Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-17

Clans 70 go quietly to tne nome OF rre ulsoe1
1 tunate, and make the necessary eXamipstfoo,
And when any person Ia adjudged insane. n
would seem much more appropriate TO emniag
some friend In whom the insane person m
confidence. to take him quietly to tho seyIuuL
And in case the patient is female, lady -
tendant ought In every case to accompany -.
In the legislative session OF 1901 . Law ~
enacted giving the directors Of the penissnr
tiary authority to send insane convicts to ~
asylums. There Is natural and very stroee
repugnance on the part Of the friends Of ~
insane to having them compelled to sssools,a
with convcts- At any rate. there IL no reason
to suppose that the directors Of the prison M
especially well qualified to decide what insspe
prisoners should be transferred, and II eueh
transfer is to be made at all. it should only =
with the full consent Of the superintendent q
the asylum, after careful examination Il -
person proposed to b. transferred.
Reformatory.
The legislature in 1885 appropriated MON
to purchase site and TO commence the ara.
tion OF buildings for reformatory, for IL
confinement OF class OF young criminaie
whom 1t would be possible to reform and turn
TO lives Of usefulness. 1t Is Q startling fast
that the number Of criminals In the country n
large Is steadily and surely increasing Thsro
seems to be large class Of vagrant shiftleso
tramps, from which the supply Is con-
stantly recruited. The effect Of conlnoment
In the state prisons seems TO make confirmed
criminals out OF those who In some measure
might be called incidental convicts Primarily.
the object Of all punishment for crime ia IL
protection OF society, but 1t Is 0ftentimes 4
better and cheaper safeguard to society 70
make good law-abiding citizen out Of ~
young man who has fallen into evil ways, thar
1t would be by repeated convictions 70 keen
him in the penitentiary Other states have
adopted system Of reformatorIes With
marked success, and suggest to you careful
investigation OF their systems and the resulta
that have followed, with view Of carrying ovs
the original plan for similar system In III
state.
In pursuance Of the act Of the legislature a
1873, commission was appointed, and sito
for refornatory was selected at Hutchnsop.
the citizens Of that county donating 90 aefea
OF valuable land for that purpose. Two hun.
dred thousand dollars have since been appvp.
prlated by the legislature, and nearly the On.
tire amount has been expended In the erection
Of buildings, some Of which are completed
while others are In on unfinished coudi-
ton 1t is claimed that small appre.
priation for the purpose Of putting 10
heating apparatus and completing he
cells would render 1t 1T 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 matter
that demands your prompt and careful oonsid-
Grafton and some steps should be taken look
Ing 10 the early opening Of the reiormatory, n
order that youthful prisoners might DO ~
moved from the society and influence Of hard.
ened criminals.
Many Of the statos have system Of parolins
prisoners who have served the minimum SEN
tence provided by law for the crime for which
they are sentenced, and who have by their
uniform good conduct shown that they are
worthy OF confidence, and who have the prom
isc Of steady employment Your thoughtful
attention is invited to this matter, With vtoN
TEN ef this kind Ia this state.
State House.
Tho state house ought not to be allowed 10
remain long In Its present unfinished copdi-
lion, The wise course, In my Judgment, would
De 10 make special levy Of small amount 10
carry on the work. so that 1t can be gradually
and substantially advanced by completion. A
levy OF a OF u mill for the years 1895 and 1929
would raise at least 100000 and this would
PROBABLY be as much as could be judIoiously
expended during that time Provision should
% made so that the work might be commenced
~ once small appropriation should also bo
made Tor improving the state house grounds.
A competent landscape gardener should be en-
ployed by the executive council TO prepare
plans, and then all work should be along the
lines Of those plans
State University.
The superior institutions OF learning ore 10
celvlng an attention that was never before
bestowed upon them In the history Of the
country, and there is spirit Of emulation
i weakening In most OF the states TO place the
state universities upon high plane, Our uni
Vcrslty has always been the pride OF Kansas,
anu II should be the purpose Of our state to
make 1t great university In the widest sense
N the term, equal to any In the United States,
me university has already accomplished 0
wonderful work. lthas an able and enthusiastic
'aculty and its business matters have been
managed with signal ability 1t Is the pride Of
every kansan who appreciates its great worth,
md 1t Is bad policy and worse economy to with
lold from II any needed aid
State Board Of Agriculture.
There is one interest in Kansas overshadow-
ng all others and that Is the interest OF the
armer. Whsteser promotes that interest do.
'e|ops the state. He is public beneiactor
Nlo can. by arousing a new zeal, or by develop
ng better mode Of farming. increase the pro-
iuctions of the soil, and me OF The lnstru-
nentalitics that have don, much to elevate
arming in KaDsas il the state board Of agri.
'ultute, Whe great service rendered To tia
tate by its board of agriculture has long
)e0n recognized not only in Kansas and Amer
70 hut in fQreion lands ~ al NJ which Ito
lselul PUBLICATIONS. are SOUGHT aud studied as
nc highest authority on matters pertaining to
our condition prosperity and progress, In
not the high standard Of Its work and eff1-
'lency has become so well understood that
'lder states, dissatisfied with abortive at
cmpts to do q like work with political ma.
'hinery, are now asking to be shown the
Methods by which Kansas has been able to &C.
ompllsh such far-reuchng results along these
ines ut such minimum OF cost Much OF the
success OF this department Is undoubtedly due
0 Its having been held aloof from party poll
lcs-naintained as q strictly nom partisan
'ody, servant Of all the people alike; and the
highest wisdom suggests Its being kept on this
)asis
Fof doing the helpful work, which present
ondltions are making demand for In greatly
increased volume, proper md generous pro-
isions should be made in the line Of clerical,
rlntng and postage funds. This being tho
ear In which the board is required by law to
upervise the taking OF our decennial censua
nd to compile its returns for printing, the
PREPARATION, sending and returning Of tho noc.
ssarily extensive schedules for each township
Ill demand very considerable sum for post
go mud printing and the extra clerical help
ssential for their compilation will, owing 10
lcreascd population, probably cost moro
ather than less than the corresponding work
n the census Of 1885,
Whatever enables this board TO enlarge and
ytend its work benefits almost the entire pom
lation of Kansas and II would be Wise
olicy to increase the appropriations In Its be-
alf, even though 1t be done at the expense Of
,me other less useful department.
Banking.
The law Of 1891 In relation 10 banking hoa
royen of great benefit to the state and penAr-