Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-24

msnes lasiness. noldins thSSm.eiv.. ;os,,4 -
allaedged eorpotatio1. only snshorissd uSde,
! ue ~ Of xaasae .si 49, - :.
ftess OF the Law IN regard 20 fees ana selaries
u MANY cases resissers efdeedsrecoise are.te,
fen than district judges and county treasurer.
moro than tho State Treasurer. He recon
menss chat al ofnces Be placed On salary
'lIsS - W INSURANCE.. s4ff5s;ss
The last report Of the SupesinteOdsnt Of IA.
surance shows that one hundred and seventeen
insurance colupanies are authorized TO do busi-
hre companies. tWenty-eighs life. and six com
panies are classed miscellaneous. About
twenty Kansas companies have died Of expoD'
ure. and the number OF worthless home compa
mics has become very small
The receipts Of the Insurance Department
last year. paid by the companies doing bust
ness here. were 81, 406.57. The receipts OF
the department since It was established. In
1871. have been ssSs. 6&aSs. Most OF this money
has gone into the school fund and the general
revenue fund It Is turned over to the State
Treasurer every month.
The amount OF fire insurance written In the
State last year was Si3z. 2sS go cost, in premi-
nms 1850 sss; losses paid, q. ia4. zs6; average
The life insurance written during the year
was 2e01. S4s; losses paid, ga, 4S5; premiums
received. e:43 884. ~----- 1870
.lAttention is called to the fact that the State
mas no law regulating the importanr subject of
banks and banking, and that hundreds OF banks
have been organized not as savins banks in
TACT. but TO carry on general business. and
neeoed legislation recommended. The Cover
nor also recommends that the Supreme Court
Commission which expires by limitation next
March, be continued until permanent relief to
the crowded docket can be aMordedl.
-. .,,. RAILROAD REGULATION.
invite your attention to the subject OF State
control OF railroads. The beneficial effects Of q
judfcious system of public regulation of the
railroad, firmly but discreetly administered, is
no longer question Of doubtful public policy.
Nearly all the States have adopted modes of
regulation similar to that which exists in Kan
sas, and where precipitate and unwise action
has been avoided. many evils which before
were the subject of unredressed complaints
nave been corrected. and development and
growth has been in no wise retarded. The peo-
pie OF Kansas have in this, as in no other mat
ters, manifested clear recognition of the fact
that justice to all interests is alone consistent
with, and the sure foundation Of permanent
prosperity. fit E& t-iti
In q State like Kansas where the railroad
system Is comparatively new, and extensions
progress with rapid strides many vexatious
problems are sure to arise which must be set
tied The successive volumes of reports which
have eman8ted from the Board of Railroad
Commissioners bear witness that large body
OF complaints have been adjusted, and that in
their adjustment the spirit of the law has In the
main received q fair and just interpretation.
Since this board was created vast energy has
been displayed in the construction of additional
systems already existing. Within a little over
five years the railroad mileage of Kansas has
grown from ZIG to 8, 100 miles. Doubtless some
OF this has not been wisely planted, but it is
certain that the people would not be willing to
relinquish single mile OF that which has been
built. It may be further remarked, that such is
the extent OF our territorial area, future de-
velopment will require considerable additional
mileage, especially in the western half of the
State, to adequately supply the whole State
with transportation facilities. ia i
{ The Governor gives statis teal review OF the
growth of freight and other traffic and says:
believe that q careful review OF the present
situation in respect to railroad development
and Investment in this State VIII reveal moth
ing that should create serious appprehensiOns
OF dfscouragement
The Board of Railroad Commissioners IN their
last report recommended some additional legis-
latfon m respect to the functions exercised by
them, which appear to me to be just and
adapted to increase the usefulness and effic-
ieney of that Office. The first relates to the en-
actment OF appropriate provisions for the due
of their orders and decisions.
THE board, the Governor says, represents the
give gal sanction to their decisions and secure
compliance Herewith. The second is OF growing
Importance. It is to confer On the board he
power to require the adoption OF Joint freight
tariffs upon freights passing between two points
in the State on two or mere railroads In order to
prevent unjust discrimination the Governor re-
eommends greater power be given the railroad
and that the boa d be clothed
with unquestionable power to enforce its o.
ders and decisions.1
TEMPEKANCK.
The growth OF public sentiment In support Of
Constitutional PFehibition in Kansas IS steady,
healthy, and unmistakable. In the last cam
paign no political party had the temerity to de-
mand resubmission of the question to the
people. in the face OF q popular verdict that has
popular sense has been taken. AS an issue in
Kansas politics. resubmssiOn Is as dead as
slavery, The saloon as a factor in politics, as
moral iniQuity. has been outlawed and made q
fugitive and vagaeond on the face OF the
earth - or that part OF Il within the territorial
limits of Kansas. ef-tt
The present legislation in AID OF ProhihitoFy
is perhaps not perfect nor free
from objections. but SO nearly satisfactory that
doubt il public opinion demands any radical
and law should but be public opinion
passe over into public will. Results justify the
opinion. The law generally is being
spected, and enforced, because by sort
Of educational process it is becoming
criminal statutes. e The records of
courts and Of prisons, from the city calaboose
to the penitentiary, show diminution OF CRIME
and a failing off in our prison population, bear
Ing the most incontestable evidence OF the
of the present state Of the Law ana of
the Prohibitory policy which the law is designed
to enforce.
PUBLIC PRINTING
The work done by the public printer is fully
up to the high standard maintained in that office
for many years But we are evidently paying
too much for the public printing. The cost to
the State for the fiscal year ending June 3D.
1887. was &132,771S7, and for 1888. CSC. 2Oe Il:
total for the biennial period just past Of $780,
9.81. OF this amount there was expended in
1887, $4,000 for paper and binding stock, and in
1883, s35, 31a "a for the same purposes total of
n379.54. Adding to this q 329 90 paid for pub
fishing the laws and for miscellaneous work
not done by the State Printer, there remains
$780, go SO for labor and profit.
THE Governor imputes no blame to the State