The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-08

some law be passed to give the sanction
of the law to this system.
STATE INDUSTRIAL REFORM
ATORY.
Some changes have been made in the
methods of the state Industrial reform
atory which have very greatly improved
the character of that institution. The
parole system has been in operation
there for years, and, under the manage
ment of the present board and superin-
tendent, much good lis being accomplished.
Since the last meeting of the leg1s-
lature, the supreme court has decided
that a person convicted of a felony ana
sentenced TO confinement in the state
industrial reformatory is deemed to be
infamous and incompetent to testify
as a witness in a criminal case unless
the judgment of conviction has been re-
versed or a pardon granted. Under this
decision, nearly all of the prisoners con-
fined in that institution and discharged
from time to time by the board of man
ayers, are not by that act restored to
citizenship, and are incompetent to tes-
tify in criminal cases, and have IN
several instances followed a discharge
by the board. with a pardon, for the
purpose of restoring citizenship, In my
judgment, there should be a law provid-
ing that final discharge by the board
Of managers should restore the person
so discharged to his civil rights
ONE BOARD FOR PENAL INsTI-
TUTIONs.
1 recommend that the law creating a.
board of directors of the penitentiary
and a board of managers of the reform
atory, be repealed, and that one board
of three members be created to have
supervision of both of these institutions.
In this way the board would receive the
benefit of the suggestions and exper-
fence of both the warden and the super
intendent, and the desirable features in
prison management that might exist IN
either of the institutions would be avail
able to both. In case of the creation Of
a single board, 1 would suggest that not
more than two members be selected
from the same political party.
STATE SOLDIERS HOME
The State Soldiers Home was intend
ed to afford a home to the soldiers and
sailors Of the civil war, when they We're
no longer able to provide for themselves
This was in accord with the patr1otic
sentiment that no survivor of the civil
war who in the days of his strength
gave himself to his cOuntry's service in
the defense of her institutions, should
remain uncared for in his hour OF need
The state has very wisely attempted TO
provide a home for this class of our
citizens, when, on account of the in
ability and infirmity that comes in LIES
declining years, they find themselves
unable to make provision for themselves.
The number demanding admission TO
the Soldiers Home is increasing rapidly,
and during the last two years many who
ought to have been admitted have been
turned away because sufficient provision
had not been made for their accommo-
dation Those now in the Home are
well fed and well cared for.
The board of managers suggest an in
creased appropriation for the purpose
of erecting additional cottages to sup
ply the increasing demands upon that
institution, and recommend that their
request be granted. A few years more
will mark the discharge of the last Of
these sacred obligations, but while they
- or
it's means than to amply provide for the
survivors of the civil war.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
The laws creating the "court of visi-
tation'' having been declared unconstl-
tutional, and the act relating to the
board of railroad commissioners having
been repealed, it remains for the present
legislature to enact a law creating a
board with all the powers possible with
in the limits of the constitution, enab-
ling it to adjust rates of transported ton
within the state and to settle and ad-
Just all differences arising between the
railroads and shippers, and such other
questions as may from time to time
arise in the operation OF the railroads. as
common carriers and their relation as
such to the people
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
The insurance department is in most ex-
cellent condition For two years the busl-
ness of this department has been con-
| Quoted on business principles, and there
| has been paid into the state treasury from
this source larger sum than at any pre-
vious time for a like period. The rate of
premiums has been decreased, so that in
| the aggregate there has been saved to the
policy holders of the state during the IN
| cumbency of the present superintendent,
by this decrease alone, more than halt a
The amount of taxes and fees from
companies doing business in the state re-
ceived during the incumbencyo OF CT the pres
ent administration will be $250,000
The law relating to the examination of
power given to the superintendent in max
| ing examinations arbitrary The present
| of that law, and 1 most heartily join in
his recomme ndation. The law should be
| amended. fixing the charge to be made
| by the examiners to be PAID py the IN,
surance companies, the fees so received
should be turned over TO the STATE Treas
| urer, and a report OF sueh exaInlnat ms
should be filed with the superintendent Of
insurance which, at all times, should be
To provide for the expense of such ex-
annlnations, an approprla5tlon sh9ulo DC
made, to be expended under the dlrectl0n
! of the superintendent In this way, the
/ charges for examinati ton would be fixed
and certain, and both the public and the
! insurance companies would be informed
A number OF nreS lnrcuShout the coun-
| try are the work of incendiaries. It is
important that reasonable measures be
taken to prevent such nres- me people
| are Interested in protective measures. as
such fires often occur in business portions
| of q town or city. and are easlly com
municated to other buildings. The insur-
anee companies are interested, as every
loss by fire upon insured stock or
building is a loss to the companies car
rying the risk. A state fire marshal,
whose duties it would be TO trace the
| origin of fires and, in case of incendiarism,
/ be charged with the prosecution of the
| guilty persons ought to do much to dt-
/ Tninfsh the loss from this source.
OIL INSPECTION.
Near the close Of the last session Of the
| Legislature, an act relating to the inspec-
ton of oils was passed, which was crude
and imperfect in its provisions, but con-
| tanned many advantag es over the old law.
and provided also for the inspection Of
/ gasoline. This act provides for a test Of
| the safety, rather than the quality. of oil
| inspected, and oil may pass the requisite
test, although of very poor quality.
The receipts for the inspection of oils
/ have been IN excess of the expenditures
| of the DEPARTMENT and the surplus Of such