The advocate., 1895-01-16

velopS the state He is q public benefactor
who can. by Rrousing new zeal, or by develop
ing better mode Of farming, increase the pro-
duOtions Of tho soil; and one Of the instru-
mentalitiss that have done much to elevate
farming IN Kansas Is the state board Of agri-
oultute The great service rendered to the
state by its board of agriculture has long
been recognized not only in Kansas and Amer
ica, but in foreign lands, in 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 ef1-
ciency has become so we'll understood that
older states, dissatisfied with abortiVe at
temptS to do 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 at such minimum Of cost. Much Of the
success Of this department is undoubtedly due
to It's having been held aloof from party poll
tics-maintained as a strictly non-partisan
body, 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 bO 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 decenntal census
and to compile its returns for printing, the
preparation, sending and returning Of the nec-
essarlly extensive schedules for each township
win demand 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 it would be q wise
policy to increase the appropriations In It's be-
half, even though 1t 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 o 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. 1t
would be well to more clearly define the pow
ers and duties OF the directors to
give them authority under certain restrtC-
tionB 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 1t
can without diminishing It's efficiency. There
is q constant tendency in all the departments
Of the state to increase expenses, which ought
to be checked before taxation passes the point
Of endurance.
Historical Society.
The state Historical society should have a
warm place In the hearts Of the people Of the
state for nearly 20 years 1t has, with comparR-
lively little help from the state, made an ear
nest persistent effort to gather within Its rooms
everything pertaining to the history Of Kansas
It has more than ten thousand bound Vol-
umes Of Kansas newspapers and magaZineSi
and there Is no better record Of the progress ot
the state than can be found within these files.
Every section Of the state Is interested alike
in encouraging the efforts Of the society. The
collection they already gathered Is Of priceless
value. Specia, arrangement should be made,
In completing the capitol building, to provide
ample and commOdiOus rooms for the society,
and reasonable appropriations should be made
to enable it to carry on its work.
State Board of Health.
Ibelieve 1t would be wise to change the law
providing LOT Lno bppOlhInonb VI m0mOSAS Va
the state board OF health. There are three Or
ganized medical ass ociations in this state-thO
sllopathic, 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
members Of the board. 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 ter
candidates for membership, and that the gov
ernor select the nine members from those nomi'
mated by the medical associations. In thii
way the members Of the board would have thu
recommendation and support Of the state or
Ranization OF the school to which they belong
This would certainly be more satisfactory X