Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-01-24


81. 0uO. otOs less than our holdings of money
alone As in 1873, the fcrmer. the small
and the owner of visible personal prop
erty, such as the stockman and merchant,
pay five-sixths of the tax. and the rail-
roads pay the rest
Besioes this, there are glaring in
equalities between the assessment In ad-
joining counties, and consequent inequal-
tiles IN the burden of both state and
county government
1hese inequalities and injustices have
attracted the attention of our lawmaking
power for many years, and many al
tempts have been made to adjust the
law to new conditions, but the brief time
allowed by the session has prevented
comprehensive and satisfactory plan; and
So thoroughly has this been proven that
the session or 1901 adopted the plan which
has been followed with success IN most of
the Northern and Western states in
cent years, of a State Tax Commission
The commission consisted of representa-
tives of both houses and certain state Of
ncers, and was empowered to sit in va
cation and prepare a new tax law The
attention of the commission was called
to the evils above recited, and it was
particularly directed to provide for the
fuller assessment of personal property.
The commission SO constituted has ex-
pended much time and thought upon a
bill and report which viii be submitted to
you 1t has collected a large amount of
other states and their operation. and its
conclusions and the information it has
sidering this subject Without comment
ing upon the bill prepared or assuming
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 will bring upon the tax-rolls the
vast amount of personal property that
now escapes thereby tightening the bur-
den borne by the farmer, the home owner.
the merchant, and all who own real
estate and visible personal property.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE GEM ENNIAL
EXPOSITION
For the purpose of exhibiting the re-
industrial. commercial and social progress
OF our state, the Louisiana Furcnase
Kansas was created by an act of the
last legislature, and directed TO assume
a complete and cred1table display of
the interests of the state at the interna-
tional exposition TO be held at St. Louis
in 1903, and to select a site and erect
thereon buildings for such display.
Kansas was the first state to make
appropriation, succeeded in securing one
The collection OF exhibits had begun and
plans and specifications for a building
are being considered
Such appropriations should be made as
will enable Kansas to assume her place
to present display which will be an in
ducement to investment in and lmmigra-
cred by the Louisiana purchase. The
postponement of the exposition until 1904
will necessitate such amendments TO the
law necessary to meet the changed
conditions
BUREAU OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY.
The report of the commissioner of labor
is a collection of data with special ref
erence the industrial interests of the
state Certain legislation is recommended
concerning labor that L believe worthy of
your consideration, especially that refer
ring to the prohibition of child labor un-
der the age of fourteen years in factories
and workshops, except under certain con-
ditions prescribed by law; also, a just
and equitable arbitration and concIlia-
ton law, in order to better protect the
Industrial interests of the state against
rha 6iCa CT nR-dr Tl-(lll
strikes, and at the same time guarantee
justice and fairness to employer and en-
NATIONAL GUARD.
recommend a just and liberal sup
1t is composed of nearly 1,4O0 young men,
who give their services to the state with
period while in attendance at the annual
encampment. The general government is
the expense devolving upon the state be-
ing for the maintenance of the organized
appropriations made by the government
to Kansas for equipments amount to
organization and support of a sufficient
militia The government has awakened
solete natlonaI militia laws ana d o.il
now pending in Congress makes st1ll more
National Guard If the bill now before
Congress becames a law, it Will be neces-
harmonic it with certain provisions of
the national law
believe
militia, and 1 trust the. state of Kansas
will cooperate with the national gov
eminent in all efforts toward improve
nent and will literally aid the move
ments tending to the development Oh the
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The State Historical Society is now pro-
vfded with satisfactory accommodations
for the care and proper exhibit OF the
collections showing the trials and accom-
plishments of our people IN creatlng ms ms
had a more inspiring history; and now
that the work of the society is in order,
support by the legislature has always
been accorded, instead of leaving TINS
patriotic service to Individual effort All
Hansans should be proud of the society
and its work. and 1 heartily commend 1t
% the legislature for continued conSld-
sration and liberality- A proper -catalogu-
ably well kept up, and 1 would suggest
that, upon it's completion, catalogue OF
he Kansas portion, at least. be published,
hat it may be more available to the
PUBIIC PRINTING.
/ call your attention to the lavish waste
IF the public money in the printing or
,seless and unnecessary public docu-
nents The law, in many instances. pro,
tides for the publishing of reports ana
documents far beyond and demand or
1ecessity and, as result. the store
looms of the capitol building are rapidly
silIiny up with this matter that IS worse
lion of this accumulated material VIII
convince any legislator of the necessity
IF reform along this line ,,e,,re
L recommend that the fish and game
interests of the state be put under one
control and that laws be made more more
game and fish and that the power OF
the warden and his deputies be enlarged,
so that they can more enectuahy en-
also believe that fish hatchery