The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1895-01-11

that justice, as nearly as is now prac-
ticablo, shall be done to other portions
of the state whose burdens during all
these years have been correspondingly
Increased. Every dollar thus justly
exacted from counties which have
shirked their share of the public bur-
den in the past will lessen that much
tho burdens of others in the future.
1T has been customary, but whether
required by the constitution is for you
to determine, for the legislature to fix,
not merely the amount, but the rate of
the state tax levy, except for the main.
tenance of the university. AS this
action precedes the new assessment,
the legislature must, of course, base
its rate upon the assessment rolls of
the preceding year, and each year the
gross amount required of each county
clerks SO that each county clerk may
determine the rate for his county and
put it upon the tax rolls.
1.-The state treasurer recommends that
the legislature shall merely fix the ag-
gregate amount to be raised by taxa
ton for state purposes, leaving the rate
to be determined each year by the state
board of equalization upon the assess
ment for that year. The rate instead
of the amount could be certified to by
the county clerks and put upon the tax
rolls at once.
I'm this connection your attention
is called to the request of the regents
of the university that fixed rate of
three-fourths of one mill be levied an
nually for university purposes SO that
the amount will grow with the wealth
of the state and with the requirements
of the institution. Should the legisla-
ture require the assessment of prop
erty at its actual value, or rather COM
pei it, for it is already required, of
course the proposed university rate
would be too high.
Fees and Salaries.
''The Degrading of local officers.
and especially of the justices of the
peace and the officers of the courts, has
reached such proportions that those
who practice it maintain lobby to
prevent legislation reducing fees or
substituting salaries for them. Some
thing must be done to stop the grow
ing evil; it cannot much longer be en-
dured. A rapidly-developing public
sentiment demands that the officers
shall be paid fixed salaries reasonable
in amount, and not be permitted to
grow rich in term or two by fleeing
the people. We do not permit district
court judges to charge fees to be turned
into the treasury, and there is really
no more reason why a justice of the
peace should do so. The difference is
only in the amount involved in the liti-
CATION; and one would suppose that if
either should charge fees it would be
the district judge, rather than the JUS
tice of the peace, who holds supreme
court as to the poor who cannot appeal.
If judges should not charge fees, clerks
of the courts should not, as they are
part of the machinery. Justice should
be absolutely free. A righteous gov
eminent might with propriety, even
provide at public expense, thorough
legal adviser for the poor"
Grain Inspection and Stock Yards.
'Much complaint has reached this
office concerning the fees charged by
boards of trade for grain inspection
under chapter 24s of the session laws
of 1891.
''Great complaint is also made of the
conduct of stock yards. 1t is alleged
that combination exists, between
stock buyers and commission men, SO
that sellers are forced to employ the
commission men in order to effect
sales; and must then virtually &C
cept whatever price the gener-
GUS company sees fit to permit
them to take. Stock is fed on hay at
$50 per ton and corn at 81 per bushel-
prices which some are disposed to re-
gard as exorbitant when compared
with ruling prices outside the stock
yards. A statement sent to this Office
shows the following stock yard charges
for yardage in 1892:
1746,s2s cattle at % cents. 1885, 7O7. %
1,94S.373 hogs at cents. .............1 55S69.84
500 SIT sheep at 8 cents. 1851. SO
Total receipts for yardage S63S, 1856 20
The commissions for selling cattle,
ETC., about double the stock yard
charges, which makes additional tax
on stock men about double the above
amount. Buyers and commission men
are in combination so that one of the
latter number must be employed if
sale is made. The stockmen are, there
fore, at the mercy of the company and
in substance have to take what is Of
fered.
apparently, the only way to secure
fair treatment for farmers and stock
raisers is to provide public elevators
and public stock yards, with all mod
ern facilities, and thus esta blish a pub
lie market, under state control, for the
principal products our people have to
sell. That we may have the unques-
toned power to do such needful things
for ourselves and not have the hands
of the people tied on every occasion de-
manding such action is, perhaps, the
most urgent reason why we should
have constitutional conventions; for
it is doubtful whether anything of the
kind, no matter how imperatively de-
manded, can be done under the present
condition.
Charitable Institutes
''The report of the trustees of the
state charitable institutions will be
laid before you. 1t has not yet reached
this office. In it you will find complete
and detailed information of the needs
of these various institutions, together
with information of a general charac-
ter for the benefit of the public.
The Penitentiary.
''The report of the directors, warden
and other officers of the penitentiary
will furnish you with a detailed state
ment of the receipts and expenditures,
as well as the requirements and condi-