The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-15
HIS FIRST MESSAGE.
Gov. Leedy, Of Kansas, Addresses
the State Legislature.
AFgues for More Stringent Laws to Control
Railroads and Advocates a Mako
mum Freight BEE-Eeeds Of
State Institutions.

TOPEKA, KAN, Jan. 12.-Gov, John
w. Leedy delivered his message to the
legislature to-day, It is as follows:
To the Legislature;
With profound regret for the misfortuhes Of
Our more pretentious sisters OF tho east, I cons
graduate the state Of Kansas upon the many
simple blessings that have fallen 70 US IN ahese
adverse times While those who ciamar for
aims In the streets Of the crowded cities are
many. those who seek assistance from ont
ready public bounty are few. While the failure
Of great commercial institutions brings sad ca
iamity to the chief capitals where fortunes SC
oumuiate the less imposing but quite useful
repositories OF Kansas savings, are giving graf
nytng evidences Of stability, While, according
70 the press Of the nations most populous me
trePohs, her children linger in the street un-
taught except in the lore Of the pavement; un-
led, except at the hand Of charity; unhoused,
except in the kennels they dispute with erea-
lures scarcely less miserable, the commonwealth
Of Kansas, rejoicing in public school system
which is the most grateful heritage we receive
fFem our fathers, and the best legacy We can
leave TO our children, finds ample house room
ana school room for every Kansas child and for
such struggling waits as come TO us from where
penury and peTsimong stalk side by side. There
are no tranps ID Kansas, except those blFds OF
passage who lit by us grim reminders Of the
eonaiti9RS in older communities
Financial Condition.
In Q full and exhaustive report the state
treasurer sets forth the financial condition
which shows that at the beginning Of the fiscal
year, July T. 1894, there we're Ss42 S2625 on haad,
and that the receipts during the Aseal years
ending June so, 1895 and 1856 were "a, S9S O92 g.
making total Of $40 tl006 The disburse-
ments for the two years named above were
IS, 1886, leaving balance in the treasury
June 90 1885, Of 1904 $3.50. The report for the
year ending December 81, 1895, shows that the
balance On hand was 1858 33e. 88, and that the
permanent school fund amounts to 81, Ole p03 TO-
January l. 1885, our state bonded Indebtedness
was Sg68,5G0. On March 10, 1895, S38,500 was
paid and on July I, 1885 So coo, which leaves at
present bonded indebtedness Of S682, 600, S449,-
90 Of these bonds are owned by the permanent
school fund, So, 900 by the permanent university
fund and the balance, s224, 900, by individuals
and corporations On July l. 1897, and July I,
1893, $4,000 in seven per cent bonds become
due The state treasurer in his report recon-
mends that the whole amount be refunded in
four per cent bonds and sold to the permanent
school fund TIE suggestion meets my aD-
proVal for the reason that any increase Of our
state levy at this time to meet these bonds
would work hardship ON cur tax payers and
the further fact that, in these days when many
unsafe and questionable bonds are being
hawked around an investment Of this kind viii
protect this fund that has been set aside for
the educational purposes Of our state.
Charitable Institutions,
No class Of people should receive the pity Of
their felloWmen more than the inmates Of our
charitable institutions, Many of them have
been reared IN luxury some Of them are waits
Of the streets and the harvest Of cur present
economic conditions yet all Of them are human
and born in the likeness Of their Maker Their
care and comfort are sacred duty imposed
upon US by humanity and all the better eIe-
ments Of our nature Some Of these institu-
tions are filed with those to whom the sunlight
Of MONDAY and the darkness Of midnight are
the same Others are unable 10 enjoy CONVEX
sation with their fellow-beings and nothing
takes the place Of the senses which are most
gratifying to humanity Some Of them are
hereft Of reason and struggle through hallueina-
tiOns against imaginary evils. Some are born
into the world bereft Of reason or sense, and
are thrown upon our pity and charity
from the beginning I consider it one of
the most essential duties Of an ex-
ecutive and the coordinate branches
OF the legislature to see that the best Of treat
nent be accorded them, that those who care
for them should be kind attentive aud take an
interest in their work, that their food should
be clean, wholesome and plentiful, that the
sanitary conditions OF the buildings pfbare thew
are confined are conducive to taeir health that
the professional duties be administered by as
good talent as the state possesses; in short
that the gravest duty that we have to discharge
Is IN the care OF those who are unable TO care
LOT themselves, and are placed in the institu-
aons Oh OR state as wards OF the state
Insane Asylum at Osawatomie.
at the last session OF the legislature, appro-
priations were made for the rebuilding of the
central building az this institution, erection OF
boiler house, electric light plant, and several
minor improvements These improvements
have ali been made, yet, from the reports Of
the superintendent Of this institution, find
that there are several matters that need your
consideration The principal one is, that the
property has sustained serious damage which
demands repairs, and unless these are accom-
plished at che earliest possible moment great
snjury viii be done the institution. Not having
had an opportunity to visit and make a personal
examination Of this matter, I would call the
attention Of your committees who visit the diff
ferent state institutions to this report It would
not only be Heglsctful, but an unsound
business policy to allow any Of our state
institutions to be ruined by the elements
on account Of not taking proper precautions for
their preservation.
Educational Institutions.
The public school system Of Kansas is the
best evidence Of the character Of our people
and the best promise Of our future. That the
percentage Of illiteraoy is lower and the aver
age Of general intelligence is higher in Kansas
n h1Ty Vf1vfr nd he Nan 7r1rriQ JrAeE
where great wealth commanded admirable edu-
eational facilities before our state was founded,
is most gratifying to our people, We should
Indeed be most different commonwealth, If
this admirable system, crowned by the several
institutions Of higher learning did not appeal to
state pride. In order to achieve that general
intelligence which is essential to successful
citizenship 1t is absolutely necessary that we
should maintain a system OF public schools
that shall give the youth Of this state ample
opportunity to ft themselves for the duties
Of citizenship In dealing with the educational
Institutions Of the state no niggaFdly hand
should be used, whether you touch the humble
country school or enter the halls Of the great
state institutions The condition Of the times
demands strict economy, but the economy that
would take from any child the right ana privi-
lege Of receiving an education is false economy,
mental to the future OF our state. Some Of the
chief educational institutions, notably the state
university and the state normal school, which
are reported crowded, VIII ask for certain i'm
pFOvements and additional buildings. Several
localities viii ask that normal schools be es-
tablished Should you conclude that another
normal school is necessary, I would suggest
shat Il be lccated ia some portion Of the state
0! the largest population and in some central
city Of that section The school property 0!
Kansas, including buildings aud grounds,
IS valued Of slQ,1s5.CSL The bonded
Indebtedness Of Che school districts was
50 545.506, Sixteen thousand eight hundred
ana thigty-seyeA persons we're examined for
teachers certificates. Of whom Il. 4S5. with al
average age Of % years, received certificates.
0nly $50 districts have failed to maintain pub
lie schools three months One hundred and
i've counties held teachers Institutes each Of
Ehioh has az attendance Of over 90 members.
These Institutes cost IS TT659 Tbs school
system is the pride Of our state. As SpaEts's
strength was NOT IN her walls, but ia her men.
- the wealth Of Kansas lies not n her treas
any, but ia Ter stOrehouses o. general inseili-
gence We saay not have auessed such vas.
-