The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-10
regulations by reading the recon-
mendationS.
Capper's Message.

Capper's Message.
In his message, Governor Capper
said:
Gentlemen of the Legislature:
If this legislature will get down to bus
mess this afternoon; keep down to bus
mess every DAY for the next few weeks !:
restrict the number of its employees to the
minimum; refrain from playing politics; ;
kick out the grafters; maintain a strict re-
gard for economy; guard against the limo
cent-looking jokers the lobby will have
ready to slip into bills: transact all bus
mess in the open enact the legislation that
we have promised the people, but make as
few laws as possible; refrain from legisla-
ton in behalf of special interests of any
sort; straighten out some. of the worst
tangles of our complicated code; and then
adjourn promptly and go home, the people
of Kansas will rise up and call you blessed.
The Condition of the State.
In a material way, Kansas was never
before so prosperous. Our taxable wealth
is now $3.50, S94, S3T. 1t increased $175,-
100000 in the last two years, and this does
not include $1,000 900 of property be-
longing to churches, schools, lodges and
other public institutions not taxed.
Our taxable per capita wealth is 81 703.
That this wealth is fairly evenly distrib-
uted is proved by the public utility com
panies of the state. They own only one
seventh of the states total property, while
the people own siX-sevenths.
Our bank deposits in round numbers ag
gregate S}0G. 000, 900. increase of $685.
000,G00 in two years
The people of Kansas own ia ,323 auto
mobiles, an increase of 6. SIS in two years.
Our farm products for 1916. aggregated
$3.50 900 and our livestock $325. 0OO, 900
an increase for the two OF $2J,0G0.O00 in
one year.
Our manufactured products during the
year, from the best available Information,
amounted to $35,OG0,O00 an increasegof $25.-
600, 900. -
Our transportation companies never did
such business in the last year; their
facilities We're overturned in carrying Kan
saS products.
Kansas is one of the few states of the
union which has no state bonded indebted
ness, the last bond having been cancelled
last year. Our municipal bonds bearing
low rate of interest, are prime favorite
in the money markets of the world. Pay
sically and financially, Kansas has every
reason for congratulation
Politically, Kansas happily is free from
the more notorious forms of graft and
public corruption which at times have dis
graced American commonwealths. Our
people are iaw-abiding and they demand
the faithful performance of duty by their
public servants. Deep in the consciousness
of every thinking man and woman in Kan
sas is this thought:
We are not doing the best we can do with
our problem of self government We do
not conduct the business of government
with the same efficiency that we conduct
the shortcomings of public servants than
with those of individual employees We
have relied too much upon the Bird o.
freedom, the Star SpangIed Banner poll
teal windjamming. and campaign bun
combe and not enough upon plain. bus
mess sense. Self government h;$ nor fail
ed. But we have not had eIf-government
we nave left government to precedent and
indifference and red tape and eNpediency
and all the other attendants of mismanag e-
ment and bad government. And we nav
the price IN high taxes and poor service
That, gentlemen. is the Kansas state
! last fiscal year paid $35.7SS, 900 in state
and local taxes. an increase of 81 300 Ogl
/ over the preceding year. This wear they
! Will pay. more This is due partly to the
increased cost Of every commodity bought
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