prove a grevious burden on all who contribute to the support of the state by taxation.

Under the present law, the coal at the Penitentiary is used, first, to supply the various state institutions, and the remainder is sold to a contractor for the highest price that is bid. I believe that it would be wise to make a provision in the law whereby school districts, towns, cities and counties might have the option to purchase coal of the state at the contract price, in car-load lots for public use. If the contractor bid a high price, the money received from purchasers for public use would go into the state treasury, and if the contractor bid a low price the various counties, cities, and school districts would get the coal cheap; in either case the public would get the benefit, instead of the contractor. I believe that they would take enough coal in this way from the state mines to largely reduce the amount that the contractor would receive, and, instead of the profit going to private parties, it would be saved to the public whether the price was high or low.

There are certain recommendations made by the board, to which your attention is directed. The principal necessities seem to be the completion of more cells for the use of prisoners and additional clothing for convicts. The completion of cells will necessitate the placing of heating apparatus and a few other necessities in these cells. I would recommend to your honorable body that the efficiency of this institution should not be impaired by any lack of substantial assistance on your part. Economy that would make conditions so that the guilty could escape from prison cells, and again be thrown loose upon the community and society, would not be economy in line with the best interests of the state. Your committees from the two houses will visit this institution, and no doubt will carefully investigate and report to you any improvements or changes necessary to add to the efficiency of the institution.

Reform Schools.

If there is any institution in the state which is open to criticism, in my judgment the reform school for boys, situated in our capital city, is that one. Not that I would charge incompetence upon its management or employees, but from the fact that it is impossible to reform boys in idleness. The miniature man is so constituted that he must have something to employ his mind and hands or he will invent something for himself. An old proverb of doubtful origin says: "Satan always finds work for idle hands to do "; and if this be true--and I accept it as true I think his satanic majesty is quite likely a visitor at the reform school.

I am informed that when this school was established the object sought was to take the erring boys and lead them to a better and higher life. In order to do this, they should be taught trades, and made useful citizens. For some reason unknown to me, the legisla

ture has failed to make appropriations for buildings and mechanical apparatus for carrying out this idea. True, a drill-master has been employed, and the boys are being trained in the manual of arms for the life of a soldier. I cannot agree with the superintendent's report that this is proper and right. My experience is that nine out of ten boys who go astray do so through the influence of dime novels and cheap literature, wherein bandits, highwaymen, blood and thunder and gunpowder are promiscuously mixed. Any training which they might receive in the line of creating bloodshed and gory war inculcates the same idea on the inside that brought them there from the outside. In my humble judgment, they should be taught and instructed in the line of a peaceful citizenship, rather than that of a soldier and war.

I recommend to the legislature, if it is thought impracticable to furnish apparatus suitable for teaching them trades, that additional appropriations be made for the Hutchinson reformatory, and that the boys be removed there, where they can have the influence brought upon them that will lead them in the right line. In case you should see fit and proper to do this, the Reform School building could be used for additional room for the insane.

I am not informed under what conditions the real estate on which the Reform School buildings stand was procured. If by purchase, then the legislature can make this removal without losing the state's title to the land: if, on the other hand, the conveyance was such that it had to be occupied for the purpose of a reform school, this latter suggestion would be ill advised. However, I cannot refrain from asking that something be done in the matter. A continuation of Dick Turpin and Jesse James ideas inside the walls of this institution will not reform the boys, and while it may hold them in restraint for the time being and relieve society of their presence and influence, yet, when they are turned loose, in my judgment, their moral condition will not be improved to any great extent.

To reform the erring and make good citizens of young men and boys who have been led astray is one of the noblest works in which men engage. With the view of doing this the reformatory at Hutchinson was established by the legislature in 1885, was made ready for occupancy in 1895, and opened with 30 of the least hardened criminals from our state penitentiary. The report of the board and my knowledge of the institution lead me to believe that it has proven a success and is solving the question of what to do with young criminals who are started on a career of crime. In connection with the institution is a farm of 640 acres, which I am informed has produced about 12,000 bushels of corn this year, in addition to a large amount of vegetables for use in the institution, in return for the work of the boys. A tailoring department and a shoe factory are conducted, where the inmates are taught trades. Schools are maintained at night for those who labor during the day, and during the day for

those who do not labor. The rooms now completed are crowded to their full capacity, and the board of directors is asking for an appropriation to complete certain portions of the building so that it can be used to accommodate other inmates. This will necessitate more help, and in my judgment the requests should be granted and the object it seeks to obtain be encouraged, to the end that the erring may be reclaimed and our young men and boys who have taken a step in the wrong direction be brought back to the path of rectitude and right and made honorable citizens, rather than hardened criminals.

Industrial School for Girls.

The fourth biennial report of the superintendent of the Industrial School for Girls, at Beloit, is before me. All that I have said relative to the reformatory for boys, at Hutchinson, will apply to this institution. While that teaches good citizenship and habits of industry to erring boys, this does the same for wayward girls. The results of this institution and its keeping are very gratifying to those who wish to see the world made better through precept and example inculcated in the minds of the erring of younger years. The last legislature made certain needed improvements for this worthy instition. The superintendent and the State Board of Charities deem it essential that certain improvements be made. I would commend to you these reports, and ask that this institution, like the Hutchinson Reformatory and the other institutions of the state, receive fair and just treatment, keeping in view at all times the efficiency of the institution and the welfare of the inmates.

