Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-22

total on the nrst day of July, 1890, being s37-
IIS. 81. s. This IS divides among the sew
eral municipalities as follows: County
bonds and warrants, SIS. 231, 6O4- 81; town
ship bonds and warrants, S, oso, 15O u; city
district bonds and orders, S, 907 Al. SO. The
amount in sinking funds, July !, 1880, was
S623, 316- 50, leaving net total municipal in
debtedneSs on that date OF SS6, 491, $50, 80.
On the first OF Ju'y, 1854. the municipal
Indebtedness OF the state amounted to So,
95I, 929. Sc. On the first OF July, 1886, It was
ST., 779, 299. a. On the first OF July, 1855, It
had increased % $31, 107 ,646.90 On the frst
or July, 1890, 1t had reached the sum OF S37, =
lis, 977. SO, less the amount in sinking funds,
as above stated.
Notwiths landing the warnings contained
in every executive message Tor the past six
years. this form OF Indebtedness continues
to grow at a rate and with a perSfStency
alton.
1t has been stated, and is doubtless ap-
proximately correct, that so per cent. OF all
our county, township and city bonds has
been issued In aid OF railroad construction
and the legislature or 1857, by an act more
limit or such aid from 81, 600 to 81, 900 mile.
1t would seem that the time had arrived
when further restrictions should be laid in
the same direction, ana the power OF these
various municipalities to incur Indebtedness
IN any manner very materially reduced and
better guarded.
Local NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. indebtendess
suggests local taxation, burcen volun-
tarfly contracted by the people or the var
tous municipalities in bonds voted to aid
railroads and other public improvements
poses on the assessed valuation for 1889 was
S13, 4S2, BIS. 95, as follows: State, 81 ,535,
20 81: eOunty I ~ - - ~ cry
81, 238 1884. 81; or an average OF san upon
each 500 OF assessed value.
Thus it appears how largely our tax
burdens are local and self imposed. And
&C Is gratifying 70 note how small
compared with the tribute annually
levied for the support or county, town
ship and city government, especially when
m q re- 9 a Ia 1Ny
expending large sums in the erection and
extension OF public institutions, not alone
Tor present use, but for future general lions.
Our system OF local government is entirely
too complicated and expensive; and, while
imposing wise and wholesome Limitations
upon the power of municipalities to incur
indebtedness, as recommended, it will be
wen 70 INQUIRE WIlethef Ine Ordinary ex-
pense or conducting their affairs may not
be reduced by improved methods and the
enforcement OF that rigid economy which
should ever characterize the administration
or government, whether local or general.
EDUCATIONAL.
Your attention Is urgently invited to the
very elaborate report OF the state superin-
tendent OF public instruction, exhibiting in
detail the condition of our common schools,
and discussing in an able and suggestive
manner our whole educational plan Nothing
short or careful reading of this report can
give an adequate conception of the con-
ditton or extent OF our grand system OfpOp-
The receipts for the school year ending
June 30, 1890, including balance from pre-
NlOuS year, from ClSJTicG taxes. county
school funds, sale OF school bonds, and all
other sources, were IS, CSC ,659. SO. The dis
bursements for the same time for teachers
wages, tncidentals, library and school APP
aratus, sites buildings and furniture, and
all other purposes, were 81, 972, $50. S. Ieav-
Ing q balance IN hand OF district treaSurerS,
June 30, 1890, of S723 ,693. 10.
This vast expenditure annually made IN
behalf OF popular education, and derived
very largely from direct taxation, demands
the greatest possible results, and your at
tentton is directed TO the numerous sugges-
tot int n
instruction for the bettermeut OF our COM
mon school system.
HIGHER EDUCATION.
The higher educational institutions are
not quite so close to the popular heart as the
common schools, but they are, after all, a
part OF our general plan OF education, and
the obligations OF the state respecting tn EN-
are expressly defined and well understood.
Hundreds OF our young men and women are
.hYalllng themselves OF the opportunity Tor
higher education which they offer even to
the humbleSt who may aspire, and their
continued growth and prosperity should be
the desire or every citizen.
The UniverSity-The history of the uni
Versity during the past two years has been
somewhat eVentful, but on the whole its
present condition is extremely gratifying.
Early in this administration, Chancellor J.
a. Ifppincott after years of honorabIe and
erdcient service, voluntarily rendered his
resignation, to take effect the first OF Sep
TENDER, 1859. Pending the selection OF a
vice chancellor, and discharged the duties
OF such position with marked abil-
anu HQ6llIE. AII6T MuCn anxious
inquiry and casting about for a worthy
successor to DR.. LippincOtt, Prof. T. II.
snow reluctantly CONSENT to accept the
position. and was accordingly selected as
chancellor by the Unanimous voice OF the
board. his term commencing July /. 1890.
Professor Snow has been connected with
the faculty since 1866, and conspicuously
identified with the upbuilding OF the insti-
tuition. He has, by long years OF unseltish
labor and ripe scholarship, contributed
much to the present success OF the un1ver-
sity; and by his thoughtful and valuable
efforts in behalf of the practical interests of
the state, he has become well and faVorably
known to the people. He Is a Kansas man,
and the board acted wisely IN putting him
at the head OF the university OF Kansas.
Assisted by the present faculty, which
in experience and ability, compares favor
ably with the instructors OF the best colleges
or the east with liberal policy on the part
OF the state, there is every reason to believe
that Chancellor Snow Will soon make the
university or Kansas what it was designed
The university belongs to the people, and
the report discloses the encOurag ing fact
that its students come from every walk in
life, over forty per cent OF them being the
sons and daughters of farmers and artisans.
The attendance is steadily gaining in num-
bers year by year, with increasing facilities
The last legislature made an important de-
parture from the former method of grant
ing SPECIFIC appropriations for the support
cally appropriates in bulk the proceeds OF a
certain levy. This, in a manner, leaves the
disbursement entirely with the board, free
f.om the usual legislative supervision; and
too much care and prudence cannot be ex-
ercised in the premises. Enthusiasm for
the university mutt not be.peI mitted, as
often happens, to result IN extravaganza
1t should be tempered with due regard
for the condition Of the aX-payerS OF the
state, and restrained by rigid obser vance
OF business principles.
Agricultural College During the past
two years this institution has continued to
grow and prosper in every material respect.
1t has been for the past ten years, as now,
IN charge or President Fairchild, and the
remarkable growth made during that time
is both creditable to him and gratifying TO
the state,
The attendance is constantly increasing,
for the last year the enrolment reaching
BIS students from sixty TWO counties IN the
state and sixteen other states, territories,
and foreign countries. AS the president
states in his report, Farmers children
hold the fort $40 strong; mechanics OF var
lous kinds a e represented by p; business
men by 49; editors and other professional
men by "a; miscellaneous y. - Evidently
the people are getting good returns Tor all
it costs the state in support OF the agricul-
tural college.
Its condition, financial and otherwise, to-
gether with needed appropriations, VIII De