Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-12
KANSAS AND

For several years the air of Kansas has
been dense with the smoke of humbug re-
form. Reform is a word used by Populist
politicians for the cajolment of voters. but
it seldom stood for q procedure that was
really ~Teformstory in its character. When
once ~ensconced In power Popuiism expend-
ed its reform spirit in the direction of fsht
ing windmills. II passed a few laws which
possessed some merit. but for the better
part its legislative bills Were a hollow pre-
tense. Such, for example, was the pretend
ed reduction of salaries in the state house
and she' pretended protection OF free labor
from convict labor. Not only was there Il
rron-trifIflrrent OF reform pledges, but the
state administration seemed bent on mimi
MIXING the good results Of previously adopt
ed reform measures. for in almost every
department OF the state government the
spirit. if not the letter. Of the laws was
grossly violated The manner in which the
benevolent institutions were conducted was
an outrageous peryersion of the Kansas
statutes. Some Of the departments. as in
the instance Of the Insurance department.
were administered in direct and open vio-
tariog Of the ierter of the law. The in
sursnce superintendent defied the laws
adopted by the legislature. and in other d.
Visions Of the state government the con-
duct of their officials was almost as inde-
feasible.
The fact that the Populists failed to give
Kansas any genuine reform legislation does
not alter the fact that there is plenty of
opportunity for tine correction of official
evils. The fact that whenever the Pop
ulists come TO power the state institutions
are given over into the hands OF inconpet-
ent men ought to suggest to the INCOMING
legislature a VERY importsnt' pfre Of rey
form.
The shocking scandals at the insane
asylum should enlist every hunane mem
Der of the legislature in an effort to take
these Institutions away from politics and
establish them upon a merit basis. 1t
ought TO be provided by law that the
superintendent Of these asylums must be
specialists in the treatment of brain dis
egses. and II should be provided further
that the attendants must be selected for
their character, skill and training, rather
than for their ability to plug a caucus.
| Wher ir charge Of state affairs the Re
prblicans usually have given the char
liable institutions a reputable administra-
ton Few scandals marked the thirty
years Of Republican rule, the difference
being that they placed a higher grade of
men in charge than those appointed by
Pcpuiist administrations. There is 10 more
reason for changing the officials at one OF
the states benevolent Institutions on ac-
count of politics than there would be IL
changing the professors at the state uni
versity. Kansas needs to rcorGanize rad
ically her system of administering her own
Internal %afairs.t and the coming Repub-
Lean legislature will find a field here for
| genuine reform.
There is another opportunity for reform
in the matter of state printing. 1t is pre-
posterous that Kansas should be maintain
ing an office the profits from which annu-
ally amount TO ten times the sum of the
governors salary. Men have acquired for
tunes in a few years from the profits of
the state printing. and there is no excuse
for it whatever. In conversation with one
OF the candidates for this place before the
incoming legislature a representative of
The Journal was informed that the prices
paid by the state might be cut a large
per cent without deprivine the printer Of
handsome earnings. 1t ought to be made
clear at once to all of the gentlemen who
aspire TO this position that the day of ex-
~travagant profits has gone by. and that the
Republican administration proposes to re-
establish the state printing on a fair basis.
Every time this much needed reform has
been. proposed in former years it was met
with the plea tirat the other fellow made
a good thing and that il wouldn't be fair
TO deprive a party OF any of the fruits of
victory.
There are many other directions in which
genuine reform might be exercised. Some
day d wise man will come TO the legisIa-
ture with al scheme for the reorganization
OF the laws on assessment and taxation. II
he does not appear in this session the leg
stature could do no better than appoint
a non-partisan commission 10 investigate
and report OH a plan with more equity in
its provisions. Under the present system
l." "D oHN SouN'S "h'''r
in another. and sometimes a county line
marks j difference of twofold in the valla.
ton Of acres which are worth the same in
market. ,
If the Populist party had taken up somc
of tie simple but urgent reforms insteat
of expending its force in roaring at corpora
tons it might not have been beaten sc
easily at the recent election. The same
Opportunity. lies before the Republican legis
~lature. and let Us trust that the party is
wise enough TO seize It.
Everybody wanted Teddy to Win.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch irnG.t
There Is no result of the election which