The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-15

| 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.
a few years ago the people of the western
| part of the state became interested in the sub
| ject of irrigation and the cry of ''irrigate 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 lrr1ga-
| ton. Two years ago a 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. If
there have been any results obtained that
would justify the outlay Of the appropriation l
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 can be made a success or not. Some 80
so far as to say that it is q failure and delu-
sion: others say that continuation of the eX-
perimentS ought to be made in order 10 give 1t
fair trial.
The governor recommends that the
forestry stations and the silk station
be abolished. He then continues:
In my Judgment one of the most important. if
not the most important industry of our state. is
our cattle interests. The Kansas live stock
sanitary commission came into existence for
the express purpose of seeing that our quaran-
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 a cattle
raising state. In western Kansas. especially,
the finest cattle and beef are produced at a
nominal cost. and predict that in a few years
the western part of the state will enjoy an ex-
tensive development of this business
State Grain Inspection.
There is an erroneous impression among the
people of this state that the state SuperyiSeS
the weighing and inspection of grain. The fact
is that the deputy inspectors. who really in
spect the grain. and the weighers, 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.
l would recommend that the law governing
the appointment of the penitentiary board be
so amended that it can also supervise and con-
troll, in addition to the penitentiaTy at Lansing,
the Hutchinson refOrmatOry, and, if not abOl
iShed. the reform school for boys at Topeka.
To 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 the su-
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 as premiums for
insurance. In several instances companies
that have done a large business in the state
have failed and left the policy holders without
any available assets for the security of their
policies or for Reinsurance in other companies.
The laws of Kansas should require that an ad-
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.
if in securities to be approved by the commits
siOner of insurance and deposited in the state
treasury as a guarantee fund to the policy hold
ers for the payment of losses and in case of
failures of companies. for Reinsurance.
Textbooks.
The people of the state demand and should
price of school textbooks. and make available
to every child of the state the means Of a COM
mon school education. The textbook question
has received the attention of different legiS-
latures in this state. and has been legisated
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. 1 commend to the consideration of
the members Of the legislature the laws of Min
nesOta and Nebraska on this subject for careful
consideration.
Court Litigation.
The 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. 1 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.
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
plant is made as to their charges and sometimes
as to their methods 1 suggest that 100 per
cent profit above the price in the Kansas City
market is sufficient on their sales of grain and
hay, and 1 recommend an enactment 10 that ef-
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.
The question Of the regulation OF tranSpOrta-
ton 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
they were not subject to state leg
slatiOn so far as their charges were concerned |
a view they have not yet abandoned. !
When. however. congress-. II years ago.
created that subterfuge for justice !
called the interstate commerce commission. /
Il enacted legislation that was supposed by |
the people 20 be for the purpose Of securing |
their rights and controlling these corporations. |
After II years Of weary waiting. the people are /
now Told by this commission that the law under /