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

chase or lease of additional coal lands
for the use of the state. but no appro-
priaticn was made for the purpose OF
making either the purchase or lease; but
a contract has been made for the pur-
chase Of what is known as Staiger's IS
land. tract of land containing S4 2-a
acres.
The parole law for convfcts of the state
penitentiary, a development OF the con-
ditiona pardon rule inaugurated by Gov
Stanley during his first term, is in sue
cessful operation. as shown by reports on
file 1t is now recognized by experienced
prison management an aid in prison
discipline and means through which
young men, especially those who are
serving their first terms in the peniten-
tiary, can be saved from following life
OF crime. The defect, however. In the
present system of granting paroles In this
st2te is, In my judgment, the lack of an
equitable adjustment of the method
through which 1t is put in operation. 1t
should be based upon a merit system.
The parole should come from q 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 out
side. 7 would suggest such legislation as
may Sc necessary to meet these require
ments.
The Irvine plant at the penitentiary. in
view Of the fhexperienee of those charged
with its conduct, has achieved q reason
able degree of success, and 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 table to happen even
under the most careful business manage
ment
OKLAHOMA PRISONERS.
There are L06s prisoners In the peni-
49, to- &c. Nil
homa- I question the wisdom of Kan
sas longer assuming the responsibility
Of taking care of Oklahonaa's prisoners.
and recommend that Oklahoma be asked
to relieve US of this charge as soon
she can do so.
KANSAS STATE SOyDIERS' HOME.
This home was founded upon the pa
triotic sentiment that 4 was the de2ty
of the state to provide fos the INDECENT
soldier of the civil war and his family.
I believe the home and its affairs are in
Splendid condition, but call the atten-
ton of tbs legislature to the very i'm
portant need of fire protection at this in
stitdtion.o
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
meats made by our banks under the off,
cial call in 1890 and again in 1902. Com
parison made between the calls of Sep
TENDER Il. 1900, and November Is. 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 $7,751O00, increase of
81. 1884, 600 during the same period. The
total surplus is now 81, 769, 701.36, a gain
of $419, 491 "a. The total deposits s-:e now
So 135, 176.5S, a gain Of $S,50S, 84114. The
total loans are now $50. $50, 046.9S, an in
crease of 81, 072, 211 AZ. The cash and sight
exchange Qegai reserve) at this time
Is ST.. So, 451 A. or 1925 per cent. OF the
entire deposits, showing the banks Of the
state are upon safe and conservative
basis.
HANDLING OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
I believe that the law should be so
amended that county treaSurers, when
they remit any funds to the state treas
urer. should be repaired to notify the
state auditor of the amount RENTED,
aad the auditor, upon receiving such
notice, should be required to charge the
with such amount. And, Z would
further recommend that our laws be so
that the accounts of the state
fsc&1 agency and the state desposttories
be kept svith the anditor OF state and
state treasurer in a more buSineSSlike
maEner. Under the present law, neither
the state fiscal agency nor the state de-
positorfes are required to report to the
auditor of state.
1 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. 800. I
also find that the state has a contract
with tNe state fiscal agency wfaereby the
agency pays the state TWO per cent. on
the acreage of daily balances OF state
funds In said &gency, whicfs for 1902
would amount to $1,027.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
sank which is the fiscal agency can pay
two per cent. on the averages daily bal
ances, it occurs to me that the banks of
Kansas will be willing to pay the same.
Two per cent. the average deposits
in the Topeka banks for 1902 would
to S, 625.45. Z also find from the
records0 of said board that the average
amount of money In the state treasury
and in the Topeka banks state de-
positories for the year 1902 amounted 20
s7eS. 81. TAis amount. at two per cent.
on averages daily balances would net the
state S15,S762 % per annurn. 1t seems to me
that business prudence and the public
welfare demand that some change. such
as suggested herein, be made in the hand
ling Of our state funds. I would also rec
omneend. If these suggestions are en-
acted into law that the bond Of the state
treasurer be reduced to one-half its pres
ent sum, the bond to be made by some
surety company and paid for out of the
profits aGeruing Co the state upon the
daily balances as suggested in this rec
ommenElation.
REQUIRING ACCOUNTING OF MON
0EYS.
I would recommend that the legislature
enact such laws as Will forever abolish
tsading and trafficking In the marketable
commodities from the various state in
stitutions. AT every institution. educa-
tionsN or Otherwise, where any money
Is received from any source. or where
any commodity is sold. Il should be sold
for cash, and the cash paid at the end
of eaci, month to the state treasurer. I