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

j system devoted exclusively to tho IL
struction and Industrial training Of tho defective
classes. requiring the hiahest order OF ability
with rare Judgment and skill both Of which.
am persuaded from careful personal observa
ton, arc happily united and conspicuoualy dis
played in the present management.
Notwithstanding the appropriations OF sof0t
| Tor eniafgfng the Deaf and Dumb School build
| ing by the last Legislature, the board suggests
the necessity for moro room. ftc
| SCHOOL FOR BLIND.
| This school Is in good condition. The last
Legisla. ure provided for the building Of the
north wing, and Il il gratifying 70 say that more
in that direction Il not requested In the report
The industrial departments OF this. aud the
school for the deaf and dumb. Is . feature Of
peculiar interest and great Importance quite
generally overlooked and too little appreciated.
It should be literally encouraged rs q valuable
part Of the work being done by these most
worthy institutions. fs
IMBECIEE YOUTH.
The asylum for this peculiarly unfortunate
class seems to be well conducted and in a
healthy condition. The location of the build
ing, on barren, rocky point where neither
tree nor shrub could be persuaded to grow by
the most dligent effort, is inexplicable, except
it was to afford more palpable proof that imbe-
cility is not confined to youth. Additional
room, more land less rock and soma water ore
needed
SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME
This is the youngest of our benevolent insti-
tutions, but enc OF the most worthy and wen
conducted. The first children were admitted in
July, 1887. and at the date of the last report it
contained los inmates-50 boys and 46 girls
representing % counties. The report makes
many suggestions and recommendations touch
Ing the management and future requirements
OF the home, which are too important to be
consideration. ~.
EXECUTIVE SUPERVISION.
A sense of duty prompts a general suggestion
In this connection. applicable to all our public
institutions. penal, educational and benevolent
In view OF the fact that your body convenes
but once in two years. the constantly 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 aud actual condition Of
each OF them, to the end that you may legislate
accordingly. This implies no criticism or re-
Election upon the several boards in charge. nor
upon the administrative officers, who, ON the
contrary, desire aud invite examination and in
spection. It is simply good business prudence
In private or State affairs Committees or sub
committees should CO. not merely to visit. but to
see and carefully inquire into their condition,
management and business methods, and every
thing pertaining to their interests and the duty
OF the State in providing for their support. We
must remember that the money to support
these institutions is drawn in 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 prerogrative OF govern
ment, the duty goes with it to see that the rev
enues thus derived are wisely, honestly and
economical ly applied.
In this connection 1t has occurred to me
whether 1t would not be well to authorize the
executive at any time during the interval be-
tween sessions of the Legislature, when in his
Judgment the public good may require It, to ap-
point three suitable persons to investigate any
institution in the State. Such persons to pro-
coed at once upon receipt OF their appointment
to make an Investigation and report in writing,
to the Governor, the results OF their inquiry.
And upon incontestable evidence of the incom-
potency or malfeasance OF any offlcer In charge
OF q 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 Legislatures; appointing q
suitable person to temporarily fill the vacancy
thus occastoned. This committee should be
non-partisan in its composition
STATE FINANCES ,tt
The reports of the Auditor and Treasurer ex-
hibiting the financial condition of the State at
the close of business June 80, 1888. shows q bal
ance to the credit of the several funds as
follows:
General Revenue. Ss7,s11.2o: State House.
$81. 9S913; Sinking Fund, $1,505O3; Interest,
S2SS47.27; Veterinary, $22 400. 97 Militia, $780, 49,
Permanent School, s8s,O65.Oi; Annual School
s66 .92O.87; University Permanent $1.37756;
University Interest, S1.035.67; Agricultural Col
lege Endowment, STALLS; Agricultural College
.721; Normal School Interest, 1896, 80; total
1924 8Ss.O6. -
At the close OF business December III, 1885,
the following are the cash balances in the
treasury to the credit of the several funds:
General Revenue. e14 90: State House, SO $685.;
Sinking. S953.62; Interest, $13526.7O: Militia.
sS098i; Veterinary. 81, 1881; Permanent
S04, 229 20; Annual School, 9274. IS; University
Permanent, s94S.33: University Interest 1O11,-
IA; Normal School Permanent, s1,4s9.71 Normal
School Interest, &62.76; Agricultural College
Permanent. s., 251.72; Agricultural College In
terest, s2.901.s7; Insurance, 1924; Library,
81, 624.!O.
In this connection it is proper to state, that
from examination of the Auditors and
Treasurers reports there is a growing tendency
to increase expenditures over and above re-
ceipts. For the past few years there has been
a gradual decrease in the balances carried over
to the credit of the revenue, and funds received
from the National Government nearly equal in
amount to a levy OF a one mill tax on the pres
ent taxable value of the State, have been cred
tied to this fund and expended. Tne levy for
revenue purposes for the year 1884 was three
and three-tenthS mills. 1885 the same, 1886
three and three-tenths mills, 1887 three and
three-tenths mills, 1888 three and one-hah mills,
and in 1889 three and one-half mills. The as
sessed value OF the State for 1884 was $23., o2O
39l 81 for 1886 S277 Tia 323 a. and for 1888 1858
PAS, 81? 50, thus showing actual increase in
taxable wealth of $116, 227, 6j in four years
Notwithstanding this splendid increase in
wealth., Inc expenditures nave OeeQ greater In
proportion. This subject should receive your
serious considerations.
Ia reduced rate OF levy is urgently re- cc,n-
mended tfi
INVESTED FUNDS.
The permanent school fund invested at the
close of the fiscal year amounted to the sum of
q, 1854 IS. The invested Normal School fund
amounted to S91,219 The State University fund
invested, $117, 49l- State Agricultural College
invested in bonds $473, O56. IL, and on land con-
tracts ~, 62956. All of these several amounts
are bearing interest averaging per cent. per
annum. The invested sinking fund at the close
of the fiscal year was $4,000 in State bonds,
bearing per cent. interest. The annual levy
for this fund should be resumed, so that the
bonds of the State may be paid at maturity.
INCOME DISBURSEMENTS.
The disbursements to the several counties of
annual school fund, derived from interest on
sales of school land, and invested permanent
fund for the fiscal wear ending June n 1877