The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-01-01

4
with the exigencIes Of the situation.
The committee recommends that
the compensation Of state officers be
fixed by . definite salary and that the
fees now received by the Secretary Of
State and Auditor be paid into the
general state fund. A more careful
examination Of funds In the hands
the state Treasurer IL urged, together
with q more perfect check on his ac-
counts than has heretofore existed.
The committee submits q bill Great
ing . Board Of Public Works, to con-
sist Of three persons to be appointed
by the Governor with the consent Of
the senate, two Of whom shall be ex-
perlenced mechanics and builders.
The members shall hold for four
years. This board shall supsrintend
the erection Of all public buildings.
The present board Of state house
commissioner IL abolished. The
committee has classified the public
printing and established q scale Of
prices, practically limiting the va
rious departments and state officials
TO Q specific amount. The number
Of state university regents is reduced
from seven to Ave and their pay linn
tied to expenses. Only two meetings
year will be required. The free
text book plan 10 recommended. The
state school fund drawn by each dis
trIct will be more than sufficient to
buy all the books Of the district. II
10 expected that school books will
not average more than 80 cents q
year to each pupil. The committee
propose that the state board Of char
lilies be paid 3 salary Of $500 year,
instead Of mileage and per diem and
travelling expenses actually paid
out.
At the penitentiary the public din
ing hall will be abolished. Guards
will have TO board outside and buy
their own uniforms. These will save
SIC, 900 Q year. The committee finds
there will be no use for the Hutchin-
son reformatory, and suggests that
II be turned into an insane asylum.
A bill to provide for the election Of
railway commissioners by the peo-
pie has been drawn. The board Is TO
consist Of three persons, one Of the
members first elected, to hold Office
two years, the other two to hold Of
fee four years. Thereafter the term
Of each member TO be four years.
A change 10 recommended in the
election Of Secretary Of Agriculture
who shall perform all the duties
and Offices Of the Commissioner Of
Forestry and Silk Culture, and these
ofiicss are abolished.
The committee provides for q state
agent at washington,t to be appointed
by the governor on or before the 18th
day Of February, 1891, and every four
years thereafter. The present agent
Was appointed In 1877 aud under the
law - Il now exists can serve for
life.
The office Of fish commissioner is
retained.
The committee in preparing q re-
vision Of enactments, regulating the
fees and salaries Of county officers
aud others, has endeavored 10
draft such Q bill as will make sweep
ing reductions In the fees and sala-
riss Of all the officers Of the more
populated counties. at IL we'll
known" says the report, that I'M
der the present law some Of our conn
~ officers are receiving greater sala-
rieE than are paid Q state official. In
fact Il is susceptible Of proof that
that some Of our county officers are
to-day receiving In fees from 5000
to &c, 900 annually.
The bill providing for the reappor-
tionment Of the state for judicial
purposes reduces the number Of dis
tricts from thirty-five to twenty
ave.
The State Veterinarian is abolish
ed; also the commIssionership Of
labor statistics. The office of state
geologist and the state board Of phsr-
macy. Their duties are to be per-
formed by the professors at the uni
versity.
The committee submits Q bill
which provides for the organization
and Incorporation Of banks with 9
capital stock Of not less than $4,000 |
600, 50 per cent Of which shall be |
paid up when commencing business,
the balance to be paid In monthly |
four reports TO be made
yearly. The bill also prohibits such
banks from loanIng money on real
estate, or from engaging In trade or
The bill provides for the
Of . bank commissioner
who shall examine all banks once
year.
The custom Of assessing property
1t about one-thIrd Its usuAl value
which has prevailed In this state for
many years IL universally recognized
- an evil. The committee believes
that the evil may be corrected by
the statutes 90 g. to pro-
vide hat the basis Of value to, be
agreed upon by the Assessors at their
shall be the true value In
money Of property to be assessed,
ans By enlarging the powers Of the
eounty and state boards 81 equsliEa-
lion. and make their duty, not only
10 equallse but to raise and lower
" may be necessary, the entire IS
former Of the county
md the latter Of the Understanding
NJ railroad property, 90 that u may
IN fact be assessed ct lite true value
In money.