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

solidate the management of these in
stitutions.
Railroads File Itemized Statements.
l. During the session of the legis-
lature two years ago a bill was pre-
pared at my request which provided
that the railroads in Kansas file with
the state board of railroad commits
sionerS an itemized statement setting
forth the name of the manufacturer,
number and time of service and
actual cost to the company of each To-
connective and each passenger, freight
and other cars owned, leased or used
by the several railroads operating in
kansas; also, a statement showing the
number, quality and cost of ties in the
roadbed and length of time they have
been in use; the amount and weight
of rails and length of time they have
been in use: duplicate copies of all
profiles, showing number of yards and
classification in excavation and en-
bankments on the line of all the rail-
roads in Kansas; the cost of bridges.
trackldying, ballast, etc, together with
copies of all contracts. and all ex-
pense bills in possession of the rail-
road companies which show the cost
of equipment, material, grading.
tracklaying, bridging, maintenance of
ways and structures and eQuipm ent,
and salaries paid to officers; also, a
statement under oath giving the name
of attorneys representing the railroad
and all expenses paid by these attor-
neys, or by any other employee or
connection with legislative lobbies and
political campaigns. The purpose of
this bill being to furnish the state of
Kansas information that will place the
state on an equal basis with the rail-
roads in presenting and discussing the
value and cost of its property in court.
2. The railroad lobbyists bitterly
opposed this bill before the house
committee which had it in charge at
the last session. and succeeded in de-
feating it. At the request of Presi-
dent Ripley to examine the Santa Fe
books l made an attempt to secure this
same information in regard to the
Santa F'e road. but was fmme diately
stopped by both President Ripley and
General Manager Kouns. The right
to examine. at any time, all books,
records, expense bills, profiles and oth-
er papers owned by each railroad
should be specifically granted in this
law. All the above information to be
furnished under oath by the proper
officer of each railroad in Kansas
8. I hereby recommend the enact
ment of such a law at this session of
the legislature.
Federal Income Tax.
1. The Sixty-first congress of the
United States submitted the following
joint resolution, proposing an amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States: Resolved by the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled, two-thirds of each house con-
curing therein, That the following
article is proposed as an amendment
to the constitution of the United
States, which, when ratified by the leg
islatures of three-fourths of the sew
eral states, shall be valid to all intents
and purposes as part of the consti-
tuition: Article 16. The congress
shall have power to lay and collect
source derived, without apportion-
ment among the several states and
without regard to any census enum-
eration.''
able body ratify this proposed amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States at as early a date as possible.
Soldiers Home.
l. The management Of the soldiers
home at Dodge City has been business
| like and economical. The increased
price of food and other supplies and
the greater number of veteran SOL
diers at this home has increased the
cost of maintenance. The physical
property of the institution has been
much improved during the last two
years.
>. I recommend that liberal pro-
NlSlOil We llIdOS IOI ILLS
institution during the next two years.
The state of Kansas and the nation at
large will never be able to repay to
the soldiers of the Civil war the great
debt we owe them. and Kansas espe
cially, for having to a great extent
been settled and developed by them
should be generous to them in their
declining years.
Board of Control
1. The board of control law enacted
in 1905 has proved a great success.
The management of the charitable in
situations has been practical and bus
inesslike und this law. There is,
however, much room for improveme nt
in the methods which prevail in all
the states in the care of the insane.
To my mind it is little less than a
crime to lock up behind barred doors
and windows the man or woman who
from some nervous or physical all
ment has a deranged mind and is
comparatively harmless. Of all per-
sons on earth who require the bless
ings of open air and Gods sunshine,
with abundant physical exercise, these
unfortunate people need them most.
2. I am fully convinced that one
half of the population of our insane
asylums could be made self-support-
ing under skillful management if they
were colonized on good farms in Cen
trail or Western Kansas and that their
physical and mental condition could be
materially improved
3. [ recommend that this legisla-