Gilt

Malinas State rest. Ex

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BIENNIAL REPORT OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE,

TOPEKA, KAN., December 15, 1910.

Hon. W. R. Stubbs, Governor:

SIR-I have the honor to submit herewith the seventeenth biennial report of this department, the same being for the period ending June 30, 1910.

While the practice of including election returns in reports from this office necessarily delays the issue, I am of the opinion that such practice is both beneficial and important, for which reasons I have held this communication until after the general election of 1910, thus making it possible to furnish complete tabulated returns of the primary election held August 2 and of the general election held November 8, 1910.

I have also collected much information of a general character that does not necessarily concern this department, but which will, I believe, be useful and beneficial. For a considerable portion of this information I am indebted to many of the heads of state departments and, state institutions.

Some idea of the increase of the business transacted in this office may be had by a comparison of the fees collected for the two years ending June 30, 1908. There was paid into this office in fees $96,698.63, while for a like term ending June 30, 1910, the fees paid into the office amounted to $200,734.06. The total expenses of this department for the two years ending June 30, 1910, were $24,299.58, leaving a net balance of $176,434.48 paid into the state treasury in excess of the total sum required to maintain the department.

In addition to handling the enormous increase in the regular business of this department, as indicated by the foregoing figures, my assistants voluntarily undertook the tremendous task of reindexing the corporations of record in this office, and when it is understood that there are approximately 40,000 of them some idea of the labor required may be formed. Many of the old records were so worn and faded as to make it practically impossible to rely upon them, and my successor in office (3)