The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-10

laws and thereby recognized the jus
tice and wisdom of legislation of this
character.
4. Under our Inheritance tax law
there is no exemption provided, but
shares going to direct heirs do not
come under the provisions of the law
when the amount of the Inheritance
is less than $4,000. I recommend
that no tax shall be levied upon the
first $25 900 Inheritance passing to the
husband or wife, and $4,000 upon in
heritance passing. to other direct
heirs.
Good Roads.
1. AS a result of laws enacted by
the legislature two years ago there has
been more or less improvement in
many localities in the condition of
the public highways. The economic
value of good roads cannot be over
estimated.
?. L recommend that this Iegisla-
ture give special attention to this i'm
portant subject and improve to the
fullest necessary extent the laws that
were enacted two years ago.
Labor Legislation.
l.. Labor is the greatest wealth
producing power and force in the
would today. 1t tills the soil, builds
cities, constitutes and operates rail-
roads and ships, provides fuel and
manufactured products for mans use
from the mines and forests, and is the
foundation and support OF all civilized
life. That the laborer is worthy of
his hire no man can honestly dispute
Every civilized nation on earth leads
America in protecting the rights. lives
and limbs of persons employed in
hazardous work for public benefit and
comfort.
.. I recommend that this Iegisla-
| ture do full Justice to the cause of
labor in Kansas and recognize,
through just and equitable laws, the
principles advocated by Lincoln, that
rights of property.
g. l recommend the enactment of
a workingman's compensation law.
framed to meet labor and Industrial
conditions in Kansas.
4. also recommend the enactment
of an employers liability law, follow
ing the provisions of the federal law
and the advanced views of the SUI
preme court of Kansas on that sub
ject.
5. I am advised upon excellent au4
thority that many of the mines of
Kansas have no accommodations to
care for persons who are injured by
accidents in the mines. L recommend
the enactment of a mandatory law
which will compel mire owners to
provide a comfortable and suitable
building to care for the injured per-
sons in case of accident; and also to
provide a suitable wash house and
| individual lockers at each mine for
such employees as desire to take ad-
vantage of the same
| 6. I recommend the enactment of
a law which will provide for uniform
| signal system in all the mines of
Kansas.
| 7. I recommend the enactment of
a law providing that an improved
safety catch shall be used in all mines
where hosting machinery is in use
| 8. 1 recommend that a branch
school of the Kansas University de-
partment of mines and mining be es-
tablished in the Pittsburg coal fields
district. The United States govern
ment now has a travelling car which
gives instruction on mine work. But
this car covers a wide field, including
| Oklahoma, Arkansas Missouri and
| Kansas, and is absent from the coal
fields in Kansas a large part of the
time. It is the duty of Kansas to use
every means in its power to protect
the rights, lives and welfare of the
men who undertake the hazardous
| work Of mining.
Prison for VioIators of Prohiitory Law.
! l. I recommend that the legisla-
ture enact a law which will provide
a penitentiary sentence as a penalty
upon the second and subsequent con-
vietions for violations of the prohibi-
tory law. The federal government
provides a penitentiary sentence al
ready for the violations of the internal
revenue laws.
.. Upon investigation I believe that
your honorable body will find a decid-
| ed economic value in this kind of a
law, by Kidding the larger counties OF
chronic criminals, and hence avoiding