The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-13

large number OF complaints of minor
Importance that were not filed and Ia
ken up formally, but through the nego-
tiations of the board were adjusted to
the satisfaction Of the compliments. OF
the 202 cases filed and docketed. 152
have been settled by trial and judgment
or by compromises and adjustment be-
tween the parties to the action through
the recommendation OF the board. Is
have been dismissed for want of juris
diction, and seven dismissed for want
Of prosecution4 leaving % cases pending
and unsettled OF the 152 cases that
have been tried and settled. 106 have
been favorable to the compliments and
IS TO the respondents No appeals have
been taken from the findings and JudR-
ments of this board. but the question
involved in case No. A. the case of the
Shawnee Milling company ct al vs..
the Atchison, Topeka e Santa Ee was
brought before the district court of
Douglas county, Kansas and the judg-
ment of that court sustained the find
ings and judgment of this board.
The Kansas -Leavenworth Rail
way company, an interurban railroad
operating by electricity in and between
the cities of Leavenworth and Kansas
City, Kan, carries both freight and pas
sengers, and crosses at grade the tracks
of other railroads operated by steam
This road. and all other interurban
roads doing business as common car
riers 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 iurisdic-
ton over the telegraph companies is
necessary in order to get full and sat
isfactory adjudication of the issues and
for this reason the board feels that the
telegraph companies of the state should
be placed under its jurisdiction. and
this recommendation of the board. in
my judgment. is worthy of your careful
consideration.
The report required by law to be
made by this board is intended largely
for the information of the governor and
the legislature, to show the doings of
the board and the efficiency of the law.
and, as the legislature meets biennially
I would respectfully recommend an
amendment making the report of this
board biennial instead OF annual, as the
law now provides.
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 de-
partment in the past 20 months, 216. 400
! cars of grain. at a cost to the state of
SOL ,27756 and the department has turned
into the state treasury $50. "A. leaving
a balance to the credit of the depart
/ lment of 81 ,704.sS.
The work at the different stations has
been done in a generally satisfactory
manner In the past two years the de-
partment 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 crop was shorter than in former
/ years; still, in spite of this fact. the de-
! partment has been seIf-sustaining. With
normal crop of all grains. a substan-
tial profit would come to the state.
The weighing department at Kansas
4 City has been hammered by a lack Of
appropriation, neeessitating a smaller
/ force than was needed to do the in
/ creased amount of work properly.
would suggest a larger appropriation,
so that the work could be done thor
oughly, if necessary, making a small in
crease 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
4 able to say that I believe each one of
! the institutions under 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 a deficit. For your
/ guidance and information as to the
needs of each of the Institutions under
the control Of this board. / refer you to
their thirteenth biennial report.
] especially call your attention to the
Parsons State hospital The last legis-
laLQTe having TedppIOpIiaI6Q the ldpSeO
! appropriation of 1889 for the eSta blish-
ment of a hospital a Parsons, the board
has proceeded. to the work of erecting
an institution in compliance with the
law. After careful investigation of the
subject they have decided to make the
Parsons institution one wholly for the
treatment of epileptics Several other
states have provided themselves with
institutions of this character with very
satisfactory and humane results. The
al rf Hni n
other state HOSPITALS is most desira BILE
and it 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 tc
this institution is worthy of careful con-
sideratiOn. and that the making of the
Parsons institution an asylum for cpl
leptics will be a humane and progress
i've movement
You will also note that the board is
asking more land at some of the insti-
tutions; also increased water supply
both for sanitation and fire protection
the reasons given for these requests
seem excellent and the Improvements
necessary.
The Penitentiary.
Certain repairs and improvements are
needed at the penitentiary. These are
set forth in detail in the thirteenth BIZ
ennial report Of the directors and ward
en- 1 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
purchase or lease of additional coal
lands for the use of the state but no
: appropriation was made for the purpose
= of making either the purchase or lease;
but a contract has been made for the
, purchase of what is known as Staiger' s
j island, a tract of land containing S44 %
acres. The deeds conveying this land to
the state have been executed and are
No in
tional bank. subject to the approval OF
the legislature. I invite your attention
especially to this matter
The parole law for convicts of the
state penitentiary development of the
conditional pardon rule inaugurated by
Governor Stanley during his first term
is in successful operation, as shown by
the reports on file. 1t was an expert
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