous territory, and containing, as
/ nearly as practicable, an equal number OF in
! habitants and equal in number to the repre-
! sentatives to which each State is entitled.
As the people of Kansas are homogeneous,
/ their business interests and ordinary pursuits
! OF life being almost Identical over the whole
! State, there shOuld be no difficulty in forming
! the districts out OF compact, contiguous ter
! uIati- H. thus enabling members pVi Of
/ Congress TO ascertain the wishes
districts without traveiing ovec long dis
/ tances or TO remote parts of the state. need
II
the State into congressional districts will de-
! prlve it OF representation in Congress.
STATE AGENTS.
! The State Agent at Washington Ex-Goy-
/ ernOr 5. j. era wford, in the discharge cJf his
! obligations to the State under Il contract with
! it entered into on the Sd day of October A. ID.
ty prosecuted the claims of the State aga II st
! the general Government, and has secured FOR
the school interests OF the State 267, S9S acres
! oIlanu, leaving OnIY 1000 acres yet IN con
! troYersy; and also secured and adjusted
! large amount OF the claims against the gen
er:l government Tor money expended anu in
! debtedness assumed on account of the VoIun-
teer and militia fOI ces called into active serv-
! ice anu t1Ve per centun ON the sale or public
land, and other moneys and lands. lie IS en-
! titled to his compensation for services rem
dereQ under MS contract, and you Will with
out doubt make an appropriation for such
payment. 1 shall in short time be able to
| submit complete report of his actions for
| your examination
ELECTION OF SENATOR.
| 1t will become your duty during the present
session to elects Omitted States Senator to sue
| coed the Hon. Preston y. Plumb, and have
only to ask that i'll the performance of this
! important task you Will keep steadily in view
the honor and good name OF our young State
and conduct the election so that the scandals
of some past elections may not be repeated
again, to tarniSh the fair fame of our beloved
! Commonwealth.
ELECTION OF STATE PRINTER.
| 1t is provided by the Constitution that a
State Printer shall be elected ION the third
Tuesday of January etc l need only re-
mind you that such election will require your
attention at the present. session.
MAJORITY RULE IN STATE INSTITUTIONS.
! Under a representative form of government
it is right that ma OT1tieS should rule. but the
rule, so far at least as concerns institutions
supported entirely by direct public tax,
need not be exclusive. minOrities nave rights
as well malOritie5, and they have the same
duties to perform to the public, and have the
same interest in the economical and prudent
administration of the affairs of our State in
situations, ana should share some of the re-
spOnsibilities. These public institutions, ed
! ucatiOMiCl, charitable and refOrInatCrV. should
be brought as near the whole body of people
as possible, IN order that such generous sup
port be given them as the duties of common
humanity and the interests of the State de-
mand. The inmates of these institutions are
pensioners on the tax payers of the State, and
not on any party or faction. Their care, con-
troll and guidance, and the disbursements of
the vast sums of public funds taken from peo-
pie annually for their support should be un-
der the control of representative men, called
not from one party, but from all parties, and
thus be removed from mere party control and
not appointed or selected in the interests
of any party faction. The affairs of these
institutions should not be party spoil, or sub
ject to change by mere party success.
But in justice and fairness, the majority of
any of our State Boards should be ong 10 the
party in power, that party being in a meas
IlFe responsible for their management I can
believe you can appreciate and approve,
ask that you provide by legislation to carry