Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-01-19

o oCIE
and whether given for the purchase Of prop
erty or not, and whether upon occupied or
abandoned farms. This could be done with
out additional cost, and would be valuable in
formation.
State Institutions.
1 commend to your careful consideration the
reports from the different boards having charge
of these institutions. With the limited time
at my command, have been unable to make
the necessary examination to enable me co In
telligently discuss their needs. 1t is a matter
OF profound regret that gross scandals have
been publicly circulated in relation to the man
agement of some of these institutions and
would urge that thorough Investigations be
made OF these charges, in order that the guilty
may be punished and the innocent relieved OF
unjust imputations.
Public Highways.
The country is divided into small
road districts; anyone is chosen supervisor
who will accept; all who care to do
allowed to work out their road tax at
travagant wages, and the result Is that
one-hah of the tax judiciously expended
under the direction of some competent and
Intelligent man, who has made study Of the
best manner to improve the public highways,
would be more effective and produce better
results than are now obtained from the entire
tax.
new system should be provided. The
county commissioners should have charge Of
the roads, with authority to appoint a sum-
cient number of overseers to look after the
roads of the county. All road taxes should be
paid in money, and it should be expended in
the most practical and economical manner
possible.
The county commissioners should also be
quired to personally view and lay out new
roads, and assess damages therefor. The pres
ent system of appointing road viewers should
be entirely abolished
Township officers.
recommend that the term of township ON
GERS be extended to two years, and that they
be elected on years in which there is no cleo
tion of state officers.
Maturing State Bonds.
The following bonds Of the state b..ome
payable in 1895 and 1896:
March 15 1895. S36, 500
july /, 1896 20 900
state school fund permanent investment
and SSS, 600 Of those payable in 1895 are thus
held. 1 would suggest that the state school
fund be authorized to take up those bonds
above named that are not held by them. and
that the time Of payment OF the entire amount
be extended, subject to payment at the option
of the state. at the rate Of per cent interest.
This would make an absolutely safe invest
ment for the school fund, and would leave the
money in the hands Of the people.
Western Counties.
I am very proud to say that there have been,
so far, scarcely any ap peals to me for help for
that section; but 1 feel that ought to call
your attention to the conditions existing there,
y
be deemed for the best interests of the state
Lotteries and Gambling.
Your attention is invited to the provisions OF
the consti tuition prohibiting lotteries and the
sale of lottery tickets. There IS no law to en-
force this provision of the constitution. If it
IS possible for one form of gambling tc be
worse than another, this one is the most fruitful
Of evil 1t reaches out into every village of the
state and the churches and the religious or
ganizations are contaminated by it. L would
RI Of n La W
of every character and the sale of lottery
tickets under any device, with penalties severe
enough to make it effective.
Bribery Law.
recommend the passage of law making
the acceptance of a bribe by any public officer
a crime and providing adequate punishment
therefor. Such a bill passed the house
representatives in 1891 and again in 1893,
but in each instance failed to reach a vote in
the senate.
1t should be understood and agreed by good
citizens everywhere that public officer has
any right to receive a dollar for any act of his
whatever in his public capacity, except the
salary or fees which the law gives him. The
emoluments of legislators, city councilmen,
and of some other officers of trust and power
are very small But no man is compelled to
assume such office against his will; and II he
seeks it with the hope of making up def
ciencies in his salary by using his official posi-
tion for his private gain, he is an enemy to the
public, and should be in the penitentiary
instead Of in public office
Election Laws.
The enactment of the Australian ballot law
was very decided and advanced step in the
right direction, and has the unqualified ap-
proval of the majority of our people. 1t would
be well to provide that the county central COM
mittees Of the three parties receiving
the highest number of votes at the last
election be required to select the judges and
clerks to which their party would be entitled
and place them in the hands of the mayors Of
the cities, or township trustees, at least ten
days before the day of election This would
place it beyond the power Of any official to
select inefficient men to act for any other party
An amendment providing for square at the
top of the ticket, in which anyone who desired
to vote the entire ticket could make a cross,
would facilitate voting. 1t would also seem as
though some inexpensive provision might be
made by which the votes could be counted as
they are cast. so that the result might be an
nounced in few minutes after the polls are
closed.
Commissioner of Elections.
The law providing for commissioners of cleo
tions should be repealed. and the mayor and
council of cities should have charge of the
registration. The work can be better done,
with far more satisfaction to all concerned, and
at a much less cost.
Conclusion.
In conclusion would say that have un-
bounded confidence in the future Of Kansas.
AS it has steadily advanced in the years that
that have passed, always true to Its motto,
constantly pressing forward and upward, SO
believe it will continue to advance. It has
vast hidden resources that will be developed
in the futurs to add untold wealth to its pres
ent means; millions OF acres OF fertile soil
which have as yet been untouched by the plows
inviting the honest yeomen from other states.
With proper encouragement, sturdy men can
be induced to make their homes within it's
borders, and countless millions can be secured
TO develop its boundless resources. Then let
riff
political afhliatioas. be loyal to it's interests,
and ever ready to defend its fair name
E N MORRILL,