Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-01-16
| GOV. LENELL|NG'S MESSAGE
HIS LAST DOCUMENT TO THE
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
is 4 VERY LENGTHY STATE PAPER.
Gtrict Economy in All branches of the
State Government Urged-Home In
surance Companies-The Tramp
Question The Legislative
War of 1893 Review wed and
His Course Defended.

TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. 10.-Governor
Lewelling sent his message to the
senate and house at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. 1t is the longest execu-
tive message that has ever been pre-
sented to a Kansas legislature, con-
tanning about $1,000 words 1t opens
with some observasions on 1.-The
anomaly of requiring the governor
but recently elected, instead of the
retiring governor to communicate to
the legislature information, which
pre-supposes not only the time to eX-
anime the numerous reports of state
officers and departments, but actual
experience and observation impossi-
bic to any but the actual executive"
sTRICTEsT ECONOMY ADVISED.
Summing mp his recommendation
on the subject of estate Affairs" the
governor informs the legislature that
it must make provisions for the pay
ment of bonds in the aggregate
amount of $685., 500 which will mature
within the next four years. There
will then remain outstanding SOB, 900
1908 and 1909. The payment of the
bonds maturing will turn into the
treasury for the permanent school
fund no less than $42O, 500, which
must in some way be made produc-
tive. The state treasurer recommends
the levy of a small tax to create
sinking fund for the redemption of
all bonds coming due during the
present century
In view of the existing depression
in the financial affairs of the people,
the governor is opposed to any ap-
preparations by this legislature ex-
cept for immediate necessities
Whatever can be made to wait should
wait, and especially no money should
be expended on the state house ex-
cept to fit up rooms for temporary
use. Money taken out of the school
fund by the purchase of fraudulent
bonds or worthless bonds should be
restored by legislative enactment.
Following in the line of some of his
predecessors, the governor recon-
mends the repeal of the act creating
the state board of charitable institu-
tions. The asylums for the insane
should be governed by board of
trustees, and their superintendents
appointed by the house and senate.
The trustees should be appointed for
term of years and their authority
should be absolute. Separate boards
should be appointed for the other in
stitutions with like authority.
FOR HOME INSURANCE COMPANIES.
During the year 1893 the people of
Kansas paid for fire insurance 81 ,929,-
DISC for life insurance, SI,293,-
209.64, and for accident insurance,
Sf28, 551.17, total of So, 351, 700. 40 in
premiums to foreign or nonresident
insurance companies doing business
in the state. During the same period
the total taxes paid by these COM
panies amounted to 81 640, 41140. The
governor then discusses the bad econ
omy of such expenditures by the peo.
pie, and in the discussion he cites
figures OF the expenses of the state in
comparison. He recommends that
foreign companies be excluded and
home companies built up.
On the subject of assessment and
taxation the governor recommends
that property should be assessed at
it's actual value, and that the legis-
lature make the law so certain that
no county could impose upon another
by fixing lower than actual value.
Referring to the practice of fee
grabbing the governor says: "a
righteous government might with
propriety, even provide at public ex-
pense, thorough legal adviser for
the poor"
CRIME AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
In dealing with the crime problem
overwhelmingly against further leg
islation that is purely punitive in its
objects and results. He recommends
legislative commission authorized
to devise plan for the improvement
and government of the penitentiary
to the end that the best interests of
society may be subserved He recon-
mends also an appropriation for the
completion of the state reformatory
at Hutchinson.
On the subject of the whisky traffic
and prohibition, the governor says
that in the principal cities of the
state public sentiment nullifies the
prohibitory law. Men of property
are opposed to the enforcement of the
law because the whisky traffic .'helps
business" and makes tenants for
visited by gentlemen of consequence
from other states where drinking is
fashionable, desire in the interest of
business to Hospitality entertain their
guests, and to this end establish fash
ionable clubs where liquor is dispens-
ed. Prominent members and support
ers of fashionable churches belong to
such clubs. Social entertainments
are given in the club parlors, are at
tended by ladies and gentlemen of
fashionable society, and because of
its prestige, as we'll as its opportunity
for good fellowship membership is
coveted by officers charged with the
laws Observation-Disclosures even Judges
scorning the privilege"
The governor argues that public
sentiment being thus made up the
remedy for the whisky evil is by elm
mating profit from its sale. And this
can be done by making the govern
ment the sole dispenser of liquors.
Discussing the failure of prohibi-
tion as a remedy the governor alludes
to the raid made by the chief of police
on the Topeka club last spring, and
the opinion it created among the peo-
pie. He discusses this incident at
considerable length.
The governor declares also that the
attempt of the administration to sup
press lottery gambling in Kansas
City, Kan, was met with like opposi-
tion in the community.
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE.
The message recommends the crea-
ton of a bureau of agriculture under
the supervision of an officer to be APP
pointed BY the governor, whose duty
It should be to correct many things
from which agricultural people now
suffer The Office of state veterinar-
ian he regards as sinecx5e, and the
incumbent should only be an emer-
gency officer. He also says the Kan
sas City stock yards make exhorbit-
ant charges. yardage charges alone in