The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-01-29
Total.
I&5i4.5N OIas13.nOO Ssi7. Soc


Total. s5;4. 500 i.7s,oo ssl7 .5oc
The 600 of bonds maturing in 1885, and
| the &15509 maturing in 1887, are provided for
by ta1 levies already made. leaving only
GO all held BY State funds, mature prior t.
In view of the fact that the bonded debt g.
! the State. unprovided for, aggregates oni$
| &s15.OO1 and that only f2dO.OO0 OF this amount
| - held by individuals and corporations. 1
| do not believe that 1t is wise or just to I'M
pose upon the present generation Of taxpay.
ers the burden Of paying our outstanding
bonds on their maturity. This generation 10
bearing the heavy burdens of taxation
ings. which will survive for centuries
| to come; We can readily refund al!
outstanding bonds; las they fall
| at not to exceed 81 or per cent; and It
seems to me that it 10 neither wise nor Just
to compel the taxpayers of the present to
that of providing a sinking fund for the Ell
tinguishment of onr State debt. We might
take pride in saving that the State has li.'
public debt, but it would be far better to h.
able to say that the taxes are not oppressive
or burdensome to the people. The present
is paying for public buildings the future will
occupy. and the future should provide for
the outstanding bonds as they mature.
In this connection il is proper to direct your
! attention tn the fact that the public revenue
which will be raised under the reduced tax
1evies made last winter.will. Notwithstanding
the increasing valuation of the property OF
the State lie very largely absorbed by the
appropriation made at the same time forcur-
rent expenses and public buildings. The de-
mand for rigid economy at this session is.
therefore. imperat We. The tax levies a.
ready made for the fiscal years ending June
80. 1886. and June %. 1887. can not be. and
ought not to be increased. Hence the sx-
pendtures directed at this session should be
limited to the absolute requirements OF pub
INsuR aNcI MATTERS.
The laws enacted at your first session coh.
corning mutual fire insurance companies
early to form 4 definite opinion concerning
their practical results. The law regulating
mutual life or assessment companies has had
the effect. the Superintendent of Insurance
reports. of driving from the State number
OF worthless organizations, managed by
men whose sole object was TO defraud the
public.
1t is also suggested that our laws In effect
discriminate against and thus prevent the
organization Of fire insurance comps
mics organized in Kansas and managed
by our own citizens An immense suH
of money 10 sent out OF the State each
year in the form of premiums on fire insur-
ance pole ca. and il laws can be devised
which. while guaranteeing the prompt aud
certain payment of losses. will ut the same
time encourage and promote the Organizs.
ton or Kansas insurance companies the re-
suit would be OF public benent.
BOARD or RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The report of the Board OF Railroad Con-
missioners embraces full and valuable state
ments and statistics concerning the trans
portation business of the State. The trafTi-
returns of the different railway companies
show very large increase in the volume Of
passengers carried. The total tonnage
sse0 enSes JUNE JUNE s'1 is the ss.
sss tons. while the freight eirnings Tor til.
fiscal year ended June ~. 1895, show q de.
crease. compared with the year 1854, of s..
BY the reductions in freight rates, secured
chiefly by the Board of Railroad Commission.
ers, aggregates for the fiscal year ended
June %. 1875, over s.. coo 0OO. The suggestions
aud recommendations embed led in the 70.
port OF the Commissioners are worthy OF
your considerate attention.
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.
The general working of the amended pro-
hibftory law OF last winter has been favor
able. Organized opposition to the law is fast
disappearing. and the general and popular
feeling is positively and decidedly in favor OF
obedience to the Constitution as amended.
Not only the Supreme Court. but all the
Judges of the District Courts Of the State
and the Judge Of the United States Court for
this circuit are in favor Of allowing the peo.
pie OF Kansas to regulate their own domestic
snairs in their own way. Thus all agencies
half OF law, order and practical Temperance,
and Kansas has made greater moral prog
ress than in any other twelve months of her
eventful and noble history. On January l,
thirty towns and cities Of the State. A year
later the open saloon had been banished
possibly two exceptions, and in these active
and determined legal efforts for its suppress
sion have been instituted.
There are some defects in the new law.
The fees for Probate Judges for the duties
they are called upon to perform should be
specifically defined, and the power conferred
these to grant 1t or refuse
review by the District Judges. The
authority A. now vested in Probate
Judges. in this regard. is arbitrary: and
of the public or OF individual citizens But
the general and practical effect OF the new
law has been so favorable, and the result
that it would. in my judgment. be unwise to
make any general or radical changes in its
several State institutions and gives some
statistics. OF the Sc. prisoners confined in
the pen'tentiary on December 81 last, SO
we're serving terms OF imprisonment for
their first offense. and 65l were under thirty
years of age. OF these 1871 we're from sixteen
to twenty years OF age: go were from twenty
thirty years OF age. Very nearls. three |
fourths of all the convicts in the State Peni- |
Tertiary, it will thus he seen. are under thirty
years OF age. and more than One-haif of them |
that authority of law be given to transfer to !
the new reformatory. as soon rs work upon |
enough SuSSHcet. TWO or three nun |
dred of the best disposed among the younger |
prisoners now confined i'm the penitenti6ry |
under sentences for the milder types OF !
crime. In providing q home for SOL |
diers' orphans the Governor says: |
Kansas has engaged in work that |
will commend itself. Her bounty could |
be extended to no more deserving class: her |
benehcence could md no nobler scope for |
the exercise of its generous impulses, than !
will be effected by the establishment and |
maintenance OF home for the orphan and |
destitute children of the State. The |
marvellous growth of Kansas is re-
viewed. also the organization and equipment |
of the Kansas National Guard, which is COM |
posed of excellent material and many Of !
whose officers are experienced soldierSl
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, 1 desire to express my ap- |
probation OF the uniform promptness and |
courtesy with which my associates in the /
various departments of the State Govern
ment have responded TO every request mads |
for information or advice that would aid /
me in the discharge of my duties.
b JOHN A. n ARTfN,
Executive Once. Topeka, Kan, Januar! 10.
1856.