The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-21
Mr.. CLARK DENIES.
He Had Nothing to Do With
State Printer Resolution.

State Printer George A. Clark says
that he had no knowledge of the state
printer amendment resolution in the last
! legislature until some time after it had
| been introduced. This is the resolution
| to submit a constitutional amendment
at the election next year to make the
state printer elected by the people in
stead of by the legislature.
The first knowledge that I had of
such a resolution at all was when some
Olution had been introduced in the SEN
ate. Of course I was somewhat inter-
ested in anything that had to do with
the state printer. and went to the senate
chamber to look up the resolution. When
1 went to Senator Kennedy. its author,
came to me and asked if / objected to it.
] told him no, would lust as lief take
my chances in a state convention as in
the legislature.
Il was accused last winter of trying
to smother the resolution and or being
generally opposed to it. / was not. The
first that / knew that it may affect my
term of Office was about month ago.
When the controversy about it's not be-
up, / wanted to find out just how it
stood, and I went to G. c. Clemens and
asked him for an opinion covering the
whole thing. In that opinion, which
Mr.. Clemens gave me about a month ago,
he holds that a resolution to submit
constitutional amendment does not have
to be published in the statute book, even
though the resolution statest hat it
shall be so published. He also held that
my term will last over until a state
printer is elected by the people, unless
it should be considered as new Office
and left for the governor to appoint.
Il see that 1 and my friends are being
blamed for working this resolution
through the legislature as a scheme.
Last winter I was blamed with opposing
it. AS matter of fact 7 knew nothing
about it's effect whatever on my term
of office"
The opinion which G. c. Clemens pre-
pared for Mr.. Clark is lengthy one
and goes into the entire question. The
last paragraph is as follows:
1.-The adoption of a constitutional
unless inconsistent with it. neither the
existing provision nor the proposed
amendment contains anything on the
subject of when the term is to begin nor
what is to be done in case of vacancy.
These are matters of legislation, and the
Legislature has made the necessary pro-
vision. The office remains.
THE change is in the method of cleo
IN amepded or reneaieaf nv fut,re "a leeise
lative action. Unless the legislature of
1905 shall determine otherwise by act
passed for the purpose, If 1ae amendment
should be adopted, the new state printer
will take his office July ], 1907, and the
present state printer will hold over till
that time. unless it should be held that
the adoption of the amendment creates
a new office which is vacant TIL it can
be regularly filled. in which event the gov
ernor would in December. 1904, when the
votes are canvassed, appoint under the
statute for the unexpired term.
Should the amendment be adopted,in no
event could the legislature fill the office.
It's power would be as if 1t had never ex-
isted The office could be filed only by
vote of the people or by the governor.
This is certain. Whether the adoption of
the amendment would create vacancy
for the governor to fill. we need not irn.l-
bic ourselves to determine at this time"