Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-07-26

K @nA, .AAIall ilisAs n (
| &u& ~ ~ fIA purpossS m lsnote1
parts of thu etats, and q resulting
great saving did bchySnieaca to,slAnn
facturorA
ThirtesRi6. T6s law regulating u
working hours Of railroad men vhicl
was NOT only an act % Justice 70 tnes
deserving peopla. but also wA9 . Wis
preoaution 70 prsVent rAilroA4 aceadnnt
/ Hhich have oftan bean ne peanit
ovsrwOrk On ths pAst q tAaaD faithfu
employees n "a 81
FOURTEENTH Several laws roe ths sps
eiai beneft Of farms. and grain grOverz
including the Warehouse and ElevatO'
law; a reciprocal demurvago law: Law
requiring construction o. switches g
independent elevators and warehouses;;
law 10 give shippers return passes: . Law
| recurring the grain inspector 70 fuEnisi
weights TO shippers. ana q INV 70 pro
| hibit grain dealers from deductins io
pounds 10 the car. Some OF these lawi
have been attacked In the courts but tn'
administration 10 defending them out o.
| its contingent fund and hopes to see then
| sustained. Among the laws attacked Il
| the grain inspection law. The Board o
| Trade IN Kansas City Mo-. 10 trying q
knock " out but the administration
doing everything possible TO save tha'
law to the farmers.
Fifteenth. A law to further protect
coal miners, Of whom there 10 an increas-
ing number and whose lives and interests
have been frequent subjects for repup'
Iican protective Iegislation and admins
trative concern.
Sixteenth. A law prohibiting the ems
ployment Of children In packing housed
and mines where their health and lives
are endangered--a benehcent enactment
demanded by organised labor
Seventeenth. A large part Of the Gov"
errors message was devoted to the im'
portance Of a better. system OF manage.
in which 1t was urged that three men in'
stead Of FIVE should be selected to man:
age these institutions; that they should
devote all their time to the public serv-
ice instead Of such time as they chose a.
they should open public Offices In the
state house where the condition OF all
the institutions under their charge could
be easily ascertained at any time by any
one. and where the cost OF any arsicls
q matter. Of easy access TO any one ln-
terested. This great reform was ac-
compllshed by the Legislature. and 10
alone was sufficient to make the last Leg
islature q notable one. The new sys-
tenn together with the new civil service
law is bringing these institutions up to
the highest possible state Of efficiency
ct the least possible cost. The financial
saving which was not primary conslo-
Grafton, is, however. most gratifying.
In addition to these enactments many
other laws were placed upon the statute
books worthy Of extensive mention to
which can only allude viz; new regis"
tration law; q fish and game law. which
p going to, give the state one ne @. OF tnS
annually stock Its streams with an abund.
ance Of fish: q voluminous and valuable
law concerning negotiable Instruments
a good roads law; law creating stat0
accountant, which is Of inestimable value;
q law taxing pipe lines; patriotic enact
ment to prevent Dissertation Of the flag;
q law to publish reports Of the q. A. X.
at state expense; and many other worthy
enactments too numerous TO mention.
The people should remember that the
Senate which gave its approval to these
laws holds over and that the members
Of the last House which helped to enact
these laws, will be returned to the next
House In larger numbers than ever pc.
fore in the history q the state ana 1S,t tina!
all these laws, II continued In power,
will give them the greatest possible effi-
cheney In enforcement and that from
these three sources, judging by the past,
the people have every reason to expect
q continuation Of the progressive policy
which has marked the past two years
The present administration has been
confronted by1nany perplexing problems,
perhaps more than any Of its predeces-
sors, but II relies with confidence upon
to whether or not these problems have
been properly met and wisely solved.
Among these problems was the investiga-
ton Of the state treasury The party
lature made ample appropriation for II.
II was q delicate and difficult duty de-
v0ving upon the administration. To
assist him in its wise solution the Gov
ernor selected an advisory board, con-
sisting OF three gentlemen o. the fSa nigh
W. Benson, now United States senatOri
Judge Ansel r. Clay, and Hon. Samuel
7. Howe. The Governor, In connection
with these gentlemen, selected firm of
Every step Of the investigation was care;
fully directed and protected The final
submission Of the accountants' report
was summarized and given to the pub
lie, and the whole matter was then
turned over . 70 the ys General 10 10
courts. No step IN this investigation can
be Justly criticized. The state has ample
compensation for the cost Of the investi-
cation in the reforms In bookkeeping and
systems of business management which
viii follow the revelations Of this inves-
tigatlon. 1t should not be forgotten that
this thorough investigation cleared up az
fairs to date Of report so that the state
accountant has q clear record Of rocene
date upon which. to base future oxam-
nations. This makes II Of peculiar value.
Another perplexing problem has been
the enforcement OF the pfohibitory law.
The constitution imposes upon the Gov
ernor the duty Of seeing that the mws
Imposes duties supplies no power for
their performance. The legislature alone
clothes the executive with power to en-
force law. The GovOrnor can only en-
These are not Of his making. put Of legis-
lature making. The primary duty Of en-
forcing law rests upon the local authors
ties In this state, and but little executive
authority L. given to the Governor TO %.
The present Governor has written q let
ter to every county attorney and to
every sheriff In the state urging him TO
enforce the law. To many OF theee he
has written numerous letter.. and con-
proved throughout the etnte. IN 50
(eighty) odd counties this law Il e. wen
enforced as almost any Other law on the
statute books. In the remaining twenty
ant attorneys general have been appoint-
ed In as many counties with varying sue
cess In Topeka a vigorous effort was
made under the Isadsrship o. one d. he
abIest lawyers and best men IN Kan9aA
= former President q the STATE rsnpsrs