Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-01-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Legislature:

The b1ennlal meeting OF the CHOSEN represents
tives Of the people, pursuant to the requiem hts
of the constitution, is an occurrence so frequent
and usual as not of itself to attract more than
ordinary attention; but the political contests
which marked the election at which you were
chosen were such as to engage the attention OF
the people of the whole state in a most unusual
manner The interest which attended upon the
late political campaign has been kept alive not
only as regards the results of the election but so
far as it may be likely to affect the future policy
of the state. Contemporaneous with your cleo
ton. the people selected from among their num-
Der an entire set of state officers who enter for
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
the management of public affairs as they deemed
TO be necessary for their safety and protection.
Beneath the surface of all political or social ag-
tation there has developed conviction that the
essential strength of every state must de-
pend upon its justice in dealing with all persons
aud with all interests The relation of authority
and service. of capital and labor, are daily ap-
pealing to higher elements than force for the
adjustment of differences, while the artificial
and fuctuating relations of money and power
are proportionately weakened. Immunity from
from the penalty OF great social and moral
WRONGS are yielding to the demand for reform
The great political parties have become inter-
mingled in opinion upon economic questions that
opportunity has been found for more deliberate
INQUIRY into apparent abuses of official position
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 a 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, it 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 conStl-
tuition. that the executive shall at the com
Inencems mt 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 consideration:
Finance.
An ancient adage, Out of debt, out of dan
ger" has been supplanted In some circles In
these mo !ern 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, 1897 presented the following startling
1.-The aggregate of municipal indebtedness is
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-being of its people
1.-THE 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
hearten every energy and ambition of their
people and paralyze all public spirit:
If all the bonds voted were issued, the munic-
ipel Indebtedness of Kansas would be: County,
$lIS73 651; township, So Ale, $685. city. $S95 484;
school district s. S85, 410; total $40, 619, ISL"
Itwopld be but an azi0matc statement to make
were he still on the earth, instlnctlvely and in
tuitively repudiate the Wanted boast SO boldly
made, Our debts stand for our investments"
But the following comparison of municipal in
debtedness may be appropriate and pertinent:
VARIOUS KINDS OF INDEBTEDNESS.
Amount of county bonds in 1890 $4, 1872 929. 40
Amount of county bonds in 1892. 1908 1885, 81
Increase in county bonds in two
years ZO4Zi.4l
Amount of township bonds in 1890. SIS, 0iO626.67
Amount OF UOWnSulp DOuus III loJG. o,Uo-OIO,OU
years ...............,..... i2,24S.33
Amount of city bonds in 1880. 81 1872, 1886
Amount of city bonds in 1892. 9S41, 52O.59
years. ........ s., los, 77O.73
1880 $500 IS $40, O22s7
Amount of school district bonds in
1882. 41S1, 671 48
Decrease in school district bonds
in two years. 81 ,o2S,4lO9l
1t may here be seen that the aggregate increase
in county, township and city bonds during the
last two years is s., AL, 441.57.
THE STATES ASSESSED VALUATIONS.
The total assessed valuation of all
property in 1890. .............. SS47 III, 21S.00
The total assessed valuation of all
property in 1892. SS4 2O4 $50 As
years 49, ~ 1852, 54s.55
able in 1850 ~. s16S, ss5, 1917
assessed valuation of all lands tax
able IN lS92... ..........,....... 1uloi,lZs.o0
Increase in value in two years. s. 2,S81, 1905
property taxable in 1880. -. sls75o,s1s.ss
Assessed valuation of all personal
property taxable in 1872 ....... 46S15, 46S.7S
Decrease in value in two years. s 24S5, 1880
1890. sS1 IA, s61.5s
Assessed valuation of live stock for
1Sy2 SluSS,4zz.VU
Decrease in value in two years. s PA, 1885
Assessed valuation of railroad prop
erty in 1890 $57 $3.50, 2S2.57
Assessed valuation of railroad prop
erty in 1882 ...................... 81 4O4, 54S74
Decrease in value in two years. s 6,461, 6Ss.SS
Assessed valuation of all town lots
taxable in 1880. 2s14, 1879
Assessed valuation OF all town lots
taxable in 1882 .................... 5S17, 5S2Os
Decrease in value in two years. 5 7,497, S41. 80
It is quite noticeable that the decrease in the
assessment of live stock, personal property. rail-
roads, and town lots in the last two years has in
the aggregate, decreased $16,S0S 1880, while
there has been an increase in the assessment of
farms, improved and unimproyed lands, OF
$9SH ,e3O6s.
From the first report OF the state bank COM
missioner it may be seen that the total resources
of state and private banks in October, 1891, was
$50, 961.27, and that in June, 1892, their re-
sources were $50 ,7S1.06, which shows an in
crease in eight months time of s, S04, 1913.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
From the report of the state treasurer we learn
that the
Amount in the state treasury on July
poco;veS nv tLa stoto froosDrv from