Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-01-13

that outside associat ons be required TO gvs
security for the protection OF Kansas Invest
ors rs condition precedent to doing business
in the state. The commissioner also recon-
mends tho creation Of guarantees funi for the
protection Of bank depositors No one thing
connected with this buiness OF banking wouli
be more desirable than some provision sccur-
ing the safety OF depo itors. The plan pro-
posed is new, II may be practical. l commend
IL to your careful consideration
A Deficiency.
Each administration has been rc!uctant to
rinse the levy for state taxes over that OF pre-
ceding administrations, and numerous devices
and subterfuges have been practicsd to keep
within the limit OF former levies and still meet
the ever increasing expenses OF our public IN
stitutions. The last administration reduced
the levy from four and one-fourth to four aud
two tenths mills, undoubtedly upon the theory
that such levy would raise sufficient revenue to
meet current expenses. but this levy was In
sufficient to raise the required funds. AMI long
before the Close OF the term tho payment OF
warrants was refused by the state treasurer.
On th, 2Sth day OF December, 1898, there was on
hand belonging to the general fund more than
SO 900; so that tho last administration ha |
some money with which to commence business.
The present administration will be compelled
to face the situation with II treasury practically
empty. There was on hand December ~, 1898,
q little more than s.6,J0J or Sij',JJJ less than
two years before: but the small balance on
hand Is not the worst. A large Indebtedness Is
turned over for payment
great number OF officers and employees
under the last a Manifestation claim that the
legislature neglected to make sum lent appro-
priatons for the payment OF their salaries and
have presented demands for a large balance,
lttfr
from the failure OF the last |, gislature to make
sufficient appropriations for the payment OF the
Quantrcll raid claims, the claims for the care
OF the destitute insane and the expenses OF the
special session, reach the sum OF more than
$780, 900, which will exhaust all money now In
the treasury and leave n deficiency OF more
than ti0J, 00J confronting the new administra-
ton.
This condition renders 1t almost certain that
before funds can b, dor we'd from new tax
iau- 4ha mone- received ind r the oil one will
paid out and the obligations OF the state VIII
again be dishonored. Tao credit OF the state Is
OF too much importance TO be impaired. and the
neglect TO meet the legitimate demands made
upon II. even for dnv affects its credit. The
care of our public institutions Is necessarily
growing more expensive. Tne state must have
larger revenues. know of only two ways to
raise them; one by increasing the assessment,
partmcnts and institutions of the state should
be conducted with the stri, test economy con-
sistcnt with efficiency. and no one can purchase
as cheaply rs pro Nit paymaster
This whole difficulty could be relieved IL the
several assessors throughout the state would
make any reasonable attempt to comply with
the law. The law requires that all property
shall be assessed ut its true value and yet 1t Is
q wei known fact that each year tnc assessors
in
plans by which this provision of the statute
can be violated A large assessment and a
small levy is preferable to a small assessment
and large levy. This being so, it is difficult
to understand why ASSESSORS persist In disre-
gard the plain statutory requirements above
referred to.
/ sug .est that the law be amended in two
particulars: First. fixiag penalty for vio-
lation of the law requiring the assessment OF
property at It's trus value; second. giving the
State Board Of Equalization the RICH. to raise
the aggregate assessed value OF property. II
these fail the state levy must be raised.
U,eles, ONCE.
There are several Offices which think could
be abolished without loss to tn, public service.
Thee are the hoard Of -'ardons, State Account
ans Forestry Commissioner and Labor Com
missioner. Whatever may havo been the OBJ
Jet OF the Board of PardonS, 1t no longer
serves useful purpose; for hrouth this board
the granting Of parions has degonerated into
IN abuse. The law creating this board should
be repealed. am inclined to think that the
purpose OF the law creating the oi.lce OF state
accountant was wise one. but the nominiStrl-
ton OF the OH ), has n d M, the cxpctt1tionS
of it's friends. The office has been Of small SER
vice to the state. 1t cal be dispensed with.
The forestry stations are not of sufficient pub
lie benefit 10 justify their continuance. The
office of Lbor commissioner was created four
teen ears ago but II during all these years IL
has b,en OF any real benefit to the caus, Of la
Dor the benefits are not apparent The army OF
laboring men In Kansas is one of the citadels Of
our saft;. AS a class they are honest, intelli-
GENT AMI patrio ic. Their strong arms are
holding up all OF the greas industries of our
state. Succeeding legislatures have enacted
wise and liberal laws in their interest and will
enact others. Labor is pretty we'll organized in
Kansas and inaugurates new methods, and ac-
complishes its purposes rgely throu IN trade
unions and other organization o. like charac-
ter.
To these ORGANIZATIONS the individual member
looks for information and assistance. Labor
organizations are Independent OF the Labor
Commissioner, ana the lndiVidnal lnborer
cares little for him.
The report of the present labor commissioner
is exhaustive on certain subjects, shows wide
research and IS credit b, its author; but not
one person in u thousand in the state will ex-
anime 1t, and not ore in iifty thousand will be
benefited by the information it contains The
labo-ing men rs u class have no interest in this
office,
Omaha Exposition.
At the recent exposition at Omaha many of
our products were placed IN exhibition, and the
Kansas exhibit was crcditable both to the state
and to the efficient board OF managers who had
the matter in charge. n } provision had be
made for the expenses a tending this exhibit,
but am informed that w predecessor gave
the assurance that il the money necessary to
meet these expenses was advanced he would
recommend al appropriation to reimburse
tho, making such advances. Ga the strength
of this assurance several thousand dollars was
furnished by individuals, counties and corpora
lions TO aid the enterprise. ] would suggest
that this money be refunded.
Trans Mississippi Congress.
This congress had it's origin in Kansas l, an
act of the legislature Of this state 1t has
grown to be a large convention of business inca
and has had sey raj important sessions. The
uext meeting will be held in this state. The
question as to whether it should have state
recognition is left for your consideration.
Corn Exhibit.
II Is expected that provision will be made by