The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-11
HODcES SPEECH.
rcont,nue, e.c,r p,.e f,ne

e1Ases<o HUH kaB0 S&lsosl
The grain department has been an
asset to the state rather than q lia-
bility.
I'VE have paid q bond Of $211,oo0
during our administration.
Praise Fire NaaFshars Off1ce.
81 believe there is directly attribu-
table to the efficiency of the fire mar
shars department. almost million
dollars less fire loss a year than in
the past.
The obnoxious direct inheritance
tax laws was repealed. and in lieu
passed. which has Melted the state al
most 100000 the first year of its
activity.
The women of Kansas have been
recognized by this administration for
the first time In the history Of thu state.
and while there was but one position Of
responsibility held by a woman when
became executive. there are now twen-
ty-three who are q part OF this admin
istration: and the board that l deem
the most important in the state. has
as one of its members a woman. We
schools for the deaf. the blind. the or
phan asylum. the girls industrial
school. and women also fill other posi-
tons OF responsibility. These women
appointees have lived up TO the full
measure of their responsibility.
There has been no department OF
state that we are responsible for. but
that has filled every expectation. You
will pardon my calling attention to the
wonderful record of the bank commits
sioner's department. There have been
eight bank failures and in only one In
stance was 1t necessary to appoint Z
receiver. the cost Of such receivership
amounting to less than a thousand
dollars. The other seven banks that
ia lied md Sva
ing condition at less than an average
cost Of 1925 to each bank. Not q de-
positor has lost penny. nor has q dol
lar been taken from the depositors'
guaranty fund to replace any loss. We
but ask a comparison in this depart
ment. as we'll as in all others, with
former administrations.
Economy in Departments.
I'VE said in the campaign that the
administered economically and with
the lowest possible expense. A COM
parison of the maintenance Of all the
state institutions-Other than educa-
tionally-will show q decrease as COM
pared with the expenditures OF two
years ago.
State institutions have been builded
that were necessary. Water supplies
have been provided. Irrigation plants
have been completed. The operations
of farming have been increased a hun
dred per cent, and the decided in
crease in the number of scholars in our
schools have necessitated a greater ex-
penditure than heretofore for educa-
tfonal purposes.
The expense of conducting the de-
partment directly under my charge
the executive office and residence, has
been eighteen thousand dollars less dur
ing my tenure of office than the amount
spent the last two years by my prede-
cessor.
word about the greatest social problem
that confronts the state. namely the
penitentiary. 1t has been the inter-
probation of the pardon board. pardon
clerk and myself that when a prisoner
serves his mfnimun1 sentence he should
be paroled if he has a clear prison
record. The governors function in
should be relieved of that burden and
the action of the board should be final
Issued 500 Paroles.
THE board has paroled few over
four hundred during the past two
years. In other words that many pris-
oners have served their minimum term
and have been released. The execu-
tive has paroled up to and including
December l. two hundred and four.
There are men who have not served
their minimum. In every case the par
don board has investigated thoroughly
and in a painstaking manner, the rec
ord Of these men and they have recon-
mended them for executive clemency.
The chairman OF the board advises me
that seventy of these men have been
paroled because they were in an adj
vancd stage of consumption. paralyzed,
or crippled. A number of these men were
the prison walls. OF the two hundred
given executive clemency. but twenty
seven have violated their paroles. The
balance of these men are by their hon.
est efforts winning their way back into
society. providing for their wives and
families. and becoming constructive cit
liens. 1 feel that giving these men a
chance to become self supporting, is one
of the most pleasing duties Of an exc
cutive.
1T is true that divers and sundry ru-
mors have been set afioat in opposing
papers saying that We had been over
stepping the bounds of reason in the
matter of paroles. but we do not feel
that we have.
"A commission has been appointed. and
their recommendations are filed in the
Office OF the governor-elect for the further
improvements OF the Kansas penitentiary.
ana feel that 1t is highly important that
the men who are confined behind the
prison walls. should be housed in such
a manner that when they have served
leave the prison infected with tubercu-
loss as quite percentage Of the men
now are.
One House Legislature, Short Ballot.
The experience of my tenure of office
emphasizes to me the necessity of a
cnanSe In the departments of state to
procure that which the public desires
greater efficiency and more economy. The
shortened ballot and legislature consist
ing OF one body of a small number of
legislators. will be a step IN the direction
OF solution of the problem. The same
recommendation applies with equal force
to county officials.
1.-The prohibtory laws Of our state have
been enforced equally as well II not better