The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-01-18

mouse grounds, and all other property OF the
state where no other provision is made Dy law.
In view of the powers thus conferred upon th the
capitol building at no great distant day, adequate
anpvonriatiOns ought to be made to enable the
executive council to put the state house grounds
I'm good ORDER and to construct proper Walks ana
other such improvements as may be necessary
Screen Law.
The coal miners in different parts OF the state
have besought former Legislatures TO give
them some needed relief from the system or
coal mining that refuses them pay Tor pOr-
tiOn of the coal that they mine and prepare Tor
shipment to various places. 49,
Years ago these expressions cSmG dt'Ira tEOn
should pass law compelling the weighing OF
coal before screening, as In Missouri; why
should we not have the same privilege OF
Weighing our product to the buyer as the mer,
chant has the right to weigh his goOds 70 US
DIalnts were made: "The coal should Oe
Weighed at the top, before 1t Is screened, and
the price for digging regulated accorolngly'
The coal Is of q soft nature, 80 that When
sereened fully One-half goes TO nut and SLACK.
The operators sell the nut fol-, about two-thirds
as much as they get for the lump, ana as tnls
costs them nothing for digging, 1t is clear
profit; and they get something Tor tne SLACK,
which is also given to them. An Usage county
miner says: "In this county we have TO give
eighty-flve pounds of coal to the bushel, while
the operators sell only eighty; thus ~ gives
them an average of over ton OF coal 10 each
car" ,..,. o1o
weekly OF less frequently, should be made In
cash, and the "stOre order" system OF pay
ment should be abolished.
Bureau of Agriculture.
Agriculture is the paramount industry Of
Kansas, and 1t is reasonable that It's interests
should be especially considered and assldu-
uously promoted by the state. 10 this END
would recommend that bureau or deparG,
ment of agriculture be created, TO Whlch snail
be referred all agricultural and kindred inter
ests This bureau or department. should Dc
placed under the supervision OF secretary
of Agriculture or other department. otlclal
who should be appointed by the governor, or
elected by the people as other state officers are
elected, and with the necessary assistants ne
should have supervision of all matters pertain
ing to agriculture, horticulture, bee culture,
fish culture, silk culture, forestry, stOcK rals-
ing cattle inspection, and possibly grain In
spection. The duties of state veterinarian
should also be performed under direction of
this department, and all these various oftices
as at present constituted should be abolished.
Grain Inspection.
At the twenty-fourth session of the legisla-
ture a bill was passed to regulate ware
houses and to provide for inspecting, grading,
Weighing and handling grain Some features
of Chat law are commendabe and others objec-
tlonable. Under It's provisions the governor
appoints a state grain Inspector SUCH In
spector appoints, on the nomination OF the sew
eral boards of trade, the necessary deputy
inspectors as therein provided. These boards
of trade also appoint state weighmaster and
The salaries and fees of all the officers are
paid by these several boards OF trade, and for
the purpose of providing for such payment
these organizations are allowed TO collect Zee
of 25 cents on each carload of grain weighed,
and like fee for each car Inspected. 1t Is De-
lieyed that these fees collected for Weighing
and inspecting, received from all the places
where grain ls weighed and inspected, are
much more than necessary for the payment of
the officers named, and that some OF the organ
zatons referred to are accommodating Q fund OF
several thousand dollars annually III this be-
lief shall be found warranted by the facts, then
the law should be so amended that tine lees
collected be turned into the state treasury and
the officers be paid therefrom; or that the fees
be reduced to the minimum charge that Will
lust cover the salaries and no more. To tax
one class of people for the benefit OF another
class, however light the burden, Is wrong In
principle and should be promptly corrected,
In my opinion 1t is not wise to delegate TO cor
porations the appointment of important state
officials, and If the inspection OF grain shall not
be placed under the control of a adepartment OF
agriculture, then the chief inspector appointed
by the governor should have authority to ap-
point deputies at all points whore they are re-
qulred, or where the fees will justify such
appointment. These are matters OF great I'M
portance to the agricultural interests OF the
state and should command your CAREFUL RCten-
ton. Il. ID. LEWELLlNd,