The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-09
HIS LAST WORDS.
Governor dwellings Parting
Message to the Legislature.
The Prohibition Section the
Most Sensational Part.
CITES THE INSTANCE
Of the Arrests Made at the
Topeka Club.
Thinks the Dispensary System
the Proper One.
Discusses the War, and Other
State Matters.

One Of the ablest of nv predecessors was so
struck with the anomaly OF requiring the gov
ernor but recently elected, instead of the re-
firing go vernon, TO commun cate TO the legs
lature Information which presupposes noe
only time TO examine the numerous reports OF
state officers and departments but &C uaL eA-
perencs and observation impossible TO any
but the actual executi e, that he proposed the
enactment of a law requiring the retiring gov
ernor to prepare and submit the biennial mes,
sage OF the executive to the legislature Ontl
his election is assured, a newly chosen COVER
nor cannot reasonably be expected to give 10
state affairs more attention than l. ordinarily
given by a patriotic private cltlzen; ana, DE-
SIDES. he has not been compelled 10 meet ques-
tions nor TO deal with diIhcuItles Wnlcn cGi-
front the actual executive ana Win wutCn
the latter must have become familiar My own
experience in first coming TO this office con-
ii rmed the wisdom of my predecessor views
and 1 deem il no less due to my successor and
to YOU than required OF me by the cohs t ~ ~
ton, that shall communicate TO you such IN
formation as l possess and make such recon-
mendations as two years IN the governo 5 once
have suggested. IN DONG inns. sha4l lo[SeU'
and ask you to 70 get, that the retiring gov
ernor and the majority Of the members Of one
of your constituent DodleS dl1ter IN polClcaI
opinions l shall speak as the governor or
Kansas to the chosen representatives of the
people, and trust that this message may be re-
ceived and considered in the spirit in which
IL is conceived. Devotion to the whole people
of Kansas, not regard for party, should con
troll u here, however widely we may differ in
our allegiance to party where party allegiance
may honOrably control.
The constitutional requirement that the
governor shall. ut the commencement OF every
Session of the legislature, communicate in
writing, such information as he may posses in
reference to the condition of the state. ana
recommend such measures as he may deem
expedient." obviously contemplates Il docu-
ment which shall be of pract ical value to the
Legislature when considering legislation, ana
which shall present in condensed form the
information which must otherwise be looked
for through numerous and yolumtuous reports
and in the records and files of the executive
department Such document should contain
Information and computations upon which
the legislature may confidently rely, and thus
be saved The time and trouble OF Original IN
VeS,igatiOnS and computations. 1t has been
my endeAvOr TO convey such information. and
l have, therefore, made suggestions under
heads. as far as possible, corresponding with
The work of your usual standing committees
so that each division shall contain what per
tains TO the work of the particular committee,
and nothing else.
STATE AFFAIRS.
Before the close of this session of the legis-
lature, March 10, 1895, $4,000 Of state bonds
Issued in 1870 to pay the expenses of repell1ng
an Indian invasion will mature. They are
held by the permanent school fund. Public
improvement bonds, to the amount of $4,000,
issued in 1866, viii mature July l, 1S96-before
tax levied by the present legislature for
their payment can be collected under the
present law governing taxation. The perma-
nent school tund holds @3o,0OO OF these bonds,
individuals and corporations hold the
manning IS 1000. No sinking fund has been
levied since 1885, and there is in the state
treasury but 1852 D with which to pay these two
series of bonds aggregating $I06,5O0. The state
treasurer recommends direct appropriation
from the general revenue fund TO take up
both issues of bonds and save unimpaired the
credit of the state. in this connection, it
might be well remember that various
counties in the state the state treasury
no less than $os 961 20, the sum of about $54,500
Of which Is due from two counties alone. At
tention has been more particularly called to
this matter under the head of assessment and
taxation, but IL Is mentioned here because it
may suggest q source from which TO draw
portion OF the funds needed for the redemp-
ton of the bonds mentioned above Under
the head of assessment and taxation will also
be found some other suggestions bearing upon
the subject of state revenues,tO which it m ght
be well to refer i'll this connection.
