Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-01-18
IA. KANSAS OLUNTEERS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

established to prevent cattle affected with tn.
be rcuosis being brought into the state from
districts subject to this disease.
Cattle are brought into the state from south
OF the quarantine line because their owners
wish to avail themselves Of the benefit of our
ma liets and our pastures and the statute re-
quires that all such animals be inspected 1t
seems but right that the owners OF such cattle
should pay a reasonable charge for such inspec-
ton, The Sanitary Board recommends that an
inspection fee be charged for the inspection OF
each animal. such n fee could be fixed by stat
ute, and the amount so received be turned into
the State Treasury to cover the expenses OF
such inspection.
Labor Department.
The report of the Commissioner OF Labor con-
tains May valuable suggestions, and urges the
passage of certain laws recommended by the leg
isiative com I ittee OF the Society of Lab AMI
Industry. The more important legislation
urged, is:
Second-A childabor law, prohibiting the
Employment OF children under IA years Of age
e n factories and workshops, except under Ger
tain condiLio IS prescribed by law
Third "A free emp oyment agency law, under
the control OF the Labor Bureau
An efficient organization OF the national
guard is much desired An enactment provld.
ing for an annual muster and camp OF instruc.
ton is urgently needed. There has been allotted
to Kansas, during the present state adminlstra-
ton, equipment OF the value OF SSuOOO, and at
this time There are III the state Two regiments
lery, tho oughly organized and well equipped
and disciplined.
Kansas Volunteers
Preceding the discharge OF the Twentieth
Kansas Volunteers, general desire was mani
tested throughout the state that the mem bers
of that regiment should be returned to their
homes from san Francisco without expense TO
tine members of The regiment. In compliance
with this general desire. the administration OBJ
tanned terms from the railroad companies, UNI
der when they furnished the necessary trans
porta ion, and advanced the money TO defray
The expenses Incident TO such return, with the
understanding that the next legislature would
reimburse them for the outlay. The expense OF
returning the soldiers f.om san Francisco TO
their several homes in the state Will be pre-
scented by itemized bill, and will amount, in
ought to be made to reimburse the railroad
companies for this expenditure.
The record of the Kansas volunteers In the
Spanish American war is referred TO in compli-
meltary language.
Elections.
Honesty in elections can hardly be expected
where uuplicity is openly practiced IN the
nomination OF candidates aid when the ballot 10
be cast at the eiecuon is u deception. If can
didate's name appears once upon the ballot III
gives every elector an opportunity or voting Tor
him for the ONCE which he seeks, and 1t should
appear only once. usion is a fraud and should
not be tolerated. Fusion OF principles Is I'M
possible. a law should be enacted providing
that no mans name should appear upon the
ballot more than once as candidate Tor the
same oilce.
KlOndike.
The governor vigorously denounces the Klon-
dixie near The Leavenworth soldiers home, and
says: Efforts have been made 10 suppress
these resorts, and While numerous prosecutions
have been commenced and many OF these hauntS
temporarily closed, the Efforts of the admins
trallon so far nave been attended with only IN
different success. a law making the keeping OF
intoxicating liquors, with intent TO sell the
same, within a certain distance of the home, II
misdemeanor prescribing II penalty, ard pro-
viding that The finding Of Intoxicating Liquors
i'll the possession OF any party within Such as
lance should be presumptlve evidence that the
same were kept Tor unlawful sale, might be en-
forced, and greatly assist in supprcssing the
evils which have mentioned l most earnestly
urge the enactment Of such law, with view
OF The suppression of these infamous resorts"
Assessment and Taxation.
The entire law governing assessment and
taxation should be revised. Past Legislatures
nave devoted much time TO the discussion of
needed amendments and amendments have
from time to time been made, but the assess
ment and taxation law is still unsatisfactory.
The present law provides that all property
Shall be assessed at Its actual value. Notwlrn-
standing this provision the assessors OF the
different counties meet in their respective
counties before commencing their work, and
consult as TO the best methods of avoiding this
statute. AT a recent annual meeting of the
county clerks and county treasurers OF the
state, they recommended that the present law
in regard to the assessment OF taxable property
be strictly compiled with. IL Is questionable
whether this will be done unless "a penalty is
fixed for its violation.
The limit fixed by law for the session Of the
legislature does not afford sufficient time for a
thorough revision of the tax law. Should the
legislature make provision for the appointment
OF o commission to revise the present law,
their support to be presented to the next legis-
lature, the desired purpose might be accom-
pished. In case of the appointment OF such
however
devoted to the work, and the compensation,
SHOULD be fixed by statue
Pubic Printing.
There has been great extravaganza in this de-
partment. So much so, that Notwithstanding
liberal appropriat lions have unif ,rmiy been
made for public printing there have always
been large deficiencies l recommend the SUBJ
mission of an amendment to the constitution,
providing that all pr ntng should be placed
under the direction OF the Executive Council, TO
be done under such direction and at prices to
be fixed by contract
by chapters 81 and SO, Laws of 1891, the
secretary of state, attorney general and state
treasurer are constituted printing commit
tee" a majority of such persons having power
To decide Us TO what should be printed.
Thousands of useless reports are published
every two years, many by reason or the re-
quirements of the statute. The statute requires
that the cases decided by the Supreme court
shall be prepared by the reporter and delivered
TO the state printer, who shall print and publish
1000 copies Of each volume. This require
menu or the statute Is imperative, ana tnefe are
being published at least so volumes of each
report, which are wholly unnecessary, causing
IL large accumulation of useless reports. The
law should be amended, limiting the pub
location of the supreme Court Reports to LOO,
This would furnish an ample supply. The law
should fix the maximum number OF all other
reports to be published, giving the printing
committee the power to reduce such number, II
they consider the publication Of u smaller num-
Der sufficient
The constitution provides that all public
printing shall be done by the state printer, and,
as n consequence, not only all reports, but all
blanks used by different institutions are so
printed. Printing offices have been established
at number OF the state institutions, and but
for the requirement OF the constitution above
mentioned, much of the printing could be done
at these institutions at little expense to the
state, and all Of the printing could be done
under private contract at much less than is now
paid.
strong protest is made against the passage
of special laws, Every local bill passed after
February 5. will be vetoed. A supplemental
report of estimates in detail for the appropria.
tions of the various state institutions is sub
mitted,
The message closes as follows: 1.-The present
legislature Is charged with grave responsible
ity, 1t Is quite as necessary to prevent bad as
bies which from time to time have deemed 1t
necessary to besiege the members OF the legis.
lature in the interest Of appropriations for the
several state institutions, will be absent, Others
will be here In their places. trust that in the
exercise of your wisdom you will see no impro-
priety in excluding lobbies from the floor of the
Two branches of the legislature.
The doors of the vaults of the public treasury
swing on easy hinges, but the public have con-
ulanrp wi funds