The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-11
Prohibition.

For IS years the prohibition Of the manufac
ture and sale OF Intoxicating liquors has beer
the settled policy OF this state but the enforce
ment Of this law has been attended with indif.
ferent success. The difficulty of the situation
has been owing largely to the fact that pro-
hibition has been made political rather thar
an economic ques ton This perversion of tn;
question has resulted in such a condition tina
I in Kansas prohibition and temperance are no
synonymous The misfortune OF prohibition il
that it has largely been made 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 IL
Kansas demonstrated that, as purely politica
question, it has about run its course. As al
economic question it is entitled to a much NOR,
serious consideration, and ought to command
our earnest attention As the law now stands
it is hardly profitable to discuss whether pro
hibitiOR IS wise or unwiss. Many OF our hes
citizens differ on this proposition. but prohibi
ton is the policy OF our state part Of on
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 diferent methods should be resorted
to for the enforcement Of it is idle The talk
that II should be disregarded and that oficers
Suoulu GaCAIlys II openly consent TO It's NlOla-
ton, is vicious. All laws should have an honest
enforcement, the prohibitory law no more and
no less than other laws, and the present admin
fstration stands squarely and unequivocally in
favor OF the enforcement Of all laws, the pro-
hibltory law IN no wise excepted.
Insurance.
Our insurance laws afford ample protection
to our people and their honest enforcement is
much to be desired The law gives the COM
missioner 10 RIGHT RI axe pyaro50a ton ~
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 SolFency OF such companies and the wisdom
OF permitting them 10 DO business in this state.
No fixed charge IS provided for this service
and no report Of such examination is required
10 be flied The law should fix the charges for
such examinations aud require fun reports OF
al examinations TO be made and fled. 1hat the
public msy have some knowledge of the char
aeter 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 iusur-
ance 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. I heartily concur in the
Recommendation Of the commissioner that
building and loan associations within the state
be placed under the control Of that depart
ment. and that outside associations be re-
quired to give security for the protection OF
Kansas investors as a condition precedent TO
doing business in the state. The commissioner
also recommends the creation OF guarantee
fund for the protection Of bank depositors Ma
one thing connected with the business Of bank
ing would be more desirable than some pro-
vision irtrr AZ Of 40,
plan proposed is new, IL may be practical
commend is 70 y our careful consideration
Public Funds.
The law provides that the state funds shall
be kept in the vaults Of the treasurer and a
compliance with this law results in the accu-
mutation Of large sums OF money, ST times
reaching nearly million o. dollars II con-
siderable portion Of this fund could be placed
IN private banks throughout the state al tbs
pest rate OF interest obtainabls, &c would result
IN the double advantage Of keeping large sums
OF money in circulation that would otherwise
lie idle and increasing she state revenues TO the
extent OF the interest obtained.
Deticiency
Zach administration has beeR reluctant to
raise tie levy for state taxes over that Of pre-
oedinE Administrations and numerous devices
and SubterfugeS have been urscttced 70 kean
WITHIN ths !lIit OF former tevies and Stil rect
the ever-iucreasinK expenses Of our public in
stltations The last administration reduc,5
the levy from - 20 ! Ia undoubtedly unon the
theory that such levy would raise sur1cient
revenue 70 meet current expenses: but this
levg |sS insufficient - raise the REQUIRED
funds, and long before the Close q the term
the payment = warrants was refused bv
the state treasurer On the SSH DAY Of Deem
Der, 1875, there Tas On hand belonging 10 the
general fund more than $50 90: 50 tsst tAe
last administration had some money with
which 70 commence business The present ad-
ministrstion Eiu De compelled 70 face the situ-
alton with treasuarv Practically empty
There was o. hand December = Ises. 2 litrle
more than $500 OF EI5s o3o less than two years
before but tie snail balance on hand is not
the worst 4 large Indebtedness i turned over
for payment A great nun Ger OF officers and en-
pioyes under the last administration cain thai
the Legislators neglected 10 make . sufficient
Appropriated for the payment OF their salaries,