Two other issues of state bonds of 100000
p1,c T1lr-
struction of the penitenLiary, the other issued
on the same date for the completion
capitol, and aggregattng 100000, viii
mature July /, 1897. Inc permanent school
fund holds $4,000 of these bonds. $4,000 of the
penitentiary b Inds and $4,000 of the state
house bonds. Then, July 1. 1875, there will be
due bonds to the amount of $2O,OO0 issued in
1865 for The construct on OF the insane asylum
at OsawatOmIe; and. July 1. 1898 another series
of bonds issued in 1865 TO aid IN the construc-
ton OF the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. another
series Of bonds-$15OOOO- Issued 1868 for the
comuletiOn of the east wing of the state house.
S2UUO o altOg5 ther,wIll mature. Forty-One thou
SAND dollars OF this issue of penitentiary bonds
and $4,000 of the state house bonds are held by
the permanent school fund 100000 in ali The
State university fund holds 5000 of the pen
1tentlary bonds. Eighty four thousand dol
lars OF this issue of STATE house bonds are held
by individuals or corporations. Six months
later, January l, 1882 two more issues of bonds,
aggregating $l59OJ0, will mature; $4,000 IS
sued 10 complete the wing of the state
house, and $4,000 issued for a military contln-
gent fund, both ISSUES having been made Jan
thousand dollars of these bonds Is held by
the permanent school fund.
Thus, this legislature and the next must
make provisions for the payment of bonds 10
the aggregate amount OF $6o5,5U0 to mature
within the period of four years There viii
then remain outstanding but SIUS,OOO in state
bonds, which will mature in 1905 and 1909
me Paymen[ OF the ponds maturing within
four years VIII throw back into the permanent
school fund for relnVeSIment no less tuAn
$4,000 WHICH must in some way De made pro
ducLiVe. Every Issue OF these bonds bears
seven per cent. interest, which. in the aggre-
gate, amounts annually TO S47 ,9S5. The State
treasurer recommends that this legislature
shall provide for the levy of a small tax to
accumulate a sinking fund for the redsmp.
ton of all bonds coming due curing the
present century, except those falling due next
March and the series maturing Ju.y l. 1Sgi
concerning which special provision must be-
made ~
In view of the necessity of making prenara-
tiOns for the payment Of such an smonpr Of
Indebtedness within so short time and in
view of the further fact that the severe sno
long continued industrial depression COM S1nS
pels all but those in receipt of fixed incomes
TO carry economy almost to the point of
parslmony and also in view of the imperative
requirements Of the various public institu-
lions, no appropriation should be made at
this session for which the greatest immediate
necessity does not exist Whatever can WaiC
sho9ld De mace to wait until we shall have
paid on our state Indebtedness or until times
snail nave improved Especially should No
more be expended on the state house than
may be indispensable to fit mp rooms actuaIIv
4 TrSeoed, ana 10 protect the work lready done
me olspos1tlon 10 expend money for mere
snow should not be INDUCED by tine stste
Wnen Ine people are obliged TO forego ali buI
necessi1les- The Senate Cham Der, which re-
mains IDLE twenty months out of two wears
Moulo proVloe commodious quarters for the
supreme court until the next biennial session
ana were tne supreme court removed to the
senate cham Der, the rooms now occnnie5 b
that court could be used bv the Iibrs pre0 Dy
Bonds of the city of Lawrence to The aTno,,,,,
OF 100000. issued In 1870 to aid in erect o go
state university, lie in the state treas, : we
part of the invested permanent school fnnyd a. a.
the state. Nothing has been paid on thaS "
bonds. Leither principal nor interest sinoee
1ss4 In lo0S. the legislature passed an acI re