Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-01-20

neztsr e6-operats more easily IN me
food prevention work. suggest that the
state drainage engineer at the agricuI-
tura1 college be designated also as state
flood engineer
Prisons and Care of Prisoners
Two years ago 1 directed the legisIa-
lures attention the dilapidated condi
ton OF the greater part of the state peni-
Tertiary at Lansing Two years hard
usage has not improved this condition
An immediate start at rebuilding the
prison should be made A moderate ap-
preparation would enable the warden. by
using prison labor and material TO rebuild
a modern plan the big cell houses
now unsanitary. out-of-date and re-
proach to the state I recommend that
this appropriation be made
1 also urge that careful survey be
made of the entire penal system of the
state that it may be made to conform
more closely to modern ideas of pen
ology Further effort should be exert
sed to make our prisons and peniten-
tiary really reformatory.
greater number of the city and county
jails of Kansas are disgrace to the
farm colony plan for care of jail prison
ers- These men should be kept at work
Provision should be made for teaching
every inmate of our prisons useful trade
that he she may have means of self
support upon leaving the institution 1
urge. too. that provision be made where
by prisoners of the penitentiary may re-
ceive compensation for work done in ex-
cess of a reasona BILE requirement OF work
for their maintenance This especially is
desirable in of prisoners with fant-
lies depending upon them Often these
families suffer greater hardShipS than the
prisoners themselves But even the man
without dependents will feel the incen-
tive to industry and good conduct if he is
earning wages and is accommodating money
with which he may make new start In
life upon his release.
Human welfare.
Among measures for general welfare, 1
especially recommend these
Only a few counties are observing the
law for the payment of pension to
worthy widowed mothers. provided by
the legislature two years ago The law
should be strengthened by requiring each
county to provide funds for this purpose.
Children who through the loss OF par
ents other misfortuneS become wards
OF the state or county, must be given the
ment into Christian manhood and woman
hood The best public institution can
never equal or take the place of home
and home-tra1n1ng- recommend that so
far possible private homes be found
for children of the Orphans home.
state detention home for the care of
delinquent women and girls over II
should be established for the purpose of
teaching such delinquents respect
able means of earning livelihood So
ciety gains nothing by their incarcera ton
or months with no means of self-support
and helpless to cope with the world
To abate the loan-shark evil, cities OF
the first and second class should be au
thOrized establish municipal loan
agencies
The Civil Service
The state of Kansas must take no
backward step in its merit system. Poll
tics has absolutely been eliminated from
the state institutions. In the last two
years your governor has not asked nor
suggested a single change at any insti-
tuition for political reasons. Ability. eff
cheney and integrity have been the only
requirements for holding q public place.
The people do not want to see the state
institutions again made the playthings of
politics OF the 1858 state employees, 40
per cent. or 1.021, are now under the civil
! service law. 1.64S being exempted by law.
If any change is made in the present civil
strengthen it and make infractions of 1t
less easy. The public business of the
state must be divorced absolutely from
partisan politics
The Primary Law.
The people of Kansas look with favor
| upon the Kansas primary election law.
! Some minor changes doubtless are need
| ed, but any effort to repeal it will meet
primary election has come to stay.
/ Abolish the State School of Mines.
recommend abolishing the state school
| of mines at Weir City. This school. es-
U
4 Ooo- The average enrolment during five
years has been less than eighteen, with
/ no graduates. The enrolment in Septem-
| Der of this year was four The school has
met demand of the people: it fills no
/ need; and should Immediately be
l abolished
The State House and Grounds
| Strangers judge a state, well as an
| individual by the condition in which it
keeps it's home and front yard Kansas
cannot be proud of the dilapidated con-
1 dition of the east wing of the state house
and the slovenly-kept state house grounds
1 suggest an ample appropriation for re
storing the east wing and for the beautf-
/ flying and keeping the grounds
/ Report Appropriation Bills Promptly.
/ 1 especially urge that the ways and
| means committee of each house report the
appropriation bills early in the session
| that they may be given the careful con-
| sfderation they require.
| The house of represen tatives is to be
commended for excluding members from
| districts in which state institutions are
| located from service on the ways and
means committee. The same rule should
| prevail in the senate
! Great Chance to Help Kansas.
| In conclusion, 4 desire to congratulate
| gentlemen nf he 1ae~i SIafr of