Wichita eagle., 1889-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

s.54 per cent. This denotes an approx
mate average reduction of the freight
charge of 1858, compared to that of 1888, o.
B45S per cent. From the same source II
appears that from passenger trathc the
earnings have grown from Sl4.3l5.!ol.9o III
1883, to SIS, $500 80 in 1883, an increase Of
S. 249 269. SO. or 23.4 per cent. | believe thai
careful review of the present situation il
respect to railroad development and IN.
vestments in this state Will reveal nothing
that should create serious apprehenSlonS OF
ulScourdg cement.
The board OF railroad commissioners liz
their last report recommend additional
legislation in respect to the functions eX
ercised by them. which appear to me TO be
Just and adapted to increase the usefulness
and efficacy of that Office. The first re-
lates to the enactment of appropriate pro-
visions for the due enforcement of their
orders and decisions. Heretofore this mas
not been found to have been necessary, and
a due regard for the authority reposed IN
that board should have rendered this Tor
ever unnecessary. The board represents,
in all its official utterances, the state.
There are many matters arising III the OPP
Grafton of railroads affecting the conVen-
fence and reasonable accommodation OF
the public, which do not rest IN Well-de,
fined legal obligation on the one hand, ana
of absolute right on the other the due reg
ulation of which. in the last instance, is
confided bv the statute to this board. Its
findings decisions and recommendations
as to these as well as other matters, upon
which its authority is invoked, cannot be
disregarded without undermining its au-
thority and bringing its functions into
contempt Suitable provision should
therefore he made to give legal sanction to
their dppiSiOuS orders ana rPcOmmpnQa-
lions, and secure compliance Herewith.
Tne second is a matter of pres
ent. anu will become one OF
growing importance to the business inter
ests of the state. 1t is to confer on the
board the power TO require the adoption OF
joint freight traffics upon freights passing
between TWO points within the state over
two or more railroads, and to prescribe the
rate to be charged, and the pro rata share
Of each carrier whenever Ii shall appear to
be lust TO the business interests of the
people Of the state.
Under the existing statute, the powers of
the board touching rates of transportation
extend only to the revision of rates COM
planned OF and upon complaint before it.
1t must inevitably happen that, in the
multiplication OF competitive points, I'M
due disproportiOn will ensue between the
rates at such point and those malnta lined
at places where competition does not exist,
leading 10 unjust Determinations. These
should be subjected to such adjustment
End revision from time to time as
necessity may arise, 10 assure to the pub
lie fair treatment. To this end | recon-
mend the appropriate power he lodged III
the board OF railroad commissioners by
additional statutory provision, which in
sucn occasions may not require the inter-
venJion of a formal complaint for its eXer-
rise. In a word the board should have
q fi1.r,a.4 iVp g. tIsTI iA
clothed with uuquestiOnable power TO en-
force It's reasonable orders ana decisions.
TEMPERANCE.
The growth of public sentiment in sup
port OF constitutional prohibition IN Kan
sas is steady, healthy, and Unmistakabel
IN the last campaign no political party
had the temerIty TO demand n resub-
mission of the question TO the people, in
the face of "A popular verdict that has been
repeated and emphasized every time the
popular sense has been taken. As an
issue in Kansas politics, resubmlssIon IS
as dead AS slavery. The saloon as a factor
III politics, as a moral iniquIty. has been
outlawed and made a fugitive and
vagabond on the face of the earth, >" or
that part Of it within the territorial
limits Of Kansas.
The present legislation in aid of the
prohibitory amendment IS perhaps not
perfect nor free from objections, but 50
nearly satisfactory that doubt if public
opinion demands any radical revision;
and law should be public opinion passed
over into public will. Results Justify the
opinion. The law generally IS being re-
Spected and enforced, because by sort of
process it is becoming III nj
fled ia the public mind with other
criminal statutes. This was necessary for
ihe reason that it was legislation denounc-
ing as 4 public offense what had not been
heretofore, and Is not per sc, criminal.
Convictions are thus made easier where
the proof warrants it, because Juries and
courts have come to regard the law as it
is reflected in the ligh' of public judgment. |
Frequent change in such a law especially !
tends to unsettle public confidence, and |
begets distrust and doubt. The records |
Of courts ana of prisons, from the city GALA |
booSe to the penitentlary, show dlminu- |
ton OF crime and falling-off III our pris- /
on population, bearing the most incontest- !
able evidence of the efficiency of the pres |
ent state of the law and of the prohibitory |
policy which the law is designed 10 enforce. |
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The work done by the public printer is |
fully up to the high standard maintained |
ia that Office for many years. But we are
paying too much Tor the public /
printing. The cost to the state for the |
fiscal year ending June 80, 1887, was : 81
II g.. ana for 1883, $50, POS "A; a total for
he biennial period just past of 1872, 679.s1. /
Of this amount there was eXpend-
I'd in 1857, S15,o00 for paper
aud binding stock, and in
1855. S35,3,954 for the same purposes
total of S50.3i9 81. Adding TO this S3, 329. 90
paid for publishing the laws and for mis-
,ellaneous work not done by the state
printer, there remains $50 2I0.5S for labor
and profit.
These figures are significant No blame
whatever is imputed TO the state printer
lie is operating, however, under a law
passed many years ago. 10y which much
printing is required and work
$ duplicated and repeated in various re-
)ortS, eutaIlIng an expense that should be
wooded. The amount Of legislative print
ng could be greatly reduced by Il Joint
ommittee, and proper rules, regulating
he printing of bills and the matter that
hould 90 into the Journals of the two
lOuSeS. This would greatly lessen the eN-
'ense of our legislative sessions. 1t seems
o me. however, that the only al quate
emedy lies in more carefully guarding he
mount of matter to be printed during he !
whole biennial period.
| recommend that you provide for the
eference of all matter to be printed at the
'uhlIc expense to super isor, To be APP
pointed Tor that purpose by the governor
r executive council, under proper restric-
ions. :
At the first session of the last senate it
7as proposed TO regulate the right of aliens
o purchase and hold real estate in Kan
a.; but II was found that any legislation l
discriminating against aliens in that re
pect was expressly forbidden by section
OF the bin OF rights. Senate joint reSo- {
ltion No. was thereuDon offered and I
assed both houses, submitting 10 the peo- c
le proposition ameudatory OF said sec l
on. 10y removing such restriction. That :
mendment having been adopted at the q
49, l.. l. IL. ]