Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-12

e1.fcg Nnlcn time TINS stare mas Deem rep
resented by a congressman Sat- large Sue.
cessive legislatures have failed to per.
form their duty in the re-apportionment
of the state Into eight congressional dis
triets. and ! earnestly hope that this
legislature will not neglect this duty. The
people expect 1t and will be greatly dis
appointed II 1t Is not done. No personal
interests should be permitted to prevent
the performance OF this plain duty, II
Is no reflection at all upon the eminent
gentlemen who have served the state
with distinguished ability In this position
In the past, or upon those who may be
called to perform similar duties In the
future, TO say that no one can serve the
state so acceptably or so profitahly IN
this manner as when representing def
mite constituency such as is contempla'
ted by the ordinary congressional dis'
trict, and the state is entitled to the best
possible service from its public servants
DEPOSITORY FOR PUBLIC FUNDS. !.
This legislature will doubtless be asked
to establish public depository, or sys-
tenn of repositories, where public funds
eft of the state. Some law should be
passed of this kind which Will enable
the counties, or the state, to receive the
benefit of accrulng interest, on accumu-
lated public money. Two plans are pro-
posed: one for the establishment OF q
state depository in which the interest
upon the money therein deposited shall
accrue to the state; and, in the otner
providing that the semi-annual remit
tances from the various county treasur,
ers to the state treasurer shall De nelu
In county repositories until the state
treasurer shall need the money, counties
thus, Withholding their remittances 10
receive the benefit Of the interest on the
money withheld as well as upon the
sums already generally deposited in the
local banks. The simpler and easier
plan would be to establish a state de-
pository, but more equitable division
OF the benefits on such deposits would
result from the adoption of the county
plan. If this latter plan should be
adopted, however, 1t should be careful
ly guarded so that sudden calls from the
state treasurer might not seriously en-
barrass the local banks, The state OF
Missouri received in interest from IT'S
state depository last year the, handsome
sum of $42,76S6l. To the wisdom of the
legislature this subject Is confidently
submitted.
GOOD ROADS.
Perhaps no modern movement is of
wider Significance or of more general In
terest than that which Is commonly
known as "The Good Roads Movement.
Widespread interest In better public tho
roughfares is everywhere manifest. Con-
gress has taken definite action in the
matter; the general government 1t lend
ing substantial aid; the public prints are
full of discussions on the subject, Whlle
state legislatures are crystalizlng these
advanced ideas into law. The subject is
one Of great Importance, especially 70
the. farmers Good roads are not only
a matter of convenience, but of practi-
cal financial value. This matter should
receive your most careful and favorable
CIVIL SERVICE.
The platform upon which majority of
the members Of this legislature were
elected favored the application OF reas-
enable civil service rules to the employee
Of state institutions Every student OF
The conclusion that the extravagant ap-
pllcation Of what is known IN politics
as, '"rhe Spoils System" which makes
Itifb public service the mere tool OF par
Ianshlp and factiOnalism, and demands
afhe wholesale changing of public servants
after every election merely to gratify
personal or factional or partisan inter-
ests, IL detrimental to good government
In the national government clVil service
rules have been gradually extended 10 az
the departments until now the tenure OF
office OF thousands OF governmental en-
ployes no longer depends upon the caprice
Of petty politicians. This movement FOR
the betteTment of public service was at
first bitterly opposed, but no statesman
who values his reputation now opposes
1t. 1t Is a distinct advance In inteili-
gent government. With the principle In
volved am In hearty accord, ana Will De
glad to cooperate with the legislature
In any reasonable enactment along this
line. ,
The slibiect OF irrsyAtIan is cnnEtH Ht1y ~.
president has dignifed the subject win
The influence Of his great name ana
with frequent expressions OF his interest
In 1t, while the national government mas
taken advanced steps and Is now lend
ing powerful aid to its practical promo
ton This state, particularly the western
third of 1t, is vitality concerned In TINS
matter, and whatever aid you can render
cause. either directly through state legis-
lation or indirectly by influence upon con-
srcRs and our delegates In that pouy'
should be promptly rendered.
STATE PRINTING.
A reform has long been needed In ref
erence to the commercial printing done
for this state. / was imbued WIN TINS
conviction during my first legislative ex-
perience and made futile efforts In TINS
direction at that time. The fees paid TO
the state printer are doubtless too nigh
in many instances, but the chlet cause
Of complaint Is the vast amount OF use
less stun printed at state expense only
To find an ultimate sepulcher In the Dase-
ment Of the state house or other rec +pta-
cles for useless matter. AT the last slec-
tion an amendment to the. constitution
was overwhelmingly adopted making tne
office OF state printer elective Dy the
peOple-a measure that should have Deen
adopted years ago. There Is some doubt
AZ TO the time when this amendmen'
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