Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-01-17
HIS MESSAGE.
The New Governor of Kansas Gives
His Views on State Matters.
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND,
Foreign Markets Constitutional COnven-
tlon-Judlcial enthusiastically
surance-IrrIgation- Books
State InstItutions-Etc., Etc.

sent MS message 10 Tue hdubdS icy Aold'
ture to-day, which is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives Of
the State Of Kansas:
| 1 think 1t may not be deemed inappropriate
% say to you that while appreciate the high
honor conferred upon me by the people OF
Kansas In selecting me as the chief executive
Of the state for the coming two years, am not
unmindful OF the grave responsibilities that
| will devolve upon me, and / should
hardly have courage to undertake them
did l not feel that In every honest
effort I may make TO give to the people
OF the state good government shall have your
hearty and undivided support third Of q
century has passed since Kansas was admitted
! into the union, and you meet In this session
under conditions strilxlngly In contrast with
those that presented themselves to the first
state legislature Of Kansas. There has been
wonderful increase in wealth and population,
wholly changed condition Of things, demand
ing an entirely different consideration OF
affairs. You will pardon me II remind you
that weighty responsibilities rest on you, and
upon your action will largely depend the sue
cess Of the present administration.
1 am not aware that there is any demand
from the people for q radical change In the
laws, but they do ask for relief from excessive
taxation; that the expenses Of the state shall
DC FeuuCtu W hQo AOWOob HOonAhAO POAAs WI
-- sistent with o wise and economical admihis-
tration OF the state government. Owing to the
financial panic, through which the country has
passed during the last years, in some respects
the severest that has ever been known ana
the partial failure OF crops for the same period,
there has been serious depression in values
and decreased demand for labor, which rem
ders our burdens far more oppressive than
they would be in years OF prosperity IL
should be source Of hearty cong ratulation TO
all that Kansas has passed through the terri
BILE crisis with so few failures, and SO little to
discourage citizens.
Foreign Markets.
And in this connection desire to call your
attention to one branch of the trade OF this
country that especially interests our people,
and that is the increased demand for our farm
products from q foreign market For several
years steady and determined effort was made
to open up the markets Of the old country to
some OF the products in which Kansas excels,
especially Indian corn, beef and pork. Under
better light, secured by wise legislation,
prejudice and cupidity were gradually yielding,
and our exports of these products were becom-
ing an important factor Of great value to our
people, and gave promise OF an increased de-
mand for the articles In producing which Kan
sas can lead the world. But the present con-
gress has, in my judgment, by ill-advised and
crude legislation, assumed to dictate to foreign
nations their internal policy Of protection to
their home industries by discriminating duties
on sugar imported from countries having export
. duties on that article. This hos led to active
retaliation on the part OF those countries, and
all tho nations of central Europe have become
commercially estranged from our country and
are taking active,and what prove to be eiiec-
tive, measures to prevent the importation Of
9 our meats. justifying themselves by o revival
of the exploded and senseleSs claim that our
meat ANIMALS are diseased. The repeal Of the
reciprocity provisions Of our tariff laws has
caused Spain and other countries TO make a
most unjust discrimination against the impor-
8 tation Of our farm products. To relieve us Of
!, this embarrassment by the removal Of this EN-
barge, ana 70 TWstOTO ~ ~ GOAaihNA Tfsest
we con increase 10 its utmost limit the expor'
tation Of those articles which are our maiI
support, is a matter OF universal concern to the
r. people of Kansas. would therefore urge the
the passage of concurrent resolution by YOU
honorable bodies. instructing our senators ant
requesting our representatives in congress, t
q Introduce and work for the passage Of the mos
effective remedial legislation in this regard.
The governor then gives several rea'
sons for a constitutional convention
saying that the judicial system should
be reorganized the letting of convict
labor prohibited the powers of corpor
atoms defined and the care of the
school fund changed. He then says
d that there is demand for an appellate
court, the supreme court being so fal
behind that if o case was fled now i
would be six years before it could bC
heard. He then goes on to say:
There ought to be complete redistrictinl
Il Of the state for judicial purposes, and reduc
ton OF at least twelve districts In number
This would save to the state in salaries o
Judges alone $50 900 per year. lam not unmind
full of tho difficulties in the way OF redistrct
ing Of the state but 1 have confidence to be
|. leve that this legislature has the good judg
ment courage Inability to carry out reform
q which commends itself to the intelligence o
every voter in the state.
Permanent School Fund.
|, The investment Of the permanent schoo
fund of the state is matter Of grave publi
concern, and it should be guarded very care
fully. There are about s6000,000 in this fund
Several hundred thousand dollars OF thi
money are reinvested every year. Too mucl
l. care cannot be taken in the qua lily Of the Sc
curities purchased. The safety of the fund i
of the highest importance, and should be pro
tected more sacredly than even the funds II
the state treasury.
. During the boom period, in Kansas, Will
" values were inflated, large amounts OF bonds o
various kinds were purchased. Iwould recon
mend that legislative committee be appoint
ed TO thoroughly investigate the securities o.
hand, with Instructions to report the actua
r, cash value Of each, and to recommend sue
steps as may be deemed advisable to fix tn
c. responsibility OF illegal investments, to colleC
doubtful securities, and to suggest any neces
sary legislation to guard investments In th
future And 1 would suggest that this com
mittee be appointed early in the session, s
that 1t may report and recommend any amend
ments to the law TINT may be necessary for th
protection OF the fund.
Intemperance.
Tho blighting influence OF intemperauce
still seen in our state There is scarcely ICON
munity that does not suffer from this caus
and happy is the family that is not directly a
fected by It. Its approach is so insidious thi
its danger is scarcely realized until 1t Is Il
late to stay its evil effects. How TO cure,
IN even lessen the evil, has commanded u
earnest thought OF every lover OF his rae
be he statesman OF moralist. Its demoraliziT
effects are universally conceded and can hart
ly he exaggerated. Much Of the poverty al
- crime. the suffering and the sorrowing existiI
to-day can be clearly traced to Its evil inf
+, ence. Whatever tends to refine and elevate
people-to give them purer and nobler aspir
tions-will surely tend to lessen this evil TI
great work OF removing intemperanee from 9
land must be done through the ehurcht
y schools and other elevating helps Law
onlv a help-an assistant-and never should
nlaced before moral influences It In fact G.
only be enacted when moral forces have OF