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

A good policy for the state to purchase
a printing plant and put manager over
Il upon reasonable salary. l think
the value of such plant could be saved
to the state In a short time.
TRAVELLING PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
Among the most valuable, though
among the most modest, educational
agencies in this state are the travelling
public libraries. 1t may not be generally
known that there Is In existence dis
tinct department of state devoted 10 the
circulation of good books from the state
library The work Is superintended by q
commission composed of five self-sacri-
ficing persons who give their time to IT
Without remuneration, namely: Mr.. Jas.
Il. King, Mrs. Cora G. Lewis, Mrs. Lucy
lB. Johnston Mr., Edward Wilder, Mr.. H.
@, Larimer with Miss Nellie q. Armen-
trout as secretary, who has a salary, The
commission Is circulating over 1900 books
among their readers throughout the
state. These same excellent women
wish to supplement this work by the
very fine pictures each and which will
require an additional appropriation Of
perhaps $500-a very modest request
for SO good cause.
STATE FISHERY.
The last legislature established state
fishery near the town Of Pratt, In Pratt
county, and made small appropriation
have recently made personal investl-
cation of the states property there,
which is meager In extent, but great In
possibility. The state owns IL acres or
land through which flows the Ninnescah
river. a small. but beautiful overfowing
stream OF pure water, pond covering
several acres has been made and supplied
with water by windmill. The conditions
are excellent for the establishment or
other ponds on the states premises, and
- q Al s,,tN hn uaNnntlaA fhTnnOI
pipes a comparatively short distance
above. In a word, the natural conditions
are all favorable to permanent ana
valuable institution of this kind, Moth
ing has been done as yet toward the es-
tablishment of hatchery, for lack OF
funds. This, of course, Is the most i'm
portant feature of the new institution,
and " the plant Is to be made OF pracu-
cal value an appropriation must pc large
enough to furnish the necessary equip
heir distribution. / think the fish and
game interests should be consolidated
and zone man empowered to look atter
both of them, The destruction OF game
Is an evil that should be remedied as faT
as law can control it: The practice Of
non-resIdents coming into the state and
killing our game for market purposes =
one that cannot be too speedily stopped.
and as a means to this reform l recon-
mend the enactment Of a law imposing
men who ply their vocation within our
O0'' SCHOOL LANDS.
The attention of the legislature Is par
ticularly called to matter OF great I'M
portance concerning our school land pos,
sessions There are YET yOoo nnsold nnn seh9ol POI
Gated chiefly in the western, half OF the
state, Under the law these lands are on
the market at the minimum price OF N'25
per acre II Is a matter Of common no.
toriety that lands in, that part Of TIC
state have greatly enhanced In value
during the last four or five years, and
especially during the last two or three
years. Individual owners have gradually
more than the entire amount at which
these school lands are held; These
school lands should either be Withdrawn
from the market or the price at wnlcn
they will be sold Increased commensu.
of XII that c country believe q .OOo, 900 can be
SO we'd to the state school fund by promp'
action on the part of the Legislature, IL
this matter.
JUVENILE COURT.
Perhaps the march of civilization hai
not been more marked In any field OF
human investigation and endeAvor thar
in the field of criminol0gy The relation
Of the public to Its criminal classes MAJ
been q subject with which every age
to note tie changes OF thought in refer.
ence to this subject but suffice It to say
that the old notion of punishment lof
crime as a mere matter OF retrlDutlOn
has given way to the more humane and
philosophical Idea that all penalty should
be preventive and reformatory IN its
character. As an outgrowth OF this ad-
vancing movement, for instance, we nave
a state reformatory for the incarceration
of young men convicted OF crime, upon
the theory that It Is not wise to incarcer-
ate young criminals with old ones, so
that persons convicted Of crime In TINS
state who are between the ages OF N
and 8 are confined In the Hutchinson re-
formRtory, while criminals beyond tne
maximum age here given are confined IN
the penitentIary. Crlminologists are now
suggesting another step in advance ana
indeed In some places their progressive
ideas have already been crystalized into
law. refer TO the establishment OF what
Is known as the Juvenile court sysfem
for the benefit Of young people who tom-
nit certain offences against the law.
Under this system, where II has been
tried, many Of these young Offenders
have been saved the disgrace OF jail ex-
perience, and society has been better
protected than under serverer modes OF
treatment. In this connection ] want
TO call your attention to an alarming re-
suit Of a recent legislative enactment
known as the trpancy law. Many boys
guilty OF truancy have been ordered TO
the boys Industrial school by the county
courts, greatly to the damage OF that In
stitution apd TO the boys guilty OF these
Offenses. Surely the offense OF truancy
Is not ordinarily sufficient TO justly sub
ject these boys to this punishment and TO
daily association with boys sent there
for much graver offenses. This 10 new
and unexpected evidence Of the need Of
Juvenile courts for which l earnestly
plead. / trust you will give this subject
deserved attention and put such law
upon our statute books.
TAX REVISION.
Every session OF the Kansas legislature
for many years has been called upon
10 wrestie with propositions for the re.
taxation. Its imperfecti0ns are univer-
sally recognized and its lnadequacy 10
the needs OF the state generally conceded;
-Four years ago the legislature provided
for the appointment Of commission 70
be composed Of two members OF the
senate; SRd 4rse, WIZ AsnAF1, Sa Fs,e e sss6Ffsf f
should undertake the task OF the revl-
sion OF these laws and 10 formulate bills
for submission TO the next legislature.
The commission under this law met on
April l6, 1901, and az once began the SUD-
ject OF taxation. They secured the tax
laws OF many, n not most OF the states,
and they attended In a body a national
tax conference which met at Buffalo. N.
", in May, 1901. After the most care.
fui study OF the laws Of other states and
Of the conditions in this state, this com,