Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-01-17
HIS MESSAGE.
The New Governor of Kansas Gives
His Views on State Matters.
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
Foreign NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Convcn-
tion-Judicial Observation-Disclosures
surance-IrrlgatiOn-T
State Institutioas-Etc., Etc.


ture to-day, which is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives OF
the State of Kansas:
I think it may not be deemed inappropriate
to say to you that while I appreciate the high
honor conferred upon me By the people OF
Kansas i'll selecting me as the chief executive
OF the state for the coming two years, am not
unmiadfuI of the grave responsibilities that
Will devolve upon me, and L 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 A third OF d
century has passed since Kansas was admitted
into the union and you meet in this session
under conditions strikingly in contrast with
iAoSe 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
of the present administration.
I not aware that there is any demand
from the people for radical change in the
laws, but they do ask for relief from excessive
taxation; that the expenses of the state shall
be reduced to the lowest possible point con-
siStent with q wise and economical admins
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. and
there has been q 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. It
should be source of hearty cong ratulation to
all that Kansas has passed through the terri
bic 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 farm
products from 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 a promise of al Increased de-
mand for the articles in producing which Kan
sas lead the world. But the present con-
gross has in my Judgment, by ill-advised and
crude legislation assumed to dictate to foreign
nations their internal policy of protection to
their homo industries by discriminating duties
On sugar i'm ported from countries having export
duties on that article. This has LED to active
retaliation on the part OF those countries, and
all the nations of central Europe have become
commercially eStranged from our country, and
are taking active,and what prove to be efec-
live, measures to prevent the importation of
meats justifying themselves by revival
of the exploded and senseless claim that our
meat ANIMALS are diseased. The repeal of the
reciprocity provisions of tariff laws has
caused Spain and other countries to make
most unjust discrimination against the impor-
:ation of our farm products. To relieve US Of
This embarrassment by the removal of this en-
Dargo, and TO restore US to o condition where
we can increase to its utmost limit the expor-
5ation of those articles which are our main
support. is a matter of universal concern to the
people of Kansas. L would therefore urge the
-+he passage of concurrent resolution by your
honorable bodies, instructing our senators and
requesting our representatives in congress. to
introduce and work for the passage of the most
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
that there is demand for an appellate
court, the supreme court being so far
behind that if case was fled now it
would be six years before it could be
heard. He then goes on to say:
There ought to be a complete rediStrictng
If the state for judicial purposes, and . reduc-
lion OF at least twelve districts in number
This would save to the state in salaries of
Judges alone $4,000 per year. am not unIaind-
.ul of the difficulties in the way of redistrict-
L
ieve that this legislature has the good judg-
1Iert, courage and ability to carry out a reform
which commends itself to the intelligence of
avery voter in the state.
Permanent School Fund.
The investment of the permanent school
fund of the state is matter of grave public
concern, and it should be guarded very care
July. There about 5000 900 in this fund
Several hundred thousand dollars of this
money are reinvested every year. Too much
care cannot be taken in the qua lily of the Sc
surities purchased. The safety of the fund is
IF the highest Importance, and should be pro-
tected more sacredly than even the funds in
the state treasury.
During the boom period in Kansas, while
values were inflated large amounts of bonds of
VariouS kinds were purchased. would recon-
mend that a Legislative committee be appoint
ed to thoroughly investigate the securities on
cash value of each, and to recommend such
steps as may be deemed advisable to fix the
responsibility OF illegal investments, to collect
doubtful securities, and TO suggest any neces-
-Sary legislation to guard investments in the
future. And I would suggest that this com
1nittee be appointed early in the session SO
that it NAV report and recommend any amend
nnents to the law that may be necessary for the
protection of the fund.
Intemperance.
The blighting influence of intemperance is
still seen in state. There is scarcely Q COM
munity that does not suffer from this cause
and happy is the family that is not directly af-
footed By IL. Its approach is so inSidious that
its danger is scarcely realized until it is too
late to stay its evil effects. How to cure or
even lessen the evil. has commanded the
be he statesman or moralist. Its demoralizins
affects ara universally conceded and car bar1-