Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1903-01-22

been filed with this board since its or
1902 202 cases. besides a large number Of
complaints of minor importance that were
not filed and taken up formally, but
were adjusted to the satisfaction OF the
complainarits. OF the 202 cases filed and
docketed. 152 have been settled by trial
and judgment or by compromise and ad-
justment between the parties to the ac-
ton through the recommendations OF the
board thirteen have been dismissed for
for want OF prosecution, leaving twenty
nine cases pending and unsettled.
the 159 cases that have been tried and
settled. log have been favorable to the
complainants and forty-six TO the re-
spondentss No appeals have been taken
from the findings and judgments of this
No. A, the case of The Shawnee Milling
Company ct al. VS., The Atchison; Topeka
& Santa Fe, was brought before the dis
trict court OF Douglas county. Kansas,
and the judgment of that court sustained
the findings and judgment Of this board.
The Kansas City-Leavenworth Railway
Company, an interurban railroad operat-
ing by electricity in and between the
cities of Leavenworth and Kansas City,
Kan. carries both freight and passengers,
and crosses at grade the tracks of other
railroads. operated by steam. This road,
and all other interurban roads doing
business as common carriers and operated
by electricity. in my Judgment. should
be placed under the jurisdiction OF this
board.
The relations between the railroads and
telegraph companies are so intimate and
close that in some cases jurisdiction over
the telegraph companies is necessary in
order to get full and satisfactory adjud-
the board feels that the telegraph COM
panies OF the state should be placed I'M
der its Jurisdiction. and this recommenda-
worthy so Of Ay Your a Careful Consideration.
The report required by law to be made
by. this board is intended largely for the
islature. to show the doings of the board
and the efficiency of the law. and, as the
legislature meets biennially, would re-
spectfully recommend an amendment
making the report of this board biennial
instead of annual. as the law now pro-
vides.
GRAIN INSPECTION DEPARTMENT.
AT the last session of the legislature the
grain inspection laws were changed from
fees to a salary basis. There have been
inspected and weighed by the department
in the past twenty months. ZIG, 400 cars of
grain. at a cost to the state Of $61 ,277. SO,
and the department has turned into the
state treasury $62 1924 leaving a bal.
ance to the credit Of the department of
81, 7O4. SO.
The work at the different stations has
been done in a generally satisfactory man.
ner. In the past two years the depart
men has had less work to do than usual
In 1901 we had an almost total failure
of the corn crop. and In 1902 the wheat
still, in spite of this fact, the department
has been self-sustaining. With a normal
crop of all grains. a substantial profit
would come to the state.
The Weighing department at Kansas
City has been hampered by a lack of ap-
preparation, necessitating a smaller force
than was needed to the increased amount
of work properly. / would suggest a
larger appropriation, so that the work
could be done thoroughly, If necessary,
making a small increase Of the fee
charged to meet the increased expense.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The dictates of humanity suggest gen.
erous appropriations for the support of
the charitable institutions of the state,
and it is very gratifying to me to be able
to say that l believe each one of the
institutions under the control of the
Board of Trustees of State Charities and
Corrections is in good condition and has
been maintained during the last admin
istration without deficit. For your
guidance and information as to the needs
of each of the institutions under the con-
troll of this board | refer you to their
thirteenth biennial report.
L especially urge your attention to the
Parsons State Hospital. The last legis-
lature having reappointed the lapsed APP
preparation of 1899 for the establishment
of a hospital at Parsons, the board has
proceeded to the work of erecting an in
stitution in compliance with the law.
After careful investigation of the sub
ject, they have decided to make the Par
sons institution one wholly for the treat
ment of epileptics. Several other states
have provided themselves with institu-
lions of this character with very salts
factory and humane results. the re-
movaE of. the insane epileptics from the
other state hospitals is most desirable,
and 1t is believed will prove beneficial
both to the epileptics and the other in
sane. i believe. therefore, the recon-
mendation of the board in reference to
this institution is worthy of careful con-
sideration. and that the making of the
Parsons institution an asylum for cpl
leptics will be humane and progressive
movement.
You will also note that the board is
tons; also increased water supply, bolL
for sanitation and fire protection. The
reasons given for these requests seem
excellent and the improvements neces-
sary. "
Certain repairs and improvements are
set forth in detail in the thirteenth BIZ
ennial report of the directors and warden.
L specially call your attention to the
need of new ward for the women pris-
oners. also for the appropriation for
The legislature of 1901 authorized the
purchase or lease of additional coal lands
for the of the state, but no appro-
priation was made for the purpose OF
making either. the purchase or lease; but
chase OF what is known as Staigers
island, tract of land containing S44 '2-3
acres. The deeds conveying this land to
the state have been executed and are
now in escrow in the Leavenworth Ma
tional bank. subject to the approval of
the Legislature. l invite your Afternoon
especially to this matter.
The parole law for convicts of the state
penitentiary, a development of the condi-
tional pardon rule inaugurated by GOV
ernor Stanley during his first term, is in
successful operation, IS shown by the
reports on file. 1t was an experiment In
this state; but in many other her states states;
years, it may be said to have passed the
experimental stage, especially In Ohio an
Minnesota. 1t is now recognized by ex-
I v1~faA mo CaT .
in prison discipline and as means
through which young men. especlaily
those who are serving their first terms
in the penitentiary. can be saved from
following life of crime.
The defect. however, in the present
system of granting paroles In this state
able adjustment OF the method through
which it is put in operation. 1t shouid
be based upon a merit system The parole
should come from list of eligibles, on
grades which the prisoner attains through
his own efforts. This would place the
friendless inmate upon the same footing
| with the one favored by friends. and
influence from the outside. DO not
mean to allege that, under the present
working of the parole law, this latter
GLASS has been Intentionally permitted TO
| enjoy it's benefits, but in the very nature
| of things they are so favored, for the in
| fuences which they have are able to take
up their respective cases and present
| them, while the friendless and unknown
| man is without these opportunities.
board OF directors difO WdiOch VI
| penitentiary, under the rules of a merit
| system to be devised by the legislature,
| are best qualified to place the names IN
| the respective grades and classes, through
| which grades and classes the inmates
| could reach the eligible list. and from
| which list the governor could parole L
would suggest such legislation as may be
| necessary to meet these requirements.
| The Irvine plant at the penitentiary, IN
| view of the inexperience of those charged
with it's conduct, has achieved reason
| able degree of success, and I believe
should be maintained upon its present
| basis: and suggest that the profits
| the plant be set aside until $4,000 is ac-
| cumulated, this fund to be used to pro-
| tect the revolving fund from loss. should
| any occur, which is liable to happen even
| under the most careful business manage
ment. -
There are 1909 prisoners in the peni-
| tantiaru Of Uhom DIG are from Oklahoma