Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-21


We have astate architect, whose duty 1t is
to make the plans and specifications for our
state buildings.
Sharp Irrigation Criticism.
"a few years ago the people OF the West
ern part of the state became interested in
the subject of irrigation, and the cry of
'irrigate or emigrate' was used by those
who believed that the salvation of that por-
ton of the state depended upon the success
or failure of irrigation. Two years ago
board of irrigation was established by the
legislature and an appropriation was made
for the purpose of experimenting along the
line of irri alton from wells.
II have been unable TO procure a copy of
the boards report, but am informed that
in several places wells have been put down,
wind mills erected and allowed to go to
rack and ruin If there have been any
results obtained that would Justify the out
lay of the appropriation, l have not been
informed as to what they were. People
from the western part of the state, in in
terviews ond conversation are divided upon
the question of whether irrigation from
this source can be made success or not.
Some go so far as to say that 1t is
failure and a delusion; others say that
continuation of the experiments ought to
4
would recommend to the Legislature that
this receive careful investigation at your
hands. If, from the experience of the board
and its results obtained so far, together
with that of individuals who have tried 1t to
their own satisfaction, 1t Is found that irrl-
CATION of this kind cannot be made sue
cess, l would recommend that the board be
abolished do not make this recommended
ton to discourage the people of the western
part of the state. The admirable advant-
ages offered stockmen are probably supe-
riOr to those engaged in agriculture at
times An adaptation of means to ends will
enable the people to avail themselves of all
the resources of that quarter of Kansas
Forestry and Silk statlOna
"The state forestry stations, established
in the Western portion of the state for the
purpose of testing whether trees of certain
kinds could be successfully raised, have
been in existence for several years In my
judgment, the question, If 1t ever can be
solved, has been solved and would recon-
mend that unless the provisions of estab-
lishment make its continuance for speci-
fed number Of years obligatory and the
contract has not been filled on the part of
the state so that its adjustment would lose
the state the title to the land that it be
abolished" The same recommendation is
made with regard TO the silk station at
Peabody.
Live Stock Sanitary Commission.
I'm my judgment one of the most import
ant, If not the most important industry of
our state, is our cattle interests. The an
nual report OF the sanitary commission has
received my careful attention, and believe
thatIt has done efficient work during the
last two years. l would ask of the legislature
that the needs of this important board be
attended to, to the end that we may have a
feeling of security amongst those who are
interested in this great industry. The sta
tistics show that Kansas Is forging ahead as
cattle raising state. In western Kansas,
especially, the finest cattle and beef are pro-
duced at a nominal cost, and predict that
in few years the western part of the state
will enjoy an extensive DEVELOPMENT of this
business. 1 would recommend the careful
study of the boards report, and that all
necessary appropriations be made to carry
on the work of protecting this great in-
dustry.
Consolidation of Boards.
II would recommend that the law govern
ing the appointment of the penitentiary
board be so amended that 1t can also super
wise and control in addition to the peniten-
LldI dl Lansing, TIC hulInlllhOu IGlOl
tory and, If not abolished, the reform school
for boys at Topeka. At present this instltu-
ton is under the supervision of the state
board of charities. The Hutchinson reform
atory is under separate board 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
supervision of the state board of charities.
Railroads Criticized.
1.-THE question of the regulation of trans
portatiOn companies has been one that has
commanded the attention of the legislatures
of the various states since railroads we're
first introduced. These corporations have
received their charter rights from the vari-
Gus states, and these states naturally con-
cluded that they had the right to regulate
and control the corporations that they thus
had created. This view of the case was con-
stantly combatted by the corporations. who
claimed, as they were private corporations,
they were not subject to state legislation so
far as their charges were concerned
view that they have not yet
abandoned. When, however, the courts
of the states began to hold that they were
public corporations, and therefore amend
able to the legislature of the states they APP
first, that they were private corporations,
and, secondly, that If they were quas-pub-
lie corporations the regulation of them
could only be had through the federal Con-
gress. The courts having sustained this
view, the people of the various states then
demanded that the federal Congress should
pass such legislation and create such
boards of control as were necessary to Sc
cure to the people their just rights In the
matter. In obedience to this demand, Con-
gress, eleven years ago, created that subter-
fuge for justice called the interstate COM
merce commission, and enacted legislation
that was supposed by the people to be for
the purpose of securing their rights and con-
trolling these corporations After eleven
years of weary waiting, the people are now
told by this commission, in its tenth annual
report just issued, that the law under which
they were acting was defective and had
been held by the court of last resort as in
operative and unconstitutional
"Thus, after fifty years of effort in this
direction, we find that practically nothing
has been done toward the control of cor
porations; that the question has been
avoided and delayed as much as possible
through the courts, and finally, at the end,
we find the will of the people thwarted and
the corporations resting upon the bosom of
the supreme court with the same feeling of
confidence and security that an infant re-
poses upon the bosom Of 4 wet nurse
Tho Supreme Court Criticised.
ut the Congress OF the United States pass
an amended law the torpid snake Of litiga-
ton will again begin to crawl slowly through
the mazes of the law towards the court of
final jurisdiction, and If the leaden heel of
justice is as slow and If the mcdtations Of
the court are as great, and they shall pom
der as long over the constitutionality of the
law in the future as they have done in the
past, posterlty will have arrived in time to