The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-01-18

marked success. and 1 suggest to you a careful
investigation of their systems and the results
that have followed, with view OF carrying out
the original plan for a similar system in this
state.
In pursuance of the act OF the legislature OF
1885. commission was appointed. and a site
for reformatory was selected at Hutchinson,
the citizens of that county donating $40 acres
Of valuable land for that purpose. Two hun
dred thousand dollars have since been appro-
priated by the legislature. and nearly the en-
tire amount has been expended in the erection
Of buildings, some of which are completed
while others are in an unfinished condi-
ton. 1t is claimed that a small appro-
priation for the purpose OF putting in
heating apparatus and completing the
cells would render II fit for occupancy,
and that the labor OF the prisoners could then
be utilized in completing the work, giving them
constant and healthful employment. and thus
avoiding bringing them into competition with
other industries OF the state. This is a matter
that demands your prompt and careful cOnsid-
Grafton. and some steps should be taken look
ing to the early opening of the reformatOry in
order that youthful prisoners might be re-
moved from the society and influence of hard
ened criminals.
Many of the states have system of paroling
prisoners who have served the minimum SEN
tence provided by law for the crime for which
tHtN dEt StHltnttO. anu WHO udNt w lhtAA
uniform good conduct shown that they are
worthy OF confidence. and who have the prom
Use of steady employment. Your thoughtful
attention is invited to this matter, with view
to the enactment Of a law providing for a sys-
TEN Of this kind in this state.
state University.
The superior institutions of learning are re-
ceiving an attention that was never before
bestowed upon them in the history of the
country. and there is a spirit Of emulation
awakening in most OF the states TO place the
state universities upon a high plane. Our uni
versity has always been the pride of Kansas,
and it should be the purpose of our state to
make it a great university in the widest sense
of the term, equal to any in the United States.
The university has already accomplished a
wonderful work. II has an able and enthusiastic
faculty, and its business matters have been
managed with signal ability. 1t is the pride Of
every kansan who appreciates its great worth,
and it is bad policy and worse economy to with
hold from it any needed aid.
state Board of Agriculture.
There is one interest in Kansas overshadow-
ing all others. and that is the interest Of the
farmer. Whatever promotes that interest de-
velops the state. He is a public benefactOr
who can. by arousing a new zeal or by develop
ing a better mode of farming, increase the pro-
auctions of the soil; and one of the instru-
mentalities that have done much to elevate
farming in Kansas is the state board of agri-
cultute The great service rendered to the
state by its board Of agriculture has long
been recognized not only in Kansas and Amer
lea. but in foreign lands, i'm all of which its
useful publications are sought and studied as
the highest authority on matters pertaining TO
our condition, prosperity and progress. In
fact, the high standard OF its work and eff
cheney has become so well understood that
g4,F Tf.Hia n nit nh iva Mt
tempts to do a like work with political ma
chinery. are now asking to be shown the
methods by which Kansas has been able to ac-
complish such far-reaching results along these
lines al such a minimum OF cost Much OF the
success of this department is undoubtedly due
TO its having been held aloof from party poll
tics-maintaineG as a strictly non-partiSan
body, a servant Of all the people alike; and the
highest wisdom suggests its being kept on this
basis.
For doing the helpful work. which present
conditions are making demand for in greatly
increased volume, proper and generous pro-
visions should be made in the line Of clerical
printing and postage funds. This being the
year in which the board is required by law to
supervise the taking of our decennial census
and to compile its returns for printing. the
sending and returning of the nee
esSarily extensive schedules for each township
will demand a very considerable sum for post
age. and printing and the extra clerical help
essential for their compilation will, owing to
increased population, probably cost more
rather than less than the corresponding work
on the census of 1885.
Whatever enables this board to enlarge and
extend its work benefits almost the entire pop
ulation of Kansas, and il would be wise
policy TO increase the appropriations in its be-
half, even though il be done at the expense of
some other less useful department
Banking.
The law of 1891 in relation to banking has
proven Of great benefit to the state. and gener-
ally satisfactory to the people. The banker
occupies a position of trust, and every safe
guard possible ought to be thrown around the
business to protect the people from
loss Some slight changes might be
made to increase its efficiency. but IN
the main believe it is all that is required. II
would be well to more clearly define the pow
erS and duties of the directors; to
give them authority under certain reStric
lions TO diminish their capital. There
ought also to be provision that all fees for
examining banks should be paid directly to
the state treasurer and not to the examiner.
The appropriation for this department should
be reduced to the lowest possible limit that it
can without diminishing its efficiency. There
is a constant tendency in all the departments
of the state to increase expenses, which ought
to be checked before taxation passes the point
of endurance.
State Board of Health.
I believe it would be wise to change the law
providing for the appointment of members of
the state board OF health. There are three or
ganized medical associations in this state-the
allopatnic. homeopathic and the eclectic. The
law now provides that these schools shall be
represented on the state board Of health, and
that no one school shall have majority Of the
Of the board. 1 would recommend
that. instead of the governor selecting the
nine members from the body Of the phySi-
clans throughout the state. each of these
associations be empowered to nominate ten
candidates for membership, and that the gov
ernor select the nine members from those nomi-
mated by the medical associations In this
way the members of the board would have the
and support Of the state or
ganization OF the school TO which they belong.
This would certainly be more satisfactory to
the medical profession, and give US the highest
standard Of membership for the board
Soldiers Home.
The hard times which have pressed so heav-
ily upon all the people Of the country for the
past two years. together with the advancing
age of the defenders OF the flag during the war
Of the rebellion, have caused extraordinary
calls to be made for admittance to the Soldiers
home. 1t has been found absolutely impossible
to receive all who have applied
II we are TO care for those who offered their
lives in defense of their country. who in their
early manhood went forth to battle for the ma
ton q know OF no more sacred duty, addi-
tional room must be furnished or many Of these
brave men will be compelled to go to the aims
house. 1 urge upon you prompt and earnest
attention TO this matter.
Soldiers Orphans Home.
Measures TO provide for the fatherless. de-
pendent or abandoned children of the state
commend themselves to every lover Of hu-
manity. We have at Atchison an institution
IN which all should feel a deep interest IN
der the able and efficient management Of the
who has had charge Of ii since
il was first organized, about 125 children have
been cared for the past year. Many applicants