The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To fhe LeGislature /.

The biennial meeting of the chosen representa-
tiyes of the people, pursuant to the requirement.
of the constitution, is an occurrence SO frequent
and usual as not of itself to attract more thar
ordinary attention; but the political contests
which marked the election at which you were
chosen were such as to engage the attention o.
the people of the whole state in most unusual
manner The interest which attended upon the
late political campaign has been kept alive moi
only as regards the results of the election, but sc
far as it may be likely to affect the future policy
Of the state. ContempOraneOus with your elec-
ton, the people selected from among their num-
ber an entire set of state officers who enter fol
the first time upon the great duty of admins
tering the government, indicating purpose on
the part of the people to secure such changes in
Che management of public affairs as they deemed
to be necessary for their safety and protection
Beneath the surface of all political or social agi
tation there has developed conviction that the
essential strength of every state must de
pend upon it's justice in dealing with all persons
and with all interests. The relation of authority
and service, of capital and labor, are daily ap-
pealing to higher elements than force for the
nh0ANASAa''
and .fuctuating relations of money and power
are proportiOnately weakened. Immunity from
responsibility for violated trusts, andimmunity
from the penalty ot great social and moral
wrongs are yielding to the demand for reform.
The great political parties have become sol inter-
mingled in opinion upon economic questions that
opportunity has been found for more deliberate
inquiry into apparent abuses of oficialApOsition
and power. Not only goodwill in words, but
goodwill in deeds among men, and on the part
of those in authority, always tend alike to the
safety and protection of the individual and of
the public.
Your selection as the constituent members of
the law-making department of the state, and
your due organization having been accomplished,
the whole machinery Of state government is
moving onward in its accustomed manner; and
with q sincere purpose on your part to give the
people the laws which they demand, and to
which they are entitled, which efforts and pur-
poees will be cordially supported by the other
departments of the government, 1t is believed
that an era of general prosperity will be realized.
Let us all endeavor in our respective places to
discharge the duties devolved upon us by our
common constituency in such manner as to de-
serve their intelligent approval.
In obedience to the requirement of the consti-
tuition, that the executive shall at the COM
mencement of each session communicate to the
legislature such information as he may possess
in reference to the condition of the state, and
recommend such measures as he may deem ex-
pedient, / proceed to submit some suggestions
for your considerations
Finance.
An ancient adage, "Out of debt, out of dam
GER" has been supplanted in some circles in
these modern days by "Our debts stand for our
Investments" The late Governor John A. Mar
tin, In his message to the state legislature on
January II, 1887 presented thefollowing startling
thoughts:
rapidly and enormously swelling until it has
reached proportions that should alarm every
citizen who has at heart the prosperity of the
state and the well l-being of it's people.
MThe municipal subdivisions OF the state have
gone on voting bonds and piling up interest bear
ing debts that will in few years cripple and dis
heartan every energy and ambition of their
people and paralyze all public spirit.
IL ell the bonds voted were issued, themunic-
ipAl indebtedness OF Kansas would be: County,
Si4,S7S,651 township @ll5, ,SO6; city, $3.50 ,4SI;
school district, 81, ,SS5, 40; total S3O,6l9S51."
Itwould be but an axiomatlc statement to make
the declaration that Ex-Governor Martin would,
were he still on the earth, instinctively and in
tnitiyely repudiate the vaunted boast so boldly
made, "Our debts stand for our investments" F"
But the following comparison of municipal in
debtedness may be appropriate and pertinent:
VARIOUS KINDS OF INDEBTEDNESS.
Amount of county bonds in 1890 $14, ,7S2, ,929. 40
Amount of county bonds in 1892 -. l5,02S,S56.SO
Increase in county bonds in two
years ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2sO,iT,ii
Amount Of township bonds in 1890. IS 0l0, ,62687
Amount Of township bonds in 1892. S,OS2, 100
Increase in township bonds in two
Amount of city bonds in 1890. 81, ,1S2, SO
Amount OF city bonds in 1892. ...... 9,841 ,52059
Increase in city bonds in two