Board of Agriculture.

History of the Board of Agriculture has been a matter of public derision, but in later years, in the hands of competent men, who have taken a deep interest in the matter, it has become a matter of state pride and of much benefit to the agricultural portions of our state. The reports of this office have not only received commendations from the press of the state, but have been accepted as good authority on certain matters in our sister states. As a large portion of our citizens are interested in agriculture, I deem it right and proper that this board should receive due consideration at your hands, to the end that Kansas may have the advantage of the experience of others, and along the different lines which bring success to the men engaged in this calling.

The last report of the secretary can be found at his office, and has not been mailed out to the people of the state on account of no appropriation for postage. This matter will be called to your attention early in the session, and I have no doubt you will promptly attend to it. I would recommend a careful consideration of the report, and that the suggestions made be fairly investigated and carried out by your honorable body.

Board of Public Works.

My predecessor, in his message to the legislature two years ago, recommended the abolishment of the Board of Public Works. The Senate, of which I had the honor to be a member at that time, upon this recommendation made no appropriation for its maintenance. The law, however, governing the board and its appointments was not repealed. Hence you, no doubt, will be asked to make an appropriation for the board which was appointed by my predecessor after the adjournment of the legislature. This is a matter which I will leave entirely to your judgment. I cannot refrain, however, from saying that I heartily agree with the recommendation made by Governor Morrill that the board should be abolished. We have a state architect, whose duty it is to make the plans and specifications for our state buildings. It appears to me that he, in connection with the different boards which have charge of these institutions when completed, can attend to these matters. In another portion of my message I have recommended the consolidation of the penal and charitable boards of the state.

I therefore recommend that the law creating the Board of Public Works be repealed, and the law governing the charitable and penal boards be so amended that they, in connection with the state architect, shall have the supervision of the public buildings which come under their jurisdiction when completed.

Board of Health.

The report of the Board of Health has many valuable suggestions in regard to the sanitary conditions of our different state institutions, and while some people are prone to criticize the work of this board, yet I am inclined to believe that when properly conducted it is of much importance to the people of the state. The greatest blessing vouchsafed to man is health, and anything or any means that may be used to prevent contagious diseases from spreading ought to be encouraged. Any precautions that may be taken to lessen the chances of disease are certainly beneficial to mankind.

As a rule the health of the people of Kansas is good. As yet we have never been subject to a pestilence, like some of our sister states, and, in order to guard against a visitation of this kind, it would be well to encourage the work of this board. The report bears many suggestions, no doubt, which your committees on health and hygiene will consider. The reports, as far as they concern our state institutions, should be carefully considered and proper investigation made, to the end that the health of the inmates may receive the greatest protection possible.

Historical Society.

The State Historical Society is recognized as the great library which compiles and comprises the history of the state. In its rooms are the newspapers published in the days when it tried men's souls

to stand against the encroachments of slavery and the border ruffians that infested the state for the purpose of placing Kansas among the slaveholding oligarchies of the south. Perhaps in no place in the world can be found a better history of the early days of the great civil war in its inception than in this institution. Aside from this, there are many portraits of Kansas men and women who have contributed a large share to the upbuilding of the state and its institutions. Relics of pioneer life and historical incidents are placed on exhibition there, open to the inspection of all. Founded by the newspaper men of Kansas, and cared for by our legislative bodies, it has become a great library filled with knowledge of the past, where all students of Kansas history can inform themselves on matters that belong to the different periods of the state growth.

The secretary of the society, in a complete and exhaustive report, sets forth the condition, needs and contents of this institution. A difference seems to have risen between the society and the state library. The question at issue appears to be the duplication of books by the two institutions. I believe it wholly unnecessary that such books be duplicated, and that a policy should be adopted by the legislature so that the appropriations made for the purchase of books should give us only one set of books. The secretary also complains of lack of room to hold all the contributions and purchases made. I would recommend that this be furnished and fair treatment be accorded this useful work.

Horticultural Society.

The State Horticultural Society was organized for the benefit of those who devote their time, or a portion of their time, to developing the horticultural resources of the state. When we consider that the Kansas apple brings a higher price as far east as New York than the fruit of that noted state, we can see something of the advantages of keeping this society in a position to disseminate its ideas and knowledge. The premium awarded the state at the Centennial Exposition was one of the most important factors in calling the attention of the people of the East to Kansas.

It has been the custom of the legislatures to make certain appropriations for the maintenance of this society. I would recommend that it be continued. Our future prosperity as a state depends, in a large measure, upon the diversity of our industries. Horticulture is no small factor, and one that has been demonstrated a success, and the source of much revenue to the people engaged in it.

State Library.

According to the report of the state librarian, we have, at present, 37,577 volumes of books in the state library, which shows that Kansas is keeping step with her sister states as far as this institution of so much importance is concerned. The librarian complains of the crowded condition, and states that more room must be provided in