The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-12


this law in cities Of tn, f1rst class and many
honest and vigorous attempts have been made
BY some Of my predecessors to accomplish this
purpose, These attempts have In large meas
ure resulted In failure, and Whatever may be
the reason tho failure has been larRe1y IT
tribured to the metropolitan police system
Without discussing the reasons It may be
stated rs fact that the metropolitan police
system has been failure, and In more recent
years . scandal and disgrace. The influence
Of these failures hiss TO . certain extent reached
many other communities, so that 1t this time
the prohibitory law Is not successfully en-
forced The metropolitan police system has
failed to meet the expectations Of its friends
and its abolition meets with my approval The
end Of this system will place the enforcement
of this Law in the hands OF the people through
the judges, county attorneys sherins and con-
stables elected by them. A reasonable number
of citizens in any community can secure tho
enforcement OF any Law with reasonable GER
tainty.
Ihave great faith in the people. The aboli-
ton OF the Metropolitan police system leaves
the enforcement Of the prohibitory law, like
other laws in their hands, through the agency
Of the local officers, and there am willing to
leave it for an honest trial
Insurance.
Our insurance laws afford ample protection to
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
by his agents, for the purpose Of determining
the solvency Of such companies and the wis
dom Of permitting them to do business in the
state. No hxed charge is provided for this SER
vice and no report Of such examination Is re-
Quired to be fled. The law should tx the
nI~ for Sp,Ch
full reports Of all such examinations to be made
and filed, that the public may have some
knowledge Of the character and result Of such
examinations. All insurance companies, or
ders and societies Of any kind doing insurance
business in this state should be placed under
the charge Of the insurance department
Banks.
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. l heartily concur in the rec
ommendation of the commissioner that build
ing and loan associations, within the state, be
placed in the control Of the department, and
that outside associations be required to give
security for the protection Of Kansas invest
ors as condition precedent to doing business
in the state. The commissioner also recon-
mends the creation of a guarantee fund for the
protection of bank depOsitors- No one thing
connected with the buiness Of banking would
ing the safety OF depositors. The plan pro-
posed is new. it may be practical. 1 commend
it to your careful consideration.
A Deficiency.
Each administration has been reluctant to
raise the levy for state taxes over that OF pre-
ceding administrations, and numerous devices
and subterfuges have been practiced 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 and
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, and long
before the close of the term the payment Of
warrants was refused by the state treasurer.
On the 18th day Of December. 1896. there was on
hand belonging to the general fund more than
$40 1000; SO that the last administration hal
some money with which to commence business
The present administration will be compelled
to face the situation with treasury practically
empty. There was on hand December e, 1885.
q little more than $4,000 or $4,000 less than
two years before: but the small balance on
hand Is not the worst. A large Indebtedness Is
turned over for payment.
A great number of officers and employees
under the last administration claim that the
legislature neglected to make suffi lent appro-
priations for the payment OF their salaries and
have presented demands for large balance.
and this, together with the deficiency resulting
from the fail ure Of the last Is legislature to make
sufficien: appropriations for the payment OF the
Ouantrell raid claims, the claims for the care
of the destitute insane and the expenses OF the
special session. reach the sum OF more than
3l5OOOO which will exhaust all money now In
the treasury and leave u deficiency OF more
than slO), OOJ confronting the new administra-
ton.
This condition renders it almost certain that
before funds can be der ved from new tax
levy the money received und,r the old one Will
paid out and the obligations OF the state will
again be dishOnOred. The credit Of the state IS
Of too much importance to be impaired. and the
neglect to meet the legitimate demands made
upon it. even for day affects its credit Inc
care Of our public institutions is necessarily
growing more expensive. TIE state must nave
larger revenues. know Of only two ways TO
raise them; one by increasing the assessment,
the other by raising the levy. All OF the de-
partments and institutions Of the state should
be conducted with the strictcSt economy con-
sistent with efficiency, and no one can purchase
rs cheaply as prompt paymaster.
This whole difficulty could be relieved II the
several assessors throughout the state would
make auy HoaSOn0D.e attempt 10 COupiy WIN
the law The law requires that all property |
shall be assessed at its true value. and yet 1t Is
\ well known fact that each year the assessors |
meet in their respective counties to devise |
plans by which this provision OF the statute |
can be violated. A large assessment and !
small levy is preferable to 4 small assessment
and large levy This being SO, it IS difficult
TO understand why ASSESSORS persist in dlsre- |
Rardiag the plain statutory requirements above
referred to.
suggest that the Law be amended In two
particulars: First. fixing penalty for vio-
Iation of the law requiring the assessment OF
property at its true 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.
Useless OmceA
There are several ofYices which think could
be abolished without loss to the public service |
they are the Board Of Pardons State Account |
MS Forestry Commissioner and Labor Com |
missioner. Whatever may have been the OBJ |
.ct of the Board Of PardOns. 1t no longer |
serves useful purpose; for through this board |
he granting Of pardons has degenerated into
m abuse The law creating this board should |
be repealed. am inclined to think that the |
purpose of the Law creating the ONCE OF state |
was q wise one. but the admtnlstra- |
lion of the ON - has not me-: tbs expectations
- e.. %-;ouds The o1ce has been OF small ser. 4