The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-01-13

ture and sale OF Intoxicating ] Quors n vs. been
the settled policy Of this state but the enforce
ment OF this law has been attended with indif-
ferent success The dinicultv OF the situation
has been owing largely to the fact that pro-
hiDition has been made q political rather than
an economic ques tion. This perversion of the
question has resulted IL such n cond tior that
In Kansas prohibition and temperance are not
synonymous The misfortune OF prob btion is
thut IL has Largely been mada political ques
tion every two years. to lapse during long in
tervals, only to be rehabilitated and brought
into use at each recurring election for political
purposes
The result OF the last two general elections in
kansas demonstrated that, as purely political
question, II has about run its course As an
economic question 1t Is entitled to q much more
serious consideration, and ought to command
our earnest attention. As the law now stands,
Z Is hardly profitable to discuss whether pro-
addition Is wise or unwise. Many of our best
citizens diner on this proposition, but ri ohibi-
ton is the policy OF our state, part of our
fundamental law supplemented by legislative
enactment. and the enforcement OF this law
Is entirely outside the pale OF dis
cussion. The talk that IL Is better that other
laws and different methods should be resorted
20 for the enforcement of It is idle The talk
that 1t should be disregarded and that officers
should tacitly. II not openly consent to its viola
ion is vicious All laws should have an honest
enforcement the prohibitory law no more and
40 less than other laws, and the present admin
lstration stands squarely and unequivocally in
favor Of the enforcement of all laws the pro-
hibitory law In no wise excepted
InHur.
Our insurance laws afford ample prote ction
to our people and their honest enforcement Is
much to be desired. The law gives the com
missioner the right to make an examination Of
the books, assets and business OF all companies
doing business in the state, either himself or
NJ m N N %
the solvency OF such companies and the wisdom
Of permitting them to do business in this state.
No fixed charge is provided for this service
and no report OF such examination Is required
to be filed The law should fix the charges for
such examinations and require full reports OF
all examinations to be made and filed, that the
public may have some knowledge OF the char
acter and result of such examinations All in
insurance companies orders and societies OF
any kind doing insurance business in the state
should be put under the charge of the insur-
ance department
The information furnished in the report OF
the bank commissioner is very gratifying.
Our state banks are becoming more secure
than ever, and their condition affords reason
for congratulatiOn. ! heartily concur in the
accommodation OF the commissioner that
building and loan associations within the state
be placed under the control OF that depart
mcnt and that outside associations be re-
quired to give security for the protection OF
Kansas investors as condition precedent to
doing business in the state. The commissioner
also recommends the creation OF n guarantee
fund for the protection NJ bank depostorS. No
one thing connected with the business OF bank
ing would be more desirable than some pro-
vision securing the safety Of depoSitors The
plan pronosed is new. II NAV be practical
commend IL to your careful consideration.
Pub tc Funds.
bp 1utt flat h. no
be kept In the vaults OF the treasurer and
compliance with this law results IN the accu-
mutation OF large sums OF money at times
reaching nearly million OF dollars II con-
siderable portion OF this fund could be placed
In private hanks throughout the state at the
best rate Of interest obtauable, IL would result
In The double advantage Of keeping large sums
Of money In circulation that would otherwise
lie idle and increasing the state revenues to the
extent OF the interest obtained
\ Deficiency.
Each administration has been reluctant ITO
raise the levy for state taxes over that of pre-
ceding administrations. and numerous devices
and subtcrfuges have been practiced to keep
within the limit OF former lcvies and still meet
the ever-inoreasing expenses Of our public in
stitu'ions. The last administration reduced
the levy from ~ to l-5. undoubtedly upon the
theory that such levy would raise sufficient
revenue To meet current expenses; but this
levy was insufficient to raise the required
funds. and long before the close of the term
the payment OF warrants WAS refused by
the state treasurer GA the 18th dav of Decem-
Der Is TO- there was on hand belonging to the
general fund more than 1JloOO. so that the
last administration had some money with
which to commence business. The present adj
ministration will be compelled To face the situ-
alton with "a trensu nv practically empty.
There was on hand December - 1898 a little
more than 5000 or Il 50OJ less than two years
before; but the small balance on hand l. not
tue worst A large indebtedness, is turned over
for payment A great number OF officers and en-
ployeS under the last administration claim that
the legislature neglected 10 make q sufficient
appropriation for the pawn mt Of their salaries,
and have presented their demands for Il large
balance, and this, together with the deficiency
resulting from the failure OF the last legisla-
turc to make sum stent appropriations for the
payment Of the Qlantrell raid ella ms the
claims for the care OF The destitute insane and
the expenses OF the special ses sion reach the
sum OF more than ESQ JDl This will exhaust
all money now In the treasury and leave de-
hciency OF more than fl0J001 confronting the
new administration. This condition renders IL
almost certain that b fore funds can be de-
rived from n new TAX levy the money received
under the cd one will ptil out uad the obi
cations Of the state will again b. Il .Shonored
The credit OF the state is too important to be
impaired. IN tn neglect to inset thi legiti-
hhlc utlHauuN ulut upon II, even Tor a uay,
aft acts its credit
This whole difficulty could be relieved II the
several assessors thronghout the state would
make any reasonable attemat % comply with
the law. The law requires that all property
shalt be assessed at It's true vau'. aud vet IL Is
we'll known fact that each year tho assessors
meet in their respective counties to devise
plans by which this provision o, the statute
an be violated h,rJe asSasSrnent and a
small Ievv Is preteraols 10 small assessment
and large levy. This being so, IL is dinicut
to understand why assessors persist in dsre-
garding the plain statutory requirements above
mentioned. l suggest that the law be amended
In two particulars: First, fixing u penalty for
violation OF the law requiring the assessment
of property at It's true value; second, giving
the state board OF equalization the right to
raise the aggregate assessed va. ne OF property.
II these fail the state levy must be raised.
Convict Labor
The employment OF convcts should be at the
basis OF good prison management X ieping
prisoners in Id eness would certainly be at
tended with disastrous results. 10 put the
product Of convict labor on the open market In
competition with free LABOR would be unjust
and TO the greatest possible extent should be
avoided; but even such competition would