The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-28
Total.
s5-4 5CO s2,3 oOO sS4T E0r


lo9o-.-----.- ..------- lDotUUl o4,UOOl --p,UCB
Ic|s---.- lj4,pJJ -O,pUUl lJS,UOV
Total. -. 1914, 500 s2.3,oOO s847 soc
The s17. 900 of bonds maturing in 1886, and
the sl5,5O0 maturing in 1881. are provided fIT
by tax levies already mSde, leaving only
Ssl5gO0 unprOVided for. OF these, only $lGi.-
eco. all held by State funds, mature prior t.
1896.
In view OF the fact that the bonded debt &C
the State. unprOvided for. aggregates onl5
SSl5.u00 and that only s250,0)O OF this amount
- held by individuals and corporations,
do not believe that it is wise or just to i'm
pose upon the present generation Of taNPay-
ers the burden of paying our outstanding
bonds on their maturity. This generation 10
bearing the heavy burdens OF taxation
necessary to erect all our public build
ings. which will survive for centuries
to come; we can readily refund all
due, INTO new bonds, bearing interest
at not to exceed 81. or 4 per cent; and &c
seems TO me that il is neither wise nor Just
to compel the taxpayers of the present to
assume, in addit on to their other burdens,
that OF providing a sinking fund for the ell
tinguishment of our State debt, We gbt
take pride in saving that the State hes no
public debt, but il 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 rs thee mature.
In this connection il is proper to direct yOur
attention to the fact that the public revenue
which will he raised under the reduced tax
levies made last winter.wil, Notwithstanding
the increasing valuation OF the property Of
the State, he very largely absorbed by the
appropriations made at the same time fOrcur-
rent expenses and public buildings. The de-
mand for rigid economy at this session is,
therefore, imperati We. The tax levies al
ready made for the fiscal years ending June
80, 1886, and June 80. 1881, can not be. and
ought not TO be increased Hence the eK-
penditurcs directed at this session should he
limited to the absolute requirements OF pub
lie necessity.
INSURANCE MATTERS.
The laws enacted at your first session cob.
corning mutual fire insurance companies
took effect at very recent date, and II is too
early to form a definite opinion concerning
mutual life or assessment companies has had
the effect. the Superintendent of Insurance
reports, of driving from the State number
or worthless organizations, managed 10y
men whose sole object was TO defraud the
public.
II is also suggested that our laws IN effect
organization OF fire insurance compa-
MES organized in Kansas and managed
by our own citizens. An immense SUM
OF money is sent ont of the State each
ance policies. and if laws can be devised
which. while guaranteeing the prompt Snd
certain payment of losses. will at the same
time encourage and promote the organZa-
ton OF Kansas insurance companies. the re-
suit would be Of public benent
BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The report of the Board of Railroad Con-
missoners embraces full and valuable state.
mcnts and statistics concerning the trans
pOrtation business of the state. The traffic
returns of the different railway companies
show a very large increase in the volume OF
freight handled, as well as in the number OF
passengers carried. The total tonnage
hauled one mile during the fsca!
that of the previous year 1862,
1913 tons, while the freight earnings for the
fiscal year ended June ~ 1885, show de-
crease, compared with the year 1884. of S..
I3l,7o3 The saving to the people of the State
by the reductions IN freight rates, secured
ch ely by the Board of Railroad Commiss on
era, as e reg, for n The fiscal year ended
and recommendations embodied in the re-
port of the Commissioners are worthy OF
your considerable attention.
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATIOE.
The general working of the amended pro-
hibitory law OF last winter has been favor
able. Organized opposition to the law is fast
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
affairs in their own way. Thus all agencies
have worked together during the year in be-
and Kansas has made greater moral prog
Tess than in any other twelve months of her
eventful and noble history. On January !,
lsS5, saloons were open in twenty or
thirty towns and cities of the State. A year
later the open saloon had been banished
from every town and city OF Kansas. with
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 Z. Dbate Judges for the duties
hRV IN prFO hn
specifically defined. and the power conferred
upon these officers. To grant or refuse
licenses to druggists, should be subject TO
review by the District Judges. The
as now vested in Probate
Judges. in this regard. is arbitrary, and
may be abused, to the detriment
II the public or of individual citizens. But
the general and practical effect OF the new
aw has been go favorable, and the result
aimed at has been so nearly accomplished,
hat 1t would, in my Judgment he unwise to !
make any general or radical changes in its
1.-THE Governor refers to the reports of the /
several State institutions and gives some (
statistics. OF the So prisoners confined in I
he penitentiary on December 81 last, so +
we're serving terms of imprisonment for .
heir first offcnsc. and t51 were under thirty 4
ears of age of these ial were from sixteen /.
q twenty years of age; 2I7 were from twenty .
q twenty-five. and loS from twenty-five to 4
hrty years of age. Very nearly. three 1
ourths of all the convicts in the State Peni- !
cntiary, il will thus be seem are under thirty I
ears OF age and more than one-half of them /
ire under twenty-five He suggests !
hat authority of law be given to transfer 10 /
he new reformetory. as soon as work upon
7 is far enough advanced. two or three hun
lred of the best disposed among the younger /
prisoners now confined in the peuitentiary
lnder sentences for the milder types OF 1
rhine In providing a home for SOL !
iers' orphans the Governor says: I
Kansas has engaged in work that
viii commend itself Her bounty could 4
re extended TO no more deserving class; her
'enefcence could find no nobler scope for
he exercise of its generous impulses, than
will be effected by the establishment and
of q home for the orphan and
destitute children OF the State. The
marvellous growth of Kansas is re-
iewed. also the organization and equipment
# the Kansas National Guard. which is COM
'osed of excellent material and many Of
whose officers are experienced soldiers.l
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, l desire to express nv ap- !
or the uniform promptness and
courtesy with which my associates in the
-arious departments of the State Govern I
nent have responded TO every request madc
or information or advice that would aid
ne in the discharge OF my duties.
JOHN A M4RrIy,
Executive omce. Topeka, Kan, Januar! 10.
Sc