The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-01-15

AAC DiCuuAHl EOPOAS VI Suc OOotA "
trustees haviag charge OF the state char
liable institutions furnishes full detaile'
information concerning the condition
expense of maintaining, capacity aod re
quIrements of the asyIums and school
for the care and education of those IN
fortunate citizens who are mentally o.
physically afflicted.
Some years ago the legislature wisely
consolidated the management of all GU
charitable and refOFmatory institution
under one board. The change has beer
attended with the best results. But the
system under which these institution
are managed is, in many respects, i'm
perfect and the supervision the boart
exercises over them is inadequate. Thu
trustees, receiving no salaries and hold
ing Ouly occasional meetings, cannot de
vote such time and attention to the
SUPERVISOR OF the institutions in theil
charge IS in my judgment, the import
| acc of this trust should require. Siz
great public charities, the Insane Asy.
lums at Osawatomie and Topeka, the In
stItuiion at WFandotte for the Education
of the Blind, the institution at Olathf
| for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb
the State Reform School near Topeka
and the asylum at lawrence for IdiotIC
and Im6eeile Youth, are remote from
each other. and even the most occasional
and superficial visitation and Inspection,
by the members of the board is diff eul,
and exacting, aud expensive to the
| state.
More than two-fifths of the to-
tai appropriations made by the
| legislature tor the support of the
tate government during the current ifs
cal year-$352, 1874 of total of $3.50, GAG
are expended for the maintenance OF
these charities. Yet the expenditure OF
this vast sum of money, as we'll as the
still more vital question of properly
supervising the management of these IN
situations, Is committed entirely TO the
charge of small body OF citizens who
hold only occasional meetings, make
! few and hasty visits of inspection, aud
having their own private concerns to en-
gross their time and interest, cannot
fairly be expected to do more than this.
In my judgment the executive in
nominating the members of the board
should designate one of them as secre-
tary, and the secretary should be sala-
ried officer and should devote his entire
time aud energy to the work which pIOp-
erly comes under the supervision of the
board. He should have an Office at the
state capital, in which all the records,
accounts and papers OF the board should
be kept; he should be required to ire
quently visit and carefully inspect all the
charitable institutions; and he should
gather and compile for the Information
of the legislature facts and statistics con-
corning The management of the jails and
almshnuses of the state and the local ex-
peDditures on account of the dependent
classes.
believe that the change thus recon-
mended would not only result in effect
ing important and desirable reforms in
the management of the state charitable
institutions, but would be a measure uf
economy.
THE PENTTENTIARY.
The reports of the directors, warden
and other officers of the state penIten-
tIary show in detail the operations of
that institution during the last two fiscal
years. The penitentiary not only con-
tinues self sustaining, but the profits of
the coal mine have made it q source OF
revenue to the state. It's surplus earn
ings for the year ended June 80, 1884,
were $25,7l7 %, and the directors ex-
press the opinion that the institution
will hereafter not only continue self
sustaining, but that its earnings will be
sufficient to carry on and complete the
improvements rendered necessary by the
increasing prison population.
The output of the coal mine is steadily
increasing. For the year ended June 30,
1888, il was 733, 433 bushels, and for the
year ended June 80, 1894, 1t reached
SIT 1857 bushels.
The directors and warden report that
another cell house Is necessary advise
the introduction OF electric lights 10 the
prison; recommend q number Of addi-
tIons and improvements and call atten-
ton to several defects or omissions in
the laws regulating the management of
the institution. These suggestions are
commended to your attention.
Since the biennial reports OF the Off
GERS of the penitentisry were prepared il
has been discovered that the chief clerk
of the prison. j. c. Pusey, mas stolen Its
funds To q considerable amount by
means of forged vouchers and other
criminal practices. Pussy disappeared
simultaneously with the detection of his
crimes and has not yet been sppre
hended.
The warden, Col Jones, asks that the
legislature make a searching and i'm
partial investigation of this embezzle-
ment and of the management of the
prison generally. This request should
be compile with, not only that the guilt
or fault of the crime may be fastened on
| the proper person, and the innocent may
! be shielded from unjust suspicion, but
| in order that measures may be suggested
! for preventing or instantly detecting at
| tempts 10 commit frauds or crimes with.
| in the very walls of the states prison.
THE INSURANCE DEPARTNd ENT
The report of the superintendent OF
insurance furnishes detailed exhibit OF
the transactions of the Office aud your
attention is directed to its statements
| and communications.
An immense sum OF money is annual
| ly paid by the people of Kansas as pre-
miums for insurance, and il ls an imper.
alive duty of tue legislature to provide
| adequate laws for the protection of those
thus insured.
Most of the policies issued by insur
| 8uce companies contain stipulatlons anC
conditions which, by the policies, are
declared war; antics, and, also oY the
terms of the policies, these stIpulatiOni
and conditions form a part of the con
tract as II has been completed. Thu
courts have decided that these stipuIa
tions and conditions must be complies
with 10 the mInItest detail or the polio,
is rendered void. Under such policies
therefore, ii makes no difference Wheth
er the thing warranted has anything 4
do with the risk, nor whether its breacl
proceeds from intention, mistake o
fIaud. If the warranty is shown L
have been broken tue policy is void.
Insurance companies employ an,
pay agents to take fire or life risks an
these agents make all all kinds of repre-
sensations to induce persons to insure
Yet by the terms of some policies. thes
agents instead of being the agents of tn
companies are made the agents OF tn
| nd RhEra Rha
made responsible for the acts and cor
duct OF persons who are really the agent
of the insurance companies.
By the terms of MANY Of the pOllcie
of life insurance if the premium is nc
paid the exact day on which IL falls du
the policy becomes void, although /
tact the company has money in Its hand
belonging to the policy holder.
Many states have enacted laws to col
rect the wrongs and abuses which resu
: or are likely TO result on account of sue
conditions as these in fire ana life II
surance policies; and 1t seems 20 IA
there can be no question as TO the ju
tice and necessity of similar acts to pr,
: tect the citizens of Kansas against sue
wrongs. Our laws should make sue
= statements and conditions IN insuranC
] policies as those referred to, represent
tons and not warrantIes, without refe
ence 10 the language OF the policy. Coz
cealment of Immaterial facts should NJ
5 be allowed to void . policy. Error, uI
take or MISREPRESENTATION should NJ
! void an insurance policy unless 1t sha
be shown TO have been intentionally an
frsudulently made. An agent solicit
ing and writing risks for an lnsuranC
; company should be declared its agent /
all matters Of insurance, and not ID
agent of the policy holder. The tOrfei
, ure OF q policy tor noa-payment of th
premium, if the policy has any value
? the time of the forfeiture, should be Or,
g hibited. And life companies, after ha'
D ing secured three or more annual pay
+; ments, shoulds be estopped from defent
S ing against any claim arising upon
1 policy, by reason OF any errors, omission
{ or misstatement of the assured, in an
: application made by such assured, III
! less positive and intentional fraud ca
8 ! he shown