The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-18


college be allowed IS per day and act
ual and necessary travelling expenses
Manual Training School.
I wish to emphasize the Importance
of the legislature making a liberal ap-
preparation for a building and grounds
for the auxiliary manual training school
at PittSburg- This school was eStab-
liShed by the last legislature, and its
phenomenal advancement the first year
emphasizes the great demand for edu-
cation of this kind. Kansas is far be-
hind other states in this respect, but
the people are beginning to see that the
training of the eye and the hand should
keep pace with the development of the
mind The high schools are asking for
manual training teachers. 1t is the
province of the school at Pittsburg to
supply this demand.
Industrial Institute at Topeka.
have included nothing in my esti-
mates for the Industrial and educa-
tional institute of Topeka. This is a
private institution and has been class
ed heretofore as a private charity. 1
believe the time has come for the
state to assume its full responsibility
for the education of the colored youth.
A state Industrial school for the negro
race is necessity. Every dollar
spent in this way will be a dollar saved
in the expense of maintaining reform
schools and prisons. The scarcity OF
cOlored students in the university, nor
NAL school AMI agricultural college is
remarkable. They need a school of
their own, school modelled after the
Tuskogee institute. The state has
been contributing to the Colored In
duStrial and Educational institute at
Topeka and to the Western university
at QuindarO. l recommend that the
state accept one of these institutions
as a donation and around 1T as a
nucleus, build an industrial school for
the training of colored youth. that will
be credit to the state.
State House Repairs.
The walks and drives about the
state house ought to be completed
with asphalt pavement The macad-
amized portions are in an unfinished
state and the action of the weather
and the wear from travel are rapidly
undoing what has already been done
The iron frame work supporting the
north and south approaches has rusted
away so that these approaches are
really in a dangerous condition. The
exterior of the windows and doors mas
not been painted since the building
was constructed. Some of these have
stood thirty years, and none less than
ten years, without painting There are
ffty-two broken window lights, ana
many of the window stools and sasheS
have rotted and need replacing. For
these repairs. recommend the fol-
lowing appropriations;
For asphalt walks and drives Co.
1,or OIo yaTGiiE 9ine- north and south steps
and approaches to main building. 1OO0O
For painting exterior of windows -
For csr'I replacing TI broken lights 800
For replacing stools and sashes..---- "a
Total ----.- .-----.--.-.----- vi loS
Repairs on Executive Mansion
The roof on the executive mansion
has worn out and the building ought
to be re-roofed at once; also, the ex-
terror woodwork ought to be painted
recommend the following appropr1a-
tions for this purpose:
Slate roof for executive mansion 81 80
Painting exterior woodwork 275
Free Employment Agent.
1 recommend that the office of state
free employment agent be abolished
and the duties of that office be made
to devolve upon the secretary of the
state society of labor. 1 believe the
labor commissioner, without any addi- |
ton to his present force, could per-
form the labors now devolving upon
the free employment agent, but even
if the labor commissioner would re- |
quire an additional clerk, there would |
be a saving in expense. Regardless |
of expense, the office is properly an
adjunct of the labor bureau.
Pay of Stenographers.
I recommend that the pay of the |
throughout the state |
house be fixed at the uniform salary of |
$500 per year. Their salaries now
range from $500 to $1,000 and some of |
those who do the least, get the most. |
1 believe 5000 is a reasonable COM |
pensation, and in my estimates I have
fixed that amount in each case.
Taxation of Express Companies.
At the present time there is no law
for the assessment of express COM |
panies, except the assessment locally !
horses, trucks, etc. This assessment IS
only nominal and leaves absolutely un- /,
taxed the great bulk of the property of |
express companies. A law ought to be |!
road assessors the right to assess these |
Taxation of Car Companies.
The present law regulating the as
of the rolling stock or railroads |
does not apply to a large class of cars !
operated by. but not owned by the rail- |
road compares. This class of property |
escapes taxation and includes refrigera- |
tor. stock and tank cars, and those be- |
longing to brewing companies, packing /
houses, etc
The law ought to be amended giving |
the state board of railroad assessors /
power to assess this property.
Taxation of Pipe Lines.
There is no satisfactory provision in
the present law for the assessment of /
pipe lines The piping of water, oil and /
gas has become an extensive industry
and such property ought not to escape |
taxation entirely. A law ought to be
passed giving the state board of rail-
road assessors the power to assess those
lines in a manner similar to the present
method of assessing telegraph and tel
ephone lines.
Respectfully submitted.
SETH G. WELLS,
Auditor of State.
EXODUS OF NEGROES.