Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-01-18

EFT, KANSAS, JAN. Is, 1895.
avs as would tend to restore confidence ia
Dur ability and willingness to promptly meet
our obligations
Insurance Laws and Insurance Depart
ment.
Tho laws relatin, to inurance corporations
and the transaction OF ms urance business in
this state ought to be revised or amended
The act crcatin the insurance department.
and most OF the laws since passcd provldin /,
for the creation OF insurance compapies in
this state and their government, contain pro-
visions which on hit to be separated. All pro.
visions relating to the incorporation OF ms ur.
ance companies ought to be in distinct act
from the provisions OF laws relating to the In
surance department The laws pro-
viding for tho examination OF insur-
ance companies-life, fire, and cas-
nalty-not only need careful revision,
but provision mi yht with pro p riety be added
to authorize the incorporation Of accident 80 :
cietie3 or associations. Such associ atoms
or -aniZed under the laws OF other states for
the purpose OF effectng insurance upon the
lives and persons OF certain classes OF men
against injury or loss resulting from external
and accidental means have been dom. bust
ness In this state for several years past, and
do not seem to be within the control OF the
insurance department This on hit not to be
permitted Insurance companies OF the class
mentioned, whether organized unde: the laws
OF this state or under the llws OF any other
state, ought to be made subject t. the juris-
dicton and control OF tho insurance depart
ment
Irrigation.
The subject OF irritation is one OF vast i'm
portance to the people Of this state
The Western settlers, in their stru .gles to
develope that part OF our state deserve the
hearty support OF every citizen more
brave honest and intelligent class OF men
never cast their fortunes in new country.
An appropriation OF public money to a limit ed
degree. 10 be expended under the direc-
tion OF the state board Olga ricultlre,
advisable. Bat we should carefully
avoid any extravayant expenditure of
public money in visionary experiments
Uniformity of Toxt Books.
The que stion of state uniformity Of text
books is an important one and should receive
your serious attention
Public Printing.
In the matter OF public printing ther
is, in my judgment an unwarranted expendl-
ture of public money The amount paid
for this work by this state every year is
exorbitant-much in excess OF that paid by
other states that are larger in population and
wealth. even for the same quality and amount
OF work Our law is defective, and our consti-
tuition Is in this respect at fault In the state
OF Ohio the public printing Is let by contract
every printer having q right to bid There an
officer is appointed by the governor, KIN own as
the supervisor OF printing. who receives SAL
airy OF So GOD year Ho examines all printed
matter and sees that II Is done according to
contract and has power to accept or reject
the work. Tho entire cost for the printing
and binding for that great state. which has
three times the population and wealth OF our
state. for the last year was only s7l45o, q
less amount than that paid by Kansas. The
state OF Illinois has q similar law. The
public printing In that state for the year 1898
and 1894 amounted to le than $4,000, not
quite s2A 900 per annum. In Nebraska the
public printinr is let In the same manner. and
for the years 1889, and 1891 1t cost the state
$50 800 In the state Of Missouri for the
same period OF time, 1t cost ss7 500. or less
than IA 900 per year. Kansas paid in 1893
81, 900 and the appropriation Of $4,000 for
1891 is nearly exhausted, with half the year
remaining.
But since our constitution provides that the
state printer shall be elected and that he
shall do all public printing, 1t is impossible
for us to put our state printing upon the same
basis Tho legislature has the power to regu-
late the prices which shall be paid the state
printer The laborer is worthy of his
hire, and fair, honorable and
Just compensation should be paid by the
State for all work performed for 1t What
ever is paid hey ond that Is so much unjustly
taken from the taxpayers OF the state and
ought not to be tolerated The state OF Iowa
has similar law to ours The prices paid for
printin, there are about one-third less than
those paid by us For printing laws, journals,
reports and circulars. the state printer OF
Iowa Is allowed fifty cents per one thousand
"ems" for composition, and seventy cents per
one thousand "ems" for table. work Kansas
pays for printing journals reports. laws
circulars etc, seventy-hve cents per one
thousand "ems" for strai hit matter and
sil2I per one thousand ems" for table
work. tyr press-work the Iowa state painter
receives si50 per ono thousand for PAGE
forms We pay siS7h per one thousand for
SPACE forms In fact however, the state
printer never runs an s-page form He runs
one l6p Pare form and charges for two SPACE
forms, making the actual price paid by the
state s37i per thousand impressions against
81 90 paid by the state Of Iowa
The state OF Kansas pays fifty per cent
more for composition than tn, state OF Iowa,
and one hundred and ffty per cent more for
pressw work Illustrations OF these extravagant
prices paid for printin, can be multiplied,
but 1t is unnecessary.
Another very important matter in connec-
tion with the state printing, that should re.
ter published in the reports OF the depart.
ments great deal OF matter which is OF no
Importance whatever is embodied in these
reports The executive council should be
authorized and required to limit the size of
reports, and to determine the character and
expense OF binding. The appropriation for
public printing for the year IS and 1890
should not exceed $50 900, thus savin, the
state more than 1000 The matter demands
the immediate attention OF the legislature,
and q thorough revision Of the prices paid for
publio printing should be Immediately had.
Foes and Salaries.
Your attention is called to the abuses
which have grown up under our system OF
fees and salaries The most practical way to
reform these abuses would be, where IL Is at
all feasible, to abolish the fees system and
substitute fixed salary for all Officers
Your careful scrutiny is invited to the mat
ter OF salaries, with view OF such reduct ions
as will bring them in harmony with the
changed business conditions OF the state
State Boards.
Several propositions have been discussed
looking to o change OF the powers and duties
OF the state boards. but / doubt the wisdom
OF making any radical CHANCES in this respect
Some amendments might be made which
would increase the efficiency Of these boards,
and IL would be we'll for you TO consider tho
propriety OF abolishing entirely some Of them
1t would seem that either the board OF public
works or the once OF state architect might
be dispensed with The once OF silk commits
siouer can be abolish without any detriment
10 the state The state board OF health mi sht
be less extensive without materially chang