Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-01-16

New Executive Suggests Needed
Laws for the State.
Much Space Devoted To Taxation and an
EquitabIe Statute Cover Present
His Ii Urged-Handiing of
state Funds.

State Funds.
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 13.-Willis Josh
IA 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 her I'M
suspected possibilities, as revealed by
eacn passing year, the basis Of the states
material prosperity must be her agri-
culture-the utilization of her soils won
derfui fertility and the, favoring climate.
That Kansas with mer comparatively
sparse population. already leads all
otner 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
t ma 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 combsned. BIG 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,
In methods of practical helpfulness. the
thoroughness and reliability of it's sta
tistical work. and the high order of it's
publications, has rendered an invaluable
service to the growth and DEVELOPMENT
OF the agricultural interests of the state.
The nigh standard of the work done I'M
der the administration of the present
secretary justifies such appropriations as
are necessary to maintain the usefulness
OF the board The opportunities afford
ed the state for needed agricultural exc
perimentation by the possession of the
Fort Hays land make judicious such APP
preparations as are necessary to establish
and equip the work there on q proper
ha
past two years 1t has been well demGn-
strated that portions of state are
adapted to the production of sugar beets
yielding largely in tonnage and sugar
content. TSae last legislature provided
Tor the payment of a bounty of 81 per
ton on all sugar beets grown in Kan
sasnGp the Yeas 1901 and 1902. containing
not less than II per cent. OF sugar and
actually used in the manufacture of
sugar. The advisability of providing such
a bounty on sugar beets GROWN in the
ensuing two years will be for the legis- |
1ature to determine.
! HORTICULTURE.
1 would impress upon you the impor- |
lance ofa encouraging this important in |
dustry; an industry that elevates our |
rural communities, creates love Of |
home. and induces the boys to stay on |
the farm: Under the educational infiu- |
ence of the department of horticulture,
the orchardi&Gs of the state have, in the |
last decade, planted 5,7S4.495 apple trees,
-enth9to ranking fourth. an increase in |
ten years of nearly 100 per cent. The |
rStotal of frusS trees and grape v1aes Is :
quite 25.0O0.0O0 in our state. The off,
GERS of this department are chosen by |
the practical horticultur8ts for their |
long experience and ability. I recon-
mend such appropriations 'aG may be nee
essary to carry on the work OF this So
-ciety. a
EDUcATI&N
AS result of the general prosperity
of the state. there Is marked Increase
in the attendance at each of our safe
educational i2stitutions-the university,
the agricultural college and the state
normal school, I would respectfully res +
tommend for each of these institutions
such appropriations as in your Judgment |
may be necessary to maifetain them uponsl
a plane commensurate with the growth
and Development of the state. I believe
that the law should prGyide for the6l
charging of nominal incidelgAl OF tut
} ton fee at our educational institutions.
Especially do I think it unjust to the
taxpayers of our states that pupils from |
other states can attend our state educa-
tional Institutions free of cost, as Is now |
done. In the three institutions 70 our |
state. there are now enrolled 169 pu-
pills from other states. Independently |
no cost to them.
There is a universal sentiment among |
the teacb8rs and educators Of the state |
that the salarya the state superAptend- |
ent should be increased from $2,OOO9 to |
g. 5000 Is is claimed the salary Of this |
official should be equal to that OF secre- /
tary of state S@lte treasurer. state aud
ito3 and attorney general This ciasgn
seems TO me but just.
Repeated efforts have been made In re-
cent years to impr@ve our compulsory |
attendance law. 1t Is conceded that our
presen6 compulsory allegiance law Is
weak in many respects, and should be |
strengthened. The state has the same |
right to enforce attendance at school |
no fn
for the support of schools. 1t is wise I
economy for the st6te9to enact such |
8lsgws as will asnable school authorities to |
enforce attendance at school The boy !
upon the s@reetoin many cases becomes |
the dangerous citfZSn at the stste.
The people Nf KaAsas will juSttsy LID |
eral appropriation for the educational ex- |
hibit at the st. Louis exposition Kansas
has splendid school systemyaand 1t Will |
be great credit to to secure g worthy |
display at the st. LOUIS exhibit of our |
educational resources. Our pussiic schooi |
system is Che greatest heritage that the
founders of our commonwealth have De-
oueathed unto US, and 1t should be pre-
served and enlarged by wise and con-
sentative legislation.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
The dictates of humanity suggest gen |
@erous appropriations for the support 9of |
the charitable institutions OF the state, |
and 1t Is very gratifying to me TO be
able to say that I 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 Ind information to the needs |
of each of the institutions under the con- I
troll of this board. I refer you to their |
thirteenth biennial report I especially |
cali your attention to the Parsons state |
hospital The last legislature having re- |
appropriated the lapsed appropriation of |