Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-01-19

the younger States. on account OF the greas
expense and heavy taxation entatled ON the
real estate to carry them out in proper ana
satisfactory manner. Good roads add greatly
20 the value. convenience and beauty OF
farms, and aid materially in reducing the ex-
Psnse s ana time y, sS os transpSrng the products
Good roads save the heavy wear and tear ON
teams, wagons and harness, and enable the
duce to market in less time, and to take
advantage of the rise in the markets. and
save time and labor that could be used to
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. ia the
individuals, and the annual road tax not ex-
ceeding three mills on the dollar, which the
tax. payer is allowed to work out in his dis
trict. While this may be sufficient to keep
many roads in repair, il is wholly inadequate
for the purposes of opening new roads, cut
county boards have no authority now, under
the law, to appropriate money out of the
County Treasury for making or repairing
roads. have no special plan to suggest to
remedy these defects of our road laws, but
suggest that you give the matter serious at
tentfon, with view or remedying the de-
fectS OF the system and securing better high
ways for the use of the public, in as econom-
1cal and satisfactory manner as possible.
To this end l would recommend. however
authorized TO levy tax annually, not ex-
ceeding one mill on the dollar, to be used ex-
clusively by the county board in the repaiI
OF, or grading roads. where public necessity
may require such work to be DONE and the
means now provided by law are inadequate.
There Is no tax that could be levied that
would be of so great a benefit to the farming
interests, as one that could be used exclu-
sively, in prudent and economical manner,
none that will give a more Immediate and
beneficial return to the farmer for such Q
small expenditure.
APPROPRIATION BILLS
Should be introduced soon as possible.
so as to give ample time and opportunity for
their careful examination and considera-
1t is important to the taxpayers, who bear
the burdens 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
lac avoided and omitted. 1t lis important that
no appropriation bill should contain an appro-
prtationfor more than one object. This course
Will permit the Executive to interpose any
objections he may have to any items without
interfering or delaying the passage OF i'm
p9rsant and mer ito, approximations:
every appropriation bill stand or fall on its
own merits without endangering the passage
OF bills that are unobjectionabie, and thus
enable the Executive to practice that wise
principle embodied in MANY State Constitu-
tons OF vetoing single Objectionable items or
appropriations.
CONGRESSIONAL AGPOkIIONMENT.
In the decennial apportionment made by
Congress In 1852, seven members of Congress
were assigned to the State of Kansas By the
third section of the law providing for such
apportionment, 1t requires the members of
Congress to he electedfrom districts composed
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 b. no difficulty in forming
the districts out OF compact. contiguous ter
rltory, and OF nearly equal pop
ulation. thus enabling members OF
Congress to ascertain the wishes
OF their constituents and the needs of their
districts without travelling over long dis
tances or to remote parts of the State I need
not remind you that failure to apportion
the State into congressional districts will de-
prlve 1t OF representation in Congress.
STATE AGENTS.
The State Agent at Washington, Ex-Goy-
ernor s. j. Crawford in the discharge of his
obligations to the State under a contra ct with
1t entered into on the Sd day of October A. D.
1877, has with great energy and marked abili-
ty prosecuted the claims of the state against
the general government, and has secured TOR
the school interests OF the State 267 1898 acres
of land leaving only 800 acres vet in con
trovcrsy; and also secured and adjusted a
large amount OF the claims against the gen
eral Government for money expended ana in
uebtedneSS assumed on account of the yolun-
teer and militia forces called into active sery-
ice, and five per centum on the sale OF public
land, and other moneys and lands. He Is en-
titled to his compensation for services rem
dered under his contract and YOU will with
out doubt make an appropriation for such
payment. / shall in a short time be able to
submit complete report of his actions for
your examination.
ELECTION OF SENATOR
It will become your duty during the present
session to elects United States Senator TO suc-
coed the Hon. Preston B Plumb and have
only to ask that in the performances of this
INN mr.
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 "on 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 majorities should rule but the
rule, so far at least a, concerns institutions
supported entirely by a direct public tax
need not be exclusive. Minorities have rights
as well rs majOrities, and they have the same
duties to perform to the public and have the
same interest in the economical and prudent
administration of tile affairs of our State in
situations, and should share some of the re-
sponsibiltt1es. These public institutions, ed
ucatiOnal, charitable and reformatory should
be brought as near the whole body of people
as possible, In order that such generous sun
port be given them as the duties of common
humanity and the interests of the State d.
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 or faction. The affairs of these
institutions should not be party spoil, or sub