The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-13


conditions Of our different state institutions
and. while some people are prone 10 CRITICS.
the work of this board, yet. am inclined to be
| ueve that wnen properly conducted il Is q
much importance to the people OF the state
| The governor gives interesting sta
tistics concerning the state historical
society, the horticultural society anG
the state library, and urges the needed
F, appropriation for these institutions.
Continuing, he says:
| About Irrigation.
| A few years ago the people OF the western
I part Of the state became interested in the SUD-
ject of irrigation, and the cry OF --irrigate OF
/ emigrate" was used by those who believed tina,
| the salvation Of that portion of the state de-
/ pended upon the success or failure of irrig3-
| ton Two years ago board Of irrigation was
established by the legislature. and an spprop-i-
/ alton was made for the purpose OF experiment.
/ ing along the line of irrigation from wells II
there have been any results obtained tina!
would justify the outlay OF the appropriation.
have not been informed as 10 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 success or not Some 90
so far as to say that il is a failure and deiu-
sion; others say that continuation Of the ex-
periments ought 10 be made in order 20 Give 1.
fair trial
The governor recommends that the
forestry stations and the silk station
be abolished. He 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 ipto existence for
the express purpose OF seeing that our auaran-
tine lines were respected and that no contagious
diseases should be brought into the state by
the shipment OF cattle from other points. be-
leve that it 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 few years
the western part of the state viii enjoy an ex-
tenslve development of this business.
State Grain Inspection.
There Is an 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 weighers, owe their ap-
pointment to and receive their appointment
from boards Of trade and the receivers OF the
grain II the people shall be protected in this
matter, and they should be. il is absolutely
necessary that the weighers and inspectors
should not owe their appointment to any power
but the state.
Consolidation of Boards.
I 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 peniteEtiary at Lansing.
the Hutchinson reformatory, and, II not abol-
ished, the reform school for boys az 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 70
foreign and interstate insurance companies, life
and fire. large sums of money as premiums for
insurance. In several instances companies
that have done large business in the state
nave 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
ers for the payment of losses and in case OF
failures of companies, for reinsurance.
Textbooks.
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
hac +a tAc Of Salir
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 ! commend to the consideration OF
the members OF the legislature the laws OF MiE-
1esota and Nebraska on this subject for careful
consideration.
Court Litigation.
The abuse OF permitting 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 CON- |
plant ia made 10 their charges and sometimes
as to their methods ] suggest that 100 per !
cent profit above the price in the Kansas City |
market is sufficient on their sales Of grain and !
hay, ard recommend an enactment 70 that ef- 1
feet The statutes should provide that the I
i've stock sanitary commission should have /
such control Of the stock yards owned by the /
above named company a. shall be necessary TO /
the enforcement of the laws you make.
Railroad Legislation.
The question Of the regulation OF transporta- /
ion companies has been one that has COM l
handed the attention OF the legislatures Of the 4
various states since railroads were first intro 4
iuced These corporations have received their /
,harter rights from the various states and 1
these states naturally concluded that they had 4
he right 70 regulate and control NE corpora
ions that they thus had created This view OF \
he case was constantly conost:ed oy the cor
Dorations. who claimed. as they were private !
corporations they were not subject 20 state leg
station so far a. their charges were concerned
view they have not yet abandoned
When. however, congress. II years ago
reated that subterfuEe for Justice
allied the interstate commerce commission
: enacted legislation that vas supposed By
he people 70 be for tho purpose OF securing
heir rights and controlling these corporations
After II years 81 weary waiting the people are
low told b. this commission that the Ia under
Which they we're acting vas detective and had
,esp held by the courf Of Iss; resort a. inopers-
i've and unconstitutional Thus after 20 years.
Z effort in this direction And that practical
: nothing has been done toward the control Q. |
l reconr7erd that the lezfsia-
IRE pass . maximum freight iar TIA. VIII Be
air - corporations and Just 20 ihs people.
elieEe also that the board % railroad corr