Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-01-17
THE STATES NEEDS.
Gov. Bailey Transmits a Message
to the Kansas Legislature.
He Points Out inequalities In the Present
Assessment and Taxation Laws and
Urges n Radical Revision
OF the Same.

c'Soo hhuicAi hevisiOn
OF the Same.
Topeka, Kan., Jan. 13.-Willis Josh
ma Bailey, who was inaugurated gov
! ernor of Kansas Monday, on Tuesday
delivered the following message to
the Legislature:
AGRICULTURE.
With all due recognition of the vast.
ness and Importance of her other con.
;stantly developing resources. and hGr UNI
suspected possibilities as revealed by
each passing year. the basis OF the states
material prosperity must be her agri-
'culture-the utilization of her soils won
-derful fertility and the favoring climate
That Kansas. with her comparatively
sparse population. already leads all
other states in the production of such
commodities as wheat, alfalfa and the
sorghums. and ranks with the foremost
In the output of corn, is suggestive of
her capabilities. The official statistics
indicate that. in the decade just closed,
the increase In value of farm products
has been nearly "a per cent. and of
live stock more than So per cent, or,
for all combined 3l.6 per cent. The pro-
motion and record of our farm industries
were early In the states history en-
trusted to the state board of agriculture
which fortunately from it's beginning.
I'm methods of practical helpfulness. the
thoroughness and reliability of It's sta
tistical work. and the high order of its
publications.. has rendered an invaluable
service to the growth and development
OF the agricultural interests of the state.
HORTICULTURE.
would impress upon you the impor-
tance OF encouraging this important in
dustry: an industry that elevates our
rural communities, creates Il love of
home. and induces the boys to stay on
the farm. Under the educational influ-
ence OF the department of horticulture.
the orchardists of the state have. In the
last decade. planted 5.7Sl.495 apple trees,
bringing our state up from ranking sew
enth to ranking fourth. or an increase in
ten years Of nearly 100 per cent. The
total of fruit trees and grape vines is
quite 25.O00.0O0 in our state The off,
Gers of this department are chosen by
the practical horticulturists for their
long experience and ability. l recon-
mend such appropriations as may be nee
essary to carry on the work of this So
ciety.
EDUCATION.
As a result of the general prosperity
of the state. there Is a marked increase
in the attendance at each OF our state
educational institutions-the university,
the agricultural college and the state
normal school. I would respectfully rec
ommend for each of these institutions
such appropriations as in your judgment
may be necessary to maintain them upon
a plane commensurate with the growth
and development of the state. I believe
that the law should provide for the
charging OF a nominal incidental or tut
tion fee at our educational institutions
Especially do I think 1t unjust to the
taxpayers of our state that pupils from
other states can attend our state educa-
tional institutions free Of cost. as Is now
done. In the three institutions of our
state. there are now enrolled 169 pu-
pills from other states. with practically
no cost to them.
Repeated efforts have been made In re-
cent years to improve our compulsory
attendance law. 1t is conceded that our
present compulsory attendance law 10
weak In many respects. and should be
strengthened. The state has the same
right to enforce attendance at school
that It has to enforce collection Of taxes
for the support of schools. 1t Is wise
economy for the state to enact such
laws as will enable school authorities to
enforce attendance at school. The boy
upon the street In many cases becomes
the dangerous citizen Of the state.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The dictates of humanity suggest gen.
erous appropriations for the support of
the charitable institutions OF the state.
and II Is very gratifying to me to be
able to say that I believe each one OF
the institutions under the control of the
Nf fr,tc nf
corrections is in good condition and has
been maintained during the last admin
sstration without a deficit For your
guidance and information as to the needs
of each of the institutions under the con-
troll of this board. I refer you to their
thirteenth biennial report. especially
call your attention to the Parsons state
hospital The last legislature having re-
the lapsed appropriation Of
1890 for the establishment of a hospital
at Parsons, the board has proceeded to
the work Of erecting an institution in
compliance with the law. After careful |
of the subject, they have |
decided to make the Parsons institution |
one wholly for the treatment of cpl |
7eptics. The removal of the insane |
epiIeptics from the other state hospitals |
Is most desirable. and 1t Is believed will |
prove beneficial both to the epileptics |
and the other insane. You Will note that |
the board is asking more land at some |
OF the institutions; also increased water |
supply, both for sanitation and fire pro- |
lection. The reasons given for these re- |
quests seem. excellent and the improve
ments necessary.
THE PENITENTIARY.
Certain repairs and improvements are |
needed ut the penitentiary. ! specially
call your attention to the need OF new
ward for the women prisoners, also for /
the appropriation for water supply. The
Legislature of 1901 authorized the pur-
chase or lease OF additional coal lands
Cor the use Of the state. but no appro-
Driatlon was made for the purpose Of
making either the purchase or lease; but
4 contract has been made for the pur-
chase of what Is known as Staiger's is
land. a tract Of land containing S4i %
acres.
The parole law for convicts of the state