Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-01-24
soIdIerE Ornhnns, uomn.

Measures 70 provide for the fatherless, de-
pendent or abandoned children OF the state
commend themselves 60 every lover Of hui
mainly We have Mt Atchison an institution
In which all should feel deep interest
Many applicants
have been refused admission for want OF room.
Provision should be made for the accommoda-
tion Of at least l0l more
IN JhlS connection | desire TO suggest THAI
some restrictions ought to be imposed upon
the bringing into the state frlendless children
that are gathered up In the large cities OF the
cast Security should at east BIO required
from those bringing them In against their be-
coming public charge
Fish.
The subject of raising fish in this state has,
in my judgment, never received the consldera-
tlon 1t deserves. -
As an article of food
they are wholesome and much desired They
can be raised as cheaply as pork, and are In
every respect a better food article. Your spe-
cjal attention is called to the report OF the
fish commissioner, with the recommendation
that some legislation BIO enacted to stimulate
the production of this desirable article Of food
Coal oil Inspector.
The law creating the once OF coal oil In
spector should be so changed as TO require the
inspector to pay intoTAR ''sO '=easury all tho
fees collected by him; ana a. saa % and that
Of his deputies should be paid to him by the
3 az lr' '.'t' W % sworn luucLels L,u st o
as any other state officer
STATISTICS.
II would be we'll to require the county clerks
TO report In addition to the statistics now re-
quired of them, q statement OF the number OK
mortgages filed and released during the pre-
ceding year, and whether on farms or town
property, the total amount Of consideration In
such instruments and also the number OF
mortgages foreclosed and the amount involved,
on1 tp1a ivan In 0luC Df
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.
I commend to your careful consideration the
reports from the different boards having charge
Of these institutions With tho limited time
at my command, have been unable to make
the necessary examination to enable me to In
diligently 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 I
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.
50. The country Is divided Into small
I road districts; anyone is chosen supervisor
who will accept; all who care to do so are
allowed to work out their road tax at ex-
travagant wages and the result Is that
one-half of the tax judclously 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.
A new system should be provided. The
county commissioners should have charge OF
the roads with authority to appoint 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 re-
quired to personally view and lay out new
roads, and assess damages therefor. The pres
ent system of appointing road viewers should
BIO 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
ton Of state officers.
Maturing State Bonds.
The following bonds OF the state become
payable in 1895 and 1896;
March 10, l6Vo.... .b3ooVU
July /, 1875. TO,UVU
All of the bonds due in 1895 are held by the
and S3S, 900 of those payable in 1896 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
b 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 tho
money in the hands Of the people.
Waatarn NOuutAaa
am very proud to say that there have been,
SO far, scarcely any appeals to me for help for
that section; but feel that ought to call
your attention to the conditions existing there,
in order that you may take such action as may
be deemed for the best interests OF the state
Lotteries and Gambling.
Your attention Is invited to the provisions Of
the constitution prohibiting lotteries and the
sale Of lottery tickets There is no law to en-
force this provision OF the constitution. II 10
g possible for one form Of gambling to DO
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
CARNATIONS are contaminated by It, l would
urge the passage of q law prohibiting lotteries
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 bride by any public officer
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 vote In
the senate.
1t should be understood and agreed by good
citizens everywhere that no public ofhcer has
any right to receive 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
ciencles in his salary by using his official posi-
ton for his private gain, he Is ON enemy TO the
public, and should be in the penitentiary
instead of in public office.
Election Laws.
Tho enactment of the Australian ballot law
was very decided and advanced step in the
right direction, and has the unqualified ap-
prevail of the majority Of our people. 1t would
be we'll 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.