Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-01
THE KNIFE.
Heroic Surgery of the Kansas
Codifying Committee.
A REVISION ALL ALONG TIE LINE.
Sweeping Reduction Of Omcials-Combln-
ing OF Departments-Sayingso On Salaries
Also in the State PrIntIng-A Boon
to School Children.

TOPEKA, Kan, Dec. 2S.-The commit
tee appointed at the last session Of the
Legislature to revise and codify the ex-
isting laws of Kansas has completed its
labors and has made its report to Gov
ernor Humphrey.
The committee has thoroughly re-
vised all laws relating to public institp-
tions, abolished and combined the vari-
GUS boards in charge Of the educational
and eleemosynary institutions, made
sweeping reductions in the laws gov
erning the State printing. provided for
a more strict accounting of the public
moneys, and in short revolutionized the
State Government.
The committee consisted of Senators
F. P. Hardness, of Clay; I. B. Murdock,
of Butler; G. H. Kimball, of Labette; NJ.
C. Kelley, of Crawford, and Joel Moody,
of Linn.
The first meeting was held January 6,
1890, since which time one or more
members of the committee have been
steadily at work.
A bill creating State board of pub
lie works has been proposed, to consist
of three persons to be appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent
of the Senate, to superintend all public
improvements. This board corresponds
to similar boards in municipal corpora
tions and necessitates the repeal of the
present law providing for the State
House Commissioners. Two of its mem
bers must be experienced mechanics
and builders.
In regard to the public printing, the
committee found that the prices paid
were too high and ordered important re-
ductions. The great saving to the State
will be in the amount or volume Of
printing to be done in the future: Pub
lie documents will be set solid in the
future instead of ''leaded," and the
width of the printed matter on the ses-
sion laws is made greater. Provision
is made for enrolling and engrossing
all bills by printing them. This will do
away with the small army OF engross-
ing clerks necessary for each Legisla-
ture, which cost the State last session
ST, 900.
The committee declares that the laws
governing the Agricultural College and
the State Normal School are vague, in
definite and uncertain, and wholly mad
eqate for the government of these insti-
tutions. Simplification is recommended.
A most remarkable feature of the re-
port is bill combining the State Lii
brary and the Historical Society. The
report declares that many books are
duplicated and that hundreds of charts,
maps, etc. are duplicated and that two
libraries have created jealousies and un-
wholesome rivalries, resulting in ex-
travagance in the application of moneys.
The two libraries will be consolidated
into the State Library.
The most sweeping change and the
one which will prove the most popular,
is the bill providing for public school
text books. The bill provides for the
text book plan the same as is now on
trial by Minnesota and Indiana. The
committee submits seven reasons for
this change, claiming that it will not
cost the State more than one-third as
much as the old system, and will give
to the children of the poor and
the laboring people the necessary books
without any cost whatever to them; it
brings the theory of free schools into
practical operation. The committee es-
Inmates that the present plan costs 81
year for each pupil, and that the pro-
posed plan will cost not to exceed 80
cents.
For State charitable and reform IN
stitutions one State board, to be known
as ''The Board of Trustees of Charitable
Institutions. has been provided.
A cutting down of expenses in the
State penitentiary is recommended.
A bill providing for the election of
the Board of Railroad Commissioners
by direct vote of the people is sub
mitted, and it is proposed to appoint a
State agent at Washing every four years
instead of giving him life position.
The Department of Agriculture is
completely revised, and its secretary in
the future is to be elected by the people,
the same as any other State officer. His
duties are enlarged so that he must per-
form all the duties and offices of the
commissioner of forestry and silk cul-
ture.
The bill regulating the fees and sal
aries of county officials makes sweeping
reductions along the line.
The bill providing for the re-appor-
tionment of the State for judicial pur-
poses reduces the number of districts
from thirty-fve to twenty-five and saves
SOS, 900 annually in the salaries of judges
alone.
A large number of boards are abolished
in bill which provides that the pro-
fessor of veterinary science at the Ag-
ricultural College shall perform the du-
ties of the State veterinarians; the pro-
fessor of sociology at the university
shall perform the duties of the commits
sioner of labor statistics; the professor OF
geology at the university shall perform
the duties of State geologist; the phar-
macy faculty at the State University
shall perform the duties of the board
of pharmacy, and the State Offices Of
State veterinarian, State geolgist, COM
missioner of labor statistics and the
State board of pharmacy shall be abol-
ished.
The committee concludes its report
with bill amending the tax statutes 80
as to provide that the basis of property
value shall be the true value Of the
property to be assessed, and enlarging
the powers of the county and State
boards Of equalization The Lieutsn-
ant-Governor and Attornsy-Genersl are
added to the State board Of eQuaHza-
ton.