The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-01-15
GOV. LEEDY'S FIRST.
Kansas New Executive Sends His
Message to the Legislature.
Wants Rates ut Kansas City Stock Yards
Reduced-Favors Maximum Freight
Law-Liberal Appropriations
for State Institutions.

for State Institutions.
TOPEKA, KAN, Jan. 12.-Gov. John
". Leedy delivered his message to the
legislature to-day. 1t is as follows:
To the Legislature:
With profound regret for the misfortunes of
our more pretentious sisters of the east, con-
yratulate the state OF Kansas upon the many
adverse times. While those who clamor for
aims in the streets of the crowded cities are
many, those who seek assistance from our
ready public bounty are few. While the failure
Of great commercial institutions brings sad ca
lamity to the chief capitals where fortunes &C
cumulate. the less imposing, but quite useful
repositories Of Kansas savings, are giving graf
flying evidences Of stability. While. according
to the press of the nations most populouS me-
tropolis, her children Hnger in the street I'M
taught, except in the lore Of the pavement; I'M
fed, except at the hand of charity; unhoused,
except in the kennels they dispute with crea-
lures 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 from where
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.
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 1894, there were S842 326. % hand
and that the receipts during the fiscal years
ending June 30, 1895 and 1896, were a s98 092 49,
making a total of $40 4l9.O6. The disburse-
ments for the two years named above were
4 I~-l., t.
June go 1896, of 1904 529. 10. The report for the
year ending December 81. 1896, shows that the
balance on hand was 1868, 1888. 49, and that the
permanent school fund amounts to S7,0l6 993. 10.
January 1. 1895, our state bonded Indebtedness
was $7Ss, 500 On March Is. 1895, $685. 500 was
paid and on July 1, 1896, $40 Zoo, which leaves at
present bonded Indebtedness OF S6e2, COO S449,-
900 Of these bonds are owned by the permanent
school fund, $9, 600 by the permanent university
fund and the balance, S224, 900, by individuals
and corporations. On July 1, 1897, and July l,
1898, $780, 600 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 The suggestion meets my ap-
proval for the reason that any increase OF our
state levy at this time to meet these bonds
would work a hardship on our 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 will
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 our present
economic conditions yet oil 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 ele-
ments Of our nature. Some of these institu-
lions are filled with those to whom the sunlight
Of MONDAY and the darkness Of midnight are
the same. Others are unable to 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
bereft of reason and struggle through hallucina-
lions 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 of
the most essential duties of an ex-
ecutive and the coordinate branches
Of the legislature to see that the best of treat
ment be accorded them, that those who care
for them should be kind. attentive and take an
interest in their work, that their food should
be clean, wholesome and plentiful, that the
sanitary conditions Of the buildings where they
are confined are conducive to their health, that
the professional duties be administered by
good talent 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
for themselves, and are placed in the institu-
lions Of our 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 at this institution, erection Of
boiler house, electric light plant and several
minor improvements. These improvements
have all been made, yet. from the reports of
the superintendent Of this institution, find
that there are several matters that need your
The principal one is, that the
property has sustained serious damage which
demands repairs, and unless these accom-
plished at the earliest possible moment great
injury will be done the institution. Not having
had an opportunity to visit and make personal
examination Of this matter, would call the
attention of your committees who visit the diff
ferent state institutions to this report. 1t would
not only be neglectful. 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
of illiteracy is lower and the aver
age of general intelligence is higher in Kansas
than in New York and the New England states,
cational 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 it is absolutely necessary that we
should maintain system Of public schools
that shall give the youth Of this state ample
opportunity to fit themselves for the duties
of citizenship In dealing with the educational
institutions Of the state no niggardly 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 and privi-
lege of receiving education is false economy.
against the best interests of society and detri-
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, will ask for certain i'm
provements and additional buildings. Several
localities will ask that normal schools be eS-
tablished. Should you conclude that another
normal school is necessary, 1 would suggest
that 1t be located in some portion of the state
of the largest population and in some central
city Of that section. The school property of
Kansas. including buildings and grounds,
is valued at $40, .63l. The bonded
Indebtedness OF the school districts was
81. SIS, 7& Sixteen thousand eight hundred
and thirty-seven persons were examined for
teachers certificates. of whom 11.46S, with IN
average age of 20 years, received certificates
Only $50 districts have failed to maintain pub