The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-01-23
the aspessor. found but IS. ooO, GOO for tax.

alton, ana the JOtal assessment VI per-
sonai property was but $o7.OU0,OOO. or
$1,000 less than our holdings OF money
alone. AS In 1873, the farmer, the small
nome owner, the possessur or real estate
and the owner OF visible personal prop
erty, such as the stookman and me rcnant,
pay five-sixths OF the tax, and the rail-
roads pay the rest.
Besiues TINS, there are glaring IN
equallJles between the assessment IN al
joining counties, ana consequent Unequal
lties IN the burden OF both state ana
county government.
these INEQUALITIES and injustices have
attracted the attention of our lawmaking
power for many years, and many at
Lempts have been made to ADJUST the
law TO new conditions, out the brief time
allowed by the session has prevented Il
comprehensive and satisfactory plan; ana
80 thoroughly has Ih!s been proven that
the session OF 1901 adopted the plan Whicn
has been followed with success in most OF
the Northern and western states IN re-
cent years, of State Tax COMMISSION.
The comm .ssion consisted of representa-
tives of both houses and certain state Oh
ficcrs, and was empowered TO SIT III va
cation and prepare a new tax law. The
attention OF the commission was called
to the evils above rected, and II was
particularly directed to provlde for the
fuller assessment of personal property.
The commission so constituted has ex-
pended much time and thought upon
bill and report which will be submitted to
you 1t has collected large amount OF
information investigated the laws of
other states and their operation, ana us
conclusions and the information 1t has
obtained will be of value to you in con-
sidering this subject. without comment
ing upon the bill prepared or assuming
to pass any opinion upon its merits, 1
invite your earnest attention to Its var
ious features, with the sincere hope that
you will not permit the work OF the COM
mission to be lost by failure to act In
this matter and that you will be able,
starting with their work, to formulate
law that WIN bring upon the taX-roils the
vast amount of personal property that
now escapes, thereby tightening the pur-
den borne by the farmer, the home owner;
the merchant. and all who own real
estate and visible personal property
LOUISIANA PURCHASE CEN ENNlAL
EXPOSITION.
For the purpose OF exhibiting the re-
sources and showing to the world the
ot our state, the louisiana Purchase
Centennial Exposition Commission or
Kansas was created by an, act OF the
last Legislature, and directed 10 assume
and exercise all powers necessary to Sc
cure a com plete and creditabie display OF
the interests of the state at the interna-
tional exposition to be held at st. Louis
in 1903, and to select a size ana erect
thereon buildings for such display.
This commission pressing the fact tnat
Kansas was the first state TO make an
appropria ton, succeeded In securing one
of the best sites awarded to any state;
The collection of exhibits had begun and
plans and specifications Tor pulioihs
are being considered
Such appropriations should be made as
will enable kansas to assume her place
of proper eminence at this exposition and
to present display which Will be an IN
ducement to investment in ana lmmlSra-
ton to this portion of the territory coy
cred by the Louisiana purchase. Inc
postponement of the exposition until 1904
will necessitate such amendments 10 the
law as are necessary to meet the chahseo
conditions. .,,,,<
Tho report of the commissioner OF labor
Is a collection of data with special ref
erence to the industrial interests OF the
state. Certain legislation IL recommended
concerning labor that l believe worthy oi
your consideration, especially that refer
ring to the prohibition of child labor I'M
der the age of fourteen years In factories
and workshops, except under certain con-
ditions prescribed by law; also, JUST
and equitable arbitration and concilia-
ton law, in order to better protect the
Industrial interests OF the state asalHst
the disastrous effects OF lohB-orawh-ooue
strikes, and at the same time guarantee
Justice and fairness to employer ana EN-
ployee. o,-.nn
recommend a just and liberal sup
mort of the organized militia of the state.
it Is composed of nearly l.400 young nieh'
who give their services to the state VIII VIII
out compensation, except during the Drlei
period while IN attenudICe DIT lHe ei'hNt'i
encampment The general government Is
liberal in supplying all needed equipment
the expense devolvins upon the STAT oe
ing for the maintenance OF the orSahlze1
companies and batteries. Inc annual
appropriations made by the government
10 Kansas for equipments amount 10
sol 24l.S2, but 1t is contingent Oh en
organization and support OF suliueleiii
militia The government has awakened
10 the necessity of revision OF the on on
soIete national militia laws, ana p.ii
now pending in Congress makes sun more
liberal provisions for the SUPPORT b baf are
Congress becames law, 1t VIII De neces-
sary to amend the state militia ACT 70
harmonize it with certain provisions Oh
the national law s,iont
militia. and | trust the state or Kansas
will cooperate with the nationai soH
eminent in all efforts toward III P',e
ment and will literally aid the move
ments tending to the development ol the
National Guard o,,r,r,y
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The State Historical society lh NV . pio
vided with satisfactory accommodatiohhs s
for the care and proper eXhiolt OF tne
collections showing the trials anu accon,,
plishments of our people in creating lis
splendid commonwealth. NO state mas
bsd n more Inspiring history; and now
that the work of the society Is IN oruer
it is a source of qualification tnat 49,
support by the legislature mus al" ,S,s
Al
natriotic service to individual enort. Al
Kansans should be proud of the socicty
and its work and l heartily coniinenu a.
to the legislature for continued consul
Grafton and libcrality. A proper cataiosu-
ing of the collecting has been reasoL
ablv well kept up, and l would sussess
that. upon it's completion, catalosus "a
the Kansas portion, at least, be puplshTu,
that 1t may be more avaliapie u 'He
general pubic. ,,>,,,,>,-
call your attention to the lavish Wasu Nc
of the public money in the printAl5 VI
Useless and unnecessary pubic uocu-
nents. The law, in many instances, prs
vides for the publishing or reports AM ~.
documents far beyond and DEMAND OF
necessity. and, as result the st ViE
rooms OF the capitol building are rupluIl
fSlIinR up with this matter that IS WoIsc
than useless. / am sure a careIul lnsP LII
zion OF this accumulated materlal WI
convinee any legislator Of the Necessary
of reform along this line, ,>-,p,orSrS
ME FISH AND GAME IN Ely i-o a .,
recommend that the FISH ano san,e
| interests OF the state be put under ONT
nontrol and that laws be made nlore
STRINGENT for the preservation OF ooth
same and fish. and that the power "a
| The warden and his deputies pc eniaree ,.
60 that they can more ehectuaiy en-
| force the law. ,,.A hatchery
lies n