The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-12
Many Suggestions About Legis-
IatiOn and Other Matters.
HE UTTERs NO WORD
On PrOhibftfOn-Future Events
Must Reveal His Course
He Recommends a Maximum
Freight Rate Bill.

The following is Governor Leedy's
message in full delivered to the legis-
1ature today:
To the Legislature:-With profound
regret for the misfortunes OF our more
pretentious sisters of the east, con-
graduate the state of Kansas upon the
many simple blessings that have fallen
to us in these adverse times. w ME
those who clamOr for aims IN tne
streets of the crowded cities are many,
those who seek assistance from our
ready public bounty are few. Whue
the failure of great commercial 1nstl-
buttons brings sad calamity to the chief
capitals where fortunes accumulate,
the less imposing but quite useful de-
poSitOrieS of Kansas savings are giving
gratifying evidences of ability W hlie
according to the press of the nations
most populous metropolis, her children
nnger in the streets untaught except
in the lore of the pavement, united, eX-
cept at the hand of charity, unhoused,
except in the kennels they dispute with
creatures scarcely less miserable, the
commonwealth of Kansas, rejoicing IN
a. public school system which is the
most grateful heritage we receive from
our fathers and the best legacy we can
leave to our children finds ample house
room and school room for every Kansas
child, and for such struggling waits as
come to US for aid from whence penury
and parsimony stalk side by side. There
are no tramps in Kansas, except those
birds of passage who fit by US, grim
reminders of the conditions in older
communities.
With a cheerful audacity that almost
challenges admiration, Grub street
scribblers, on a venal press which pan
ders to the most vicious instincts of
semi civilized foreign colonies like New
York city and Chicago, with sem1-bar-
barrie splendor at the apex, and semi
barbaric squalor at the base of their
social life, have offered puny and pre-
sumptious criticisms of those whose
shoestringS they are not worthy to I'M
loose. The dogs of Egypt have bark
ed at the pyramids unanswered for 50
centuries. When the accused Doge
stood before the Venetian council, he
said, My defense is your accusation
Let Grub street rail on. They well
know that Kansas was a pillar OF
cloud by day and pillar of fire by
night before an oppressed people in the
nations darkest hour We shall keep
those fires alight in our camps, and
that smoke ascending from our hill
tops till this is indeed a government of
the people and for the people and by
the people.
For she failed you not in the early day,
and she failed you not in the late,
Nor forgot you how the balance was
poised on our youngest state,
And how with the fate of Kansas, was
linked the nations fate.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
In a full and exhaustive report. the
state treasurer sets forth our financial
condition, which shows that at the be-
ginning of the fiscal year, July 1, 1894.
there were $S42, 1926 %. on hand, and that
the receipts during the fiscal years end
ing June 80 1895, and 1885, were "a, $685.
O92 SO, making a total of $5,740, o.
The disbursements for the two years
named above were So, 135, 1888. 96, leaving
a balance in the treasurer June 80, 1896,
of 1904, 529 10. The report for the year
ending December 81, 1896, shows that
the balance on hand was $685., 338. SO, and
that the permanent school fund
amounts to $7O16, 993.10
January 1, 1895, our state bonded in
debtedness was $788. 500. On March Is,
1895, $50, 500 was paid and on July 1,
1895, $4,000, which leaves at present
bonded Indebtedness of 1852, 900; $449, 900
of these bonds are owned by the per-
manent school fund, $1,000 by the per-
manent university fund and the bal
porations. On July 1, 1897, and July l.
1888, 1920, 900 in seven per cent bonds
becomes due. The state treasurer in
his report recommends that the whole
be refunded in four per cent bonds and
sold to the permanent school fund. The
suggestion meets my approval for the
reason that any increase of our state
levy at this time to meet these bonds
would work a hardship on our tax pay
ers and the further fact that, in. these
days when many unsafe and QueStiOna-
BILE bonds are being hawked around, an
investment of this kind will protect
this fund that has been set aside for
the educational purposes of our state.