The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-01-24

and recommend that you make pro-
vision by law to facilitate the counting
of the vote, either by means of a
double election board or otherwise.
1t has for years been a matter OF
complaint in this state that mortgages
held by non-residents on property
in this state, escaped taxation TO
remedy this, the legislatures of 1909
and 1911 passed recording mortgage
| tax laws, which were vetoed by my
distinguished predecessor. / call your
attention to the fact that every Re-
publican. Progressive and Democrat in
this legislature was elected on plat
forms pledging the enactment OF SUCH
law. / therefore recommend that
you pass such law at the earliest
moment consistent with orderly pro-
cedure.
recommend the unconditional re-
peal of the present inheritance tax
law.
-Four years ago the legislature
l passed an enactment that provided FOR
the optional building of rock roads
and a self-assessment by the petition
ers for the payment of the same
There is a limited area where there Is
need of macadamized roads. This is
chiefly in the eastern part OF the state,
where truck gardeners, dairymen and
small-fruit farmers market their prod
ucts daily. In such localities a num-
Der of roads have been built and the
wisdom of the enactment has been
made apparent. In every instance the
land abutting upon the improved road
way has increased in value from three
to five times the cost per acre OF sucn
road work, thus further justifying the
enactment. | call your attention to
the report made by the state highway
engineer, that about $4,000 900 is spent
annually for road work in our state
and only a trace of such road work is
permanent Our state needs perma-
nent dirt roads, and an advanced step
has been taken the past two years
! through the influence Of the Good
Roads association and the Good Roads
Magazine. The matter Of the develop
ment of our public highways is so
vital to our state that | can not too
highly recommend this important sub
| iect for your further consideration.
am more than pleased that the state
at large is awake to the necessity of
the erection of rock or concrete
| bridges, and ! congratulate the state
that so many permanent bridges of
that construction have been erected
during the past two years.
call your attention to the fact that
a decision Of the supreme court has
made our grain-inspection laws in
effective That our farmers and grain
men may be given protection in the
grading of their grain, and in the mat
ter of weights. I recommend that an
effective grain-inspection law be
passed.
All parties, in their platforms, have
promised the enactment of certain
enumerated laws for the protection of
ldUOI anu lllb Hltll III &c lOu w
make good these promises by appro-
pirate legislation. The safeguarding
Of the lives and health Of the men
who work in mine. factory or other
hazardous employment the more rigid
enforcement of the child-labor law,
and an enlargement of the power of
the Bureau of Labor and Industry are
measures to which ! invite your spe-
cial attention
recommend to your attention the
platform declarations OF Democratic
and Republican parties ON the subject
of the state publication of school text
books. and | advise that you make
careful inquiry as to the expense of
such undertaking, and also as to
whether the state has power to en-
gage in 1t without an amendment 70
our Fundamental law. If in your
wisdom such an enactment would be
constitutional, then recommend that
this Legislature make suitable appro-
priations for the establishment of a
state n ut, TO carry on this work in
order tina. the state may be prepared
to! furnish school textbooks when our
CONTRACT for common-school textbooks
expires fo1r years hence. I strongly
favor thA state publication of school
textbook4 and their distribution by
the stateSat actual cost.
In thematter of contingent funds
recommend that the governors con-
tingent fund be reduced from $4,000
per amman to $4,000, and that all other
official contingent funds be scrutinized
by you and reduced to what is reason
ably necessary. I recommend, how
ever, that the encouragement be CIV
en- a contingent fund of 100000 per
annum as heretofore.
shall hold sheriffs, county attor-
neys and mayors OF cities responsible
for the strict enforcement OF the pro-
hibitory law in their respective juris-
dictions. and I win cooperate with
the encouragement in seeing that
they do their duty. ! regard money
spent in the enforcement of the pro-
hibitory law as good investment, and
7 will MT he Marty 70 anv false