Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-01-14

AUui Wnlo hoHe people uFo prone 70 cflLlclSe
1 the work Of this board yet, nm inclined to be-
lioVe that when properly conducted, II Is OF
much Importance 10 the people OF the state
The governor gives interesting sta
tistics concerning the state historical
society, the horticultural society and
the state library, and urges the needed
appropriation for these institutions.
Continuing, he says:
About Irrigation.
few years ago the people Of the western
part of the state became interested In the sub
joct OF irrigation, and the cry of "irrlgate or
emigrate' was used by those who believed that
the salvation OF that portion OF the state de-
pended upon the success or failure Of irriga-
ton. Two years ago board Of irrigation was
established by the Legislature, and an appropri-
alton was made for the purpose OF experiment.
ing along the line of irrigation from wells II
there have been any results obtained that
would Justify the outlay OF the appropriation,
have not been informed as to what they were.
People from the western part Of the state, In
interviews and conversation, are divided upon
the question OF whether irrigation from this
source Gun be made success or not Some 20
so fur as to say that II is failure and delu-
sion; others say that continuation Of the eX
periments ought to be made In order TO give 1t
u fair trial.
The governor recommends that the
forestry stations and the silk station
be abolished, lie then continues:
Live Stock Sanitary Commission.
In my judgment one of the most important II
not the most important industry Of our state, Is
our cattle interests The Kansas live stock
sanitary commission came into existence for
the pXDrpgg nurnncp NJ eppinU that our nunrnn-
tine lines were respected and that no contagious
diseases should be brought into the state by
the shipment Of cattle from other points. be-
lieve that IL has done efficient work during the
last two years would ask Of the legislature
that the needs OF this important board be at
tended to, to the end that we may have feel
ing OF security amongst those who are inter-
ested in this great industry. The statistics
show that Kansas Is forging ahead as q cattle
raising state. In western Kansas especially,
the finest cattle and beef nre produced at %
nominal cost and predict that in few years
the western part of the state will enjoy an OK
tensive development of this business,
State Grain Inspection.
There is uE erroneous impression among the
people Of this state that the state supervises
the weighing and inspection Of grain. The fact
Is that the deputy inspectors, who really in
spect the grain, and the weghers owe their APP
pointment to and receive their appointment
from boards Of trade and the receivers Of the
grain. If the people shall be protected in this
matter and they should be, it is absolutely
necessary that the weighers and inspectors
should not owe their appointment to any power
but the state.
Consolidation of Boards.
1 would recommend that the law governing
the appointment of the penitentiary board be
,l,.Itl 10
troll in addition to the penitentary at Lansing
the Hutchinson reformatory, and, II not abol-
ished, the reform school for boys at Topeka.
10 make the matter plain, would have all of
the penal institutions under the charge of the
board Of directors for penal institutions and
all Of the charitable institutions under tho SUI
pervision of the state board of charities.
As to Insurance.
Year by year the people Of this state pay to
foreign and interstate insurance companies, life
and fire. large sums Of money us premiums for
insurance. In several instances companies
that have done large business In the state
have failed and left the policy holders without
any az liable assets for the security of their
policies or for Reinsurance in other companies.
The laws of Kansas should require that an adj
equate and equitable percentage Of the premi-
ums paid to the insurance companies by policy
holders in the state of Kansas should be invest
ed in the state OF Kansas, the investment,
II in securities to be approved by the commits
sioner of insurance and deposited in the state
treasury as guarantee fund to the policy hold
ers for the payment of losses and in case Of
failures of companies, for reinsurance.
Text Books,
The people of the state demand and should
receive such legislation as will cheaper the
price of school textbooks, and make available
to every child of the state the means OF COM
mon school education. The Textbook question
has received the attention OF different legis-
latures in this state, and has been legislated
upon in all its phases in the states of California,
Minneota and Nebraska, The evolution of this
legislation in the states mentioned has resulted
IN the district ownership Of textbooks, each
child attending the public schools being pro-
vided with textbooks without money and with
out price. ICommend to the consideration of
the members of the legislature the laws of Min
pesota and Nebraska on this subject for careful
consideration,
Court Litigation,
Tho abuse of permitting q long series Of ir-
relevant questions to be asked of juries suggests
that some limitation be placed upon this privi-
lege recommend that by specific enactment
trial judges be authorized to specify the num-
Der of questions that may be propounded to
the jury in any given legal proceeding by either
party,
Election Laws,
The chairman of the county committee Of
each of the respective organizations should be
entitled TO name the judges of election who are
to be of his political party, The printing Of the
ballots under our present system appears to be
more expensive than is absolutely necessary.
The Kansas City Stock Yards.
The Kansas City Live Stock Commission Co.
Is in the enjoyment of certain privileges which
have proved very lucrative Considerable COM
plaint is made as to their charges and sometimes
as to their methods, 1 suggest that 100 per
cent. proft above the price in the Kansas City
market is sufficient on their sales of grain and
hay, and recommend an enactment to that eff
feet, The statutes should provide that the
live stock sanitary commission should have
such control of the stock yards owned by the
above named company as shall be necessary to
the enforcement Of the laws you make.
Railroad Legislation.
Pha question of the regulation of transporta-
tion companies has been one that has COM
manded the Attention of the legislatures of the
various states since railroads were first intro
duced. These corporations have received their
charter rights from the various states, and
these states naturally concluded that they had
the right to regulate and control the corpora
tions that they thus had created. This view Of
the case was constantly combatted by the cor
porations who claimed, as they were priVate
corporations they were not subject ia state leg
islation so far as them charges were concerned,
view they have not yet abandoned.
When, however, congress. II years ago, |
created that subterfuge for Justice