Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-01-17

would place the friendless inmate upon
the same footing with the one favored
by friends and influence from the out
side. would suggest such legislation as
| may be necessary to meet these require
| ments.
| The Irvine plant at the penltontiary, in
view of the ineXperience of those charged
with its conduct, has achieved n reason
able degree OF success. and l believe
| should be maintained upon the present
basis; and suggest that the profits OF the
plant be set aside until $4,000 is accum-
ulated. this fund to be used to protect
the revolving fund from loss should any
| occur. which is liable to happen even
under the most careful business manage
ment
KANSAS STATE SOLDIERS HOME.
This home was founded upon the pa
trlotic sentiment that 1t was the duty
Of the state to provide for the INDECENT
soldier of the civil war and his family.
/ believe the home and It's affairs are In
splendid condition. but ] call the atten-
ton of the legislature to the very i'm
portant need of fire protection at this in
stitution.
STATE BANKS.
The report of the bank commissioner
shows the institutions under the control
of this department as being In excellent
condition. Perhaps nothing more clearly
indicates the prosperous condition Of our
people that a comparison OF the state
ments made by our banks under the OFF,
cial call in 1900 and again in 1902. Com
parison made between the calls of Sep
TENDER /. 1900. and November rs, 1902,
shows the total number of banks under
state supervision at this time is All,
a gain of SO banks In two years. The to-
tai capital is now 81. 200. an increase Of
sl.13S.0O0 during the same period The
total surplus Is now $1.769. T01S6. gain
Of $419. 1914. The total deposits are now
$40. 135, 176.5s, gain of $S.5OS.Si1H. The
total loans are now s32. SS5 0i6.9S, an in
crease of $11.O7221l.42. The cash and sight
exchange Qegal reserve) at this time
Is Sl5.352, 451.4i. or 3S.25 per cent. of the
entire deposits. showing the banks Of the
state are upon a safe and conservative
basis.
HANDLING OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
believe that the law should be so
amended that county treasurers, when
they remit any funds to the state treas
urer, should be required to notify the
state auditor of the amount repitted.
and the auditor. upon receiving such
notice, should be required to charge the
treasurer with such amount. And. would
further recommend that our laws be so
amended that the accounts of the state
fiscal agency and the state despositories
be kept with the auditor of state and
state treasurer in a more businesslike
manner. Under the present law. neither
the state fiscal agency nor the state de-
positories are required to report to the
auditor Of state.
/ find from the record kept of the ex-
aminations made by the board of the
state treasury for the year 1902, that the
average amount of funds in the fiscal
agency during said year was S51,390. I
also find that the state has a contract
with the state fiscal agency whereby the
agency pays the state two per cent. on
the average of daily balances Of state
funds in said agency. which for 1902
would amount to $1.021.S0. I also find from
the records of said board that the average
amount deposited in Topeka banks. the
same being state repositories. for the
year 1902. was $4S1, 27269. II the New York
bank which is the fiscal agency can pay
two per cent. on the average daily bal
ances, II occurs to me that the banks Of
Kansas will be willing to pay the same.
Two per cent. on the average deposits
In the Topeka banks for 1902 would
amount to $9.625.45. I also find from the
of said board that the average
amount of money in the state treasury
and In the Topeka banks as state de-
positories for the year 1902 amounted to
s76S. S1l. This amount. at two per cent.
on average daily balances would net the
state SIS, 376.22 per annum. 1t seems to me
that business prudence and the public
welfare demand that some change. such
as suggested herein. be made In the hand |
% ukak snhc II a
II these suggestions are en-
acted into law. that the bond Of the state
treasurer be reduced to one-half its pres |
emit sum, the bond to be made by some |
surety company and paid for out Of the |
profits accruing to the state upon the |
daily balances as suggested In this rec
ACCOUNTING OF MON
EYS.
I would recommend that the legislature |
enact such laws as will forever abolish |
trading and trafficking In the marketable
from the various state in |
,titutions At every institution, educa-
tional or otherwise. where any money |
IS received from any source, or where
my commodity Is sold. 1t should be sold
Tor cash, and the cash paid at the end
If each month to the state treasurer.
would also suggest that all public mon
.ys received from any of the sources
mentioned at any of the state institu-
ions. after being paid to the state treas
Irer. be reapportioned or at once placed
o the account of said institution.
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
The subject of taxation is one of the
most important that will engage your at
ention. For many years 1t has been gen.
rally conceded that our present tax law
5 insufficient for present conditions. crude
md inequitable In its operation. Framed
A years ago. when Kansas was from
Ter state and all Its property visible and
.asy of assessment. II Is now imperfect.
md wholly inadequate to meet the
hanged conditions of society. The expen-
es of government tend to increase much
aster than population. so that the per
apita of taxation In this, as In all other
tates, constantly increases. but the bur-
lens remain where they were placed when
he state was new. on real estate and
'isible personal and railroad property.