The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-01-17
as well as generous, economical. but
not parsimonious.

ouSBCoItOH III ILLS COunoCLlOu, dpp1lC-
able to all our public institutions,
penal, educational and benevolent. In
view of the fact that your body con-
venes but once in two years, the con-
stantlY growing requirements of all
these institutions and the large sums
Of money expended necessarily in their
maintenance, one Of your first duties
should be to adopt the most efficient
means to ascertain the needs and ac-
tual condition OF each of them, to the
end that you may iegislate accordingly.
This implies no criticism or reflection
upon the several boards, in charge, nor
upon the administrative officers, who,
on the contrary, desire and invite eX-
animation and inspection. 1t is. sim
ply good business prudence in private
or state affairs. COMMITTEES or sub
committees should go, not merely to
visit, but to see and carefully inquire
into their condition, management and
business methods, and everything per-
tanning to their interests and the duty
of the state in providing for their sup
port. We must remember that the
money to support these institutions is
drawn by taxes from the people, many
of whom are lily able to bear it. To
them consideration is due. We should
bear in mind that, while the power to
lay and collect taxes is the highest pre-
rOgative of government, the duty goes
with it to see that the revenues thus
derived are wisely, honestly and econ
omically applied.
In this connection it has occurred to
me whether it would not be well to au-
JhOriZe the executive at any time dur
ing the interval between sessions of the
legislature, when in his judgement the
public good may require it, to appoint
three suitable persons to investigate
any institution of the state. Such per-
sons to proceed at once upon receipt of
notice of their appointment, to make
an investigation and report in writing,
to the governor, the result of their in
Quiry. And upon incontestable evil
dence of the incompetency or maifeas-
ance of any officer in charge of a state
institution, or member of any board,
he should be empowered to suspend
such officer or member, and report the
facts to the next ensuing legislature;
appointing suitable person to tenn
pOrarily fill the vacancy thus occas-
Toned. This committee should be nom
partisan in its composition.
STATE FINANCES.
The report of the auditor and treas
urer, exhibiting the financial condition
of the state at the close of business
June 30th, 1888, show a balance to the
credit of the several funds as follows:
General revenue, $27 31l.20; state
house, S81 ,989.13; sinking fund, 81 ,503.-
O3; interest, S2S, 847.27; veterinary, D..
400. 81; militia, $930.16; permanent
school, S2.065.04; annual school, $66,
920.S7; university permanent, 81 ,377.56
university interest, 81 ,035.67; Agricul-
tural College endowment, So, 741 10
Agricultural College income, ST ,928.43
NnrT1nn al cohnnI
Normal school interest, $995.39; total
1924 ,S82. 06
At the close of business, December
81, 1888, the following are the cash
balances in the treasury to the credit OF
the several funds: General revenue
$14.99; state house, $29, 97S.25; sinking
fund. 1858, 80; interest, $13, 1851
militia, $500. "a; veterinary, S21, 1898
permanent school. 1914 ,229.70; annual
school, S69, 274.1S; University perman
ent, $948.33; University interest, 81 :,
OIL ii; Normal school permanent, 81 :
449.7I; Normal school interest, S462.76;
Agricultural college permanent, So.
251.72; Agricultural college interest
81 .901.97; insurance, So ,234; library, 81 +,
624.5O.
GENERAL REVENUE.
The general revenue fund more
| directly interests the legislature. From
it all expenses of the state government
are paid, other than the principal anC
interest on the state debt, and build
ing of the state capitol. For each Of
| these. seperate levies are made, o.
should be made. The receipts into thu
treasury to the credit of this fund fol
the biennial period covered by the re
ports, including a balance in the treas
ury July /, 1886, of $lSS, 1882 50, wert
| q. Of Sc IN I A
was from direct taxes. The diSburse
ments for the same period were 81, 1893,
| 5lS. SO. leaving a balance in the treas
ury June 30th, 1888, of S27. 81. 20
Since that date expenditures have ex
| ceeded receipts, so that on Jan
uary 1st, 1899. the balance to thu
credit of this fund was but SI4.99, will
| auditors warrants outstanding to til,
amount of $l4.609.28. Admirable finan
| cial management on the part of TIL,
| treasurer has, however. saved the stat
| from liability for interest on thi
amount. Heretofore there has been
balance in the treasury to the credit o
this fund from the preceding year
taxes, sufficient to meet the expense
of the legislature and such miscellane
GUS appropriations as might be made
On the 1SJ of January, 1885. this bal
ance amounted to 500, TAI 93. The aud
itor's report shows that the levy TO
revenue of three and one-half mills TO
the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888
amounts to 81 ,236 1924. The proba
BILE sum that will be paid into tn
treasury during this January is $3.50
600, or fraction over so per cent. Thi
together with such balances as the lay
authorizes transferred from the pen
Tertiary, library and insurance funds
will possibly be sufficient to preserV
the credit of the state until the close c
the fiscal year. To do this. apprOpris
tions payable prior to June 80, 1885
should be limited.
In this connection it is proper
state, that from an examination of tn
auditors and treasurer's reports theI
is growing tendency to increase 81
penditures over and above receipt!
For the past few years there has bee
a gradual decrease in the balances Cal
| rled over to the credit of the reVenut
and funds received from the nations
government nearly equal in amount
a levy of a one-mil tax on the preser
taxable value of the state, have bee
credited to this fund and expended
The levy for revenue purposes for til
year 1884 was three and three-tentE
J mills, 1885 the same, 1886 three an
three-tenths mills, 1887 three and tire
JenCnS mills, 1895 Cnr06 ana Ono-na
/ mills, and in 1889 three and one-ha
! mills The assessed value of the stat
} for 1884 was S237 ,O20, 39l.2 81, for lSS
2 S277, 1l3, 1884, and for 1888 1858, 284
332. SO, thus showing an actual increai
in taxable wealth of S116, 227 ,941 .66
four years. Notwithstanding tn
splendid increase in wealth, the e,
penditures have been greater in pr
portion. This subject should receiN
!, your serious consideration. The su
plus in the treasury has not only bee
J exhausted, but an actual increase
/, the levy from three and three-tentl
7 mills for the fiscal year ending Jun
80, 1884, to three and one-haIf mills f,
> the fiscal year ending June 30th, ISS
and like levy for the fiscal year en-
ing June 3OIh, 1889, has been mad
: In making this showing, and urgiE
: economy in appropriations, do n
= wish to be understood as faVoring
: penurious policy. This of itsel
. would be discreditable to great sta
Q like Kansas: but no appropriation
. should be made until thorough i