Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-01-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To hsIe0isldtHTe:

The biennial meeting or the chosen representa-
tivesof the'people, pursuant to requiem nts
of the constitution, is an occurrence SO frequent
and usual as not of itself to attract more than
ordinary ,sttention; 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 STATEN a most unusual
manner. The interest which attended upon the
late political campaign has been kept alive not
nlyas 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-
ber 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 agi-
tation there has developed q conviction that the
essential strength ,of every state must de-
pendupon its 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
adjustment of differences, while the artificial
and fuctuating relations of money and power
are proportionately weakened. Immunity from
responsibility for violated trusts, and immunity
from the penalty OF great social and moral
wrongs are yielding to the demand for reform.
The great political parties have become so 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
n Al 4ov,1 olsl bet fho
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 sincere purpose on your part to give the
people the laws which they demand, and to
which they are entitled, which efforts and pur-
pores 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 conSu-
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 consideration:
Finance.
An ancient adage, "Out Of debt, out of dan
ger" has been supplanted in some circles in
these mo ern days by "Our1debts stand for n
investments" The late Governor John A. Mar
tin, in his message to the state legislature on
January IL, 1885,, presented the following startling
"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.
"The municipal subdivisions of the state have
gone on voting bonds and piling up interest bear
hearten every mercy and ambition of their
people and parRlyze all public spirit.
If all the bonds voted were issued, the munic-
ipal Indebtedness of Kansas would be: County,
SlI S7S 651; township, So AIS SO6; city, $9975
school district, 2S85, 410; total, $30,619,S51."
Itwould be but an automatic statement to make
the declaration that Ex-Governor Martin would,
were he still on the earth, instinctively and in
tuitively repudiate the Wanted boast SO boldly
made, "OuF 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 S14 1872, 1884,
Amount of county bonds in 1892. 15,O23, $50
1uCTedSe III CO0uGS III CNO -
years ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ZO4zI.4l
Amount of township bonds in 1890. SO 040, 62667
Amount of township bonds in 1892. S0S2, $1,000 |
Increase in township bonds in two
years ..........................S 32,2f3.33 |
Amount of city bonds in 1890. ,7G2 1885
Amount of city bonds in 1892. 9841, 52O59
Increase in city bonds in two
years. 81, lOS,TIU.IS
A ;c& ~
1890. IS 81O, e22S7
Amount of school district bonds in
1SS2... 4lSl,ou46
Decrease in school district bonds
In two years. 81 ,6yS,4109l |
1t may here be seen that the aggregate increase |
in county, township md city bonds during the |
last two years is s., Al, 4A.57.
THE STATES ASSESSED VALUATIONS.
The total assessed valuation of all
property in 1897. ..............S34 7 III 21S 90
The total assessed valuation of all
property in 1892. SS4, 2O4, 66945
Decrease in valuation in two
years ....................,.....S 1S512, 54S.55 |
able in 1890 =. :. = s16S, 285, 1917
Assessed valuation of all lands tax
able In 1SS2. 1n,16I,12SS0
Increase in value in two years. 2,sS1, sSO.6S |
Assessed valuation of all personal
property taxable in 1890. SI8 $50 913 SO |
Assessed valuation of all personal
property taxable in 1872 ........ 46,S15, 4sS.7S
Decrease in value in two years. s ASS, 1880 |
Assessed valuation of live stock for
losu.. So1s ,ooA.oS |
Assessed valuation of live stock for
IS92 ........................ 81, OSs, 422OO
Decrease in value in two years. 214ISs.S5 |
Assessed valuation of railroad prop
erty in 1890 :. S., S66. 2S2s7
Assessed valuation Of railroad prop
erty in 1892 81 4O4. 1914
Decrease in value in two years. & 6.461, 6sSSS
Assessed valuation of all town lots
taxable In 1S9O So, I4, 7S.7o
Assessed valuation OF all town lots
taxable in 1872 .................... Ss,s17,5s2os
Decrease in value in two years. & 7,ls7, 3l1.62
It is quite noticeable that the decrease in the |
of live stock, personal property, rail-
roads, and town lots in the last two years has in
The aggregate, decreased SIS sos, 1880, while /
there has been an increase In the assessment of |
BARNS, improved and unimproved lands, Of |
b SSl a3o6s.
From the first report Of the state bank COM |
missioner it may be that the total resources
Of state and private banks in October, 1891. was
bSo $50 Q1.27, and that in June, 1892, their re-
sources were $SS 062, 7S1.06, which shows an in
crease In eight months time Of s., So4, 1919.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
From the report of the state treasurer we learn |
that the