Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-02-15
LEGISLATIVE OBSERVATIONS.

LEGISLATIVE OBSERVATIONS.
Ii there ever was graft worked in |
the state it has been done Dy the repub-
licans in the past ten years. They have |
worked the state for all it will stand, |
and are now. even under the rule of the |
Holy Governor Hoch, looting the state |
of more than million dollars annual.
ly. This seems broad statement to
make, but the figures will back up the
statement, and the figures as shown in
the reports of the auditor of the state
are supposed to be correct.
Here is a startling truth: It cost ST..
191, 1856 in taxes to run the state when
Leedy was governor. Last year the
state tax was $500, 10000. This year
it will he more If the present policy of
the state is continued. It might be
we'll to mention in this connection that
there are but AZ, 900 more people in the
state now than there were in 1897.
Why has the cost of running the state
increased more than half?
Why is it that under populist rule,
which was so derlded by republicans,
the taxpayer did not have to pay twice
as much to the county treasurer, as he
does now?
Is the taxpayer benefited by the
enormous increase?
Who gets the money?
This is question the people of this
state must investigate and they should
demand from the members OF the legis-
lature solution of the problem. The
money certainly does not 60 up in
smoke. Somebody gets it,. Who is the
somebody? The republican politicians,
the grafters.
1t will be noticed by an examination
Of the report of the state auditor that
the cost Of running the insane asylums
at Topeka and Osawatomie has in
creased in the past ten years until it
requires 500, 900 more to maintain each
than it formerly did. The state has
built new asylum at Parsons in that
time, and both the institutions have
been relieved of many Of their patients.
yet it will be noticed that the number
of assistant physicians and the NUMBER
of attendants have been almost doub-
led. The auditors report also shows
that the salaries Of all of the people in
the state insane asylums have been in.
creased from the superintendent down
to the fireman.
Who gets the benefit?
Are the insane taken any better care
of than they were?
there is one professor for every fourteen
students. Is that necessary? Are
there not a lot of so called Professors
who are doing nothing and drawing a
good salary for working overtime at
their jobs?
| What good do the state grain inspect
ors do? Is their job graft?
Is the job of state Oil inspector a
graft?
Where and how do these men benefit
the state?
A careful look over the report of the
state auditor ten years ago and glance
over the report of the auditor last year
will show that in every department of
the state the expenses have been in.
creased, and yet the state has not in.
creased in population; at least the in.
crease has been infinitesimal.
The republicans have been grating
The state and the taxpayers are the
ones who have to stand for 1t. They
have made great play this year about
reducing the cost Of the legislature
They actually have reduced the cos,
from $4,000 of two years ago until
they predict that it will not run more
J than $4,000 this year. Think of that
They will save $25, 900 over last year, sc
they say, but what are they savIns
when the expense is compared with ter
years ago?
Here are some figures which will
show how the expenses of the state
have been running up:
Total cost of all institutions in $780, s., 2as oO
Total cost of all institutions in 1904. 1867. OOl
: increase during the 5-year period 42S,OO(
Rate of increase in per cent. q
Taxes taken for state purposes In 1899 I.400, OO
Taxes for state purposes in I9O4.. 2,5O0.OO
Rate OF increase in per cent . 7s
10 show even more clearly how tax
l es have increased in Kansas unde
l ring rule'' we give from the auditor
: report the following table of taxes tax
en- from the people for state PURPOSES
: in the years given:
low -'..s i,4'o,lIe 1888. $3.50. Ala. 90
Ioo-.'.'.... l'40s'ls6 1S99..... 1,420, 2oS
io'o''-..-.. i'ooo'Soo l9O0....... Ills, %
io'f......-- l,lsl,UlS 1901. sic, as
! 1850 ..-... l'dSo,i'2 1902. =. 1871, 80
. leso.-..-.'. i'.U','4l 1903. SEC, So
1897. 49,. 1,3I9,2 $50 1904 5oo On