Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-26
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gov. dwellings Recommendation
to the Kansas Legislature.

Financial Condition of the state Reviewed
Public schools and haritsbie Insti-
Observation-Disclosures, Railroad Leg
islatioa, and Other Matters.
TOPEKA, Kan. Jan. 1S.-Gov. Lew
cling sent his long-expected message
to the legislature yesterday morning.
Marked attention was paid to the
reading. 1t was "a long document, the
salient points of which are annexed.
The message opened as follows:
To the Legisla lure:
The biennial meeting of the chosen repre-
sentatives of the people, pursuant 10 the re-
Qulrements 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 at
tention OF the people of the whole state in a
most unusual manner. The interest which at
tended upon the late political campaign has
been kept alive not only as regards the results
Of the election, but far as it may be likely to
affect the future policy of the state Contem-
poraneous with Your election, the people select
ed from among their number 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
protection. Beneath the surface of ell political
or social agitation there has developed a con-
viction that the essential strength of every
state must depend upon its justice in dealing
with all persons and all interests The relation
of authority and service of capital and labor,
are daily appealing TO higher elements than
force for the adjustment of differences, while
the artificial and fuctuating relations Of money
and power are prOporti0nately weakened Inn
munity from responsibility for violated trusts,
and immunity from the penalty OF great social
and moral wrongs are yielding TO he demand
for reform. The great political parties have
become intermin9 led in opinion upon econ
onic questions that opportunity has been
found for more deliberate inquiry into apparent
abuses of official position and power. Not only
good viii in wo:ds, but good will in deeds
among men, and on The part of those n author
ity, always tend alike to the safety ana protec-
ton 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 accom-
plished, the whole machinery CT state govern
ment is moving onward IN its accuS toned man
ner; and with 4 sincere purpose on your part to
give the people the laws which they demand
and to which they are entitled, which efforts
and purposes will be cordially supported by the
other departments Of the government, it is be-
lieyed 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 q manner
as to deserve their intelligent approval
In obedience to the requirements of the con-
stitution, 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 he may deem eX-
pedient, proceed to submit some suggestions
for your consideration
The governor next took up the fnan-
cial situation of the state and discussed
it as follows:
60, a. Jr,.
ger" has been supplanted in some circles in
these modern days by Our debts stand for our
investments" The late Gov. John A. Martin
in his message to the state legislature on Janu-
airy IL, 1887 presented the following startling
thoughts
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 ;he well-being of its people.
1.-The municipal subdivision of the state have
gone voting bonds and pi1ing up interest
bearing debts that will in few years cripple
and dishearten every energy and ambition OF
their people and paralvze all public spirit
If all tbs bonds voted were issued. the num-
icipal indebtedness of Kansas would be: Coun-
ty S1z.473 Col: township, So, 1895: city, 20
s75 4Sl: schoo district, t2, S55 no. tota 0,6l9,
SSH
1t would be but automatic statement to
make the declaration that exGov Martin
would, were he still On earth, instinctively and
Iy made Our debts stand for our invest
ments" But the following comparison of
municipal Indebtedness may be appropriate
and pertinent
Amount of county bonds in 1899 IS 14,7S2, 929 40
Amount of county bonds in 1892. I5,J23, $50 81
Increase in county bonds in two
wears. d 29O. AZ. Al
Amount of township bonds in 1918 S,04 ,636 CO
Amount OF township bonds in 1892 $3.50, $40 %
Increase in township bonds in
two years 42,24s SO
Amount of city bonds in IS9o......s 3a,749 Sc
Amount of city bonds III iS92..... 9,S4l, 521. SO
Increase in city bonds in two
years % :, lUSI1U. "a
1899. $500 2 81
Amount of school district bonds in
1892 4,161 GIL. Sc
Decrease in school district bonds
IN two years. .S 1,62s. I10. 81
1t may here be seen that the aggregate in
crease in county township and city bonds dur
ing the last two years is 2,4ii,i4l-o1.
The total assessed valuation OF all
property in 1899. S347, III, 21S co
The total assessed valuation OF all
property in 1892 334 90, 6G9 81
Decrease in valuation in two
years 5 IS, 5l2 54s 30
Assessed valuation OF aiIlands tax
able in 1920 - si6s, 2s5, 1872 Il
Assessed valuation OF all lands tax
able in 1892 -. III. 167, I29.S
Increase in value in two years s 1881. So. IS
Assessed va LIa ZION of all personal
property taxable in 1899 s. Il, a51 9l3. 81
Assessed valua ton. of all personal
property taxable in 1892 ~ 46,S15, 1857
Decrease IN value IL two years. 2.s35 10 81
Ii ma be said that Il iIIdicious exercise OF the
appointing power should result in securing com
plete obedience to the law but practical ex
perience and observation lead to other conclu
Sons. While this is true, II still remains tina;
| none of these difficulties nor all of them war
rant the citizens OF the state, much less the of
ficers of the Law, diSregartiing the law of trc
! land, nor in suffering its violation with iIlpun
1 ity Nothing be mere demoraliZing in g
| community than the open violation CT "a law un
accompanied by a wholesome effort for its en-
! forcement; and however lame inadequate Il
| may be, the duty OF those who administer the
| laws is clearly Indicated.
! The governor reviewed briefly the
| past railroad legislation and criticised
| sharply, referring to the decision of the
| state supreme court on its lack of power
| and of the United States supreme cour
| on the Minnesota law and continued:
| Here. then, is the Scylla and Chary bdis O
! legislative action: the ineficacy of too littl
| power on one hand and the uncouStitu lionaiity
| of too much power the other hand II
| avoid these obstacles must be the Of th'
| legislature in amending this law to max,
ii more effectual in riGhting wrongs And i