The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-10

but there is a diversity or views as 20
the details of such a measure Some
general features, however would seem
to be especially free from reasonable
objection, namely: that the party pr1-
maries should all be held upon the
same day and under substantially the
same general rules as those which
govern the general election; that the
law against perjury should obtain
mere as there and all the ordinary
safeguards now thrown around the
general election should guard the prf-
mary ballot box. Personally. / am of
the opinion that no one should be
permitted to vote at .. party primary
who had not identified himself with
that party at the last general election,
because one of the evils OF the present
system is that members Of an OPP
posing party will help nominate can
didateS upon another ticket often for
the express purpose of having a weak
ticket in opposition to theirs. OF
course. this kind of political jugglery
should be prevented, if possible, in
any new system that may be adopted.
Many states have adopted primary
election laws, perhaps the most re-
cent one being the state OF Wiscon-
sin. Among the provisions of the law
IN that state, as I understand it. is one
practically providing for the election
Of United States senators by the peo-
PIE a contamination devoutIy to be
wished here as elsewhere), the law
providing that candidates for that Of
nee must run for nomination at the
primary election, and the candidate
who wins at the primary will be rec
commended to the legislature as the
party's nominee. OF course, this rec
ommendation is not compulsory be-
cause the constitution of the United
states provides that senators shall be
CHOSEN by the legislature, but it is
nardLy probab Bile that a legislature
would disobey the wishes of the peo-
PIE thus expressed. / sincerely trust
mat this subject will receive your
careful attention and that a wise
Dill viii be finally agreed upon and
promptly enacted into law.
Congressional Re-apportfonment
me re-apporuonment of the state
INTO congressional districts is one of
the imperative duties of this legis-
azure the last territorial apportion-
nent was made in 1888, at which time
me state was entitled to a represen-
latlon Of seven in the congress of the
united States In 1880 a new con-
sasssInan was allotted to Kansas I'M
dSr congressional appOrtionment since
WHtch Tune this state has been rep-
resented by a ngressman-at-Iarge
successive legislatures have failed Ia
perform their duty in the re-appor-
uonment of the state into eight CON
gress1onal districts, and EARNESTLY
nope that this legislature will NOT
neglect this duty. The people expecf
y ana viii be greatly disappointed If
II Is not done. No personal interests
should be permitted to prevent tha
performance of this plain duty. IT is
no renectIon at all upon the eminent
gentlemen who have served the state
Win distinguished ability in This noel
ton in the past or upon those w1ho
may De called to perform similar
outles IN the future. so saw thai M
oLe can serve the state so acceptablv
OF SO prontably in this manner aS
When representing a definite const;9
luency such as is contemplated nv fha
o,rulnary congressional district ana
HE ses.-s.d Is enuued to the best posi-
DIE service from its public servants
Depository for Public Finds
RMS legislature viii doubtless he
asked to establish a public denosito,rr
OF system of repositories where NH,
~ 1uhds snail be placed upon interest
lur me Denef1t of the state. Some law
should be passed of this kind which
Will enable the counties. or the state
70 receive the benefit of accr1lfne IN,
Ierest on accumulated public money
NO pans are proposed: one for the
SstaDlShment of a state deDoSiforxr u,
winch the interest upon fha rno1a1-
lhereln deposited shall accrue 10 fba
STATE and, the other providing that
ne seInl-annual remittances from the
various county treasurers to tha state
treasurer shall be held in countv a.
posltorles until the state treasurer
snau need the money, counties TINS
Wlthholding their renittances fo "a
ceiVe the benefit of the interest on the
unOn
sums already generally deposifed in
the local banks The simpler and cas-
Ter plan would be to esta blish a state
but more equitable divi-
SION or the benefits on such deposits
would result from the adoption Of the
county plan. If this latter Man
should be adopted, however, it should
pc carefully guarded so that sudden
aus at from the state treasurer might
not seriously embarrass the local
banks. The state of Missouri received
N interest from its state depository
asst year the handsome sum Of So
aoo.o1- 70 the wisdom of the leg
stature this subject is confidently
submitted.
Good Roads.
Perhaps no modern movement is |
II wider significance or of more gen |
aral interest than that which is COM /
q known as THE Good Roads
Movement Widespread interest in I
peter public thoroughfares is every- |
where manifest. Congress has taken
1efln1te action in the matter; the gen
eral government is lending substantial
ald; the public prints are full Of dis /
on the subject, while state
legislatures are crystalizing these ad-
5anced ideas into law. The subject t
s one Of great importance, especially |
% the farmers. Good roads are not
only a matter of convenience. but of |
practical financial value. This matter
should receive your most careful and /
favorable attention.
Civil Service.
The platform upon which a major
ty of the members of this legislature /
we're elected favored the application
II reasonable civil service rules to |
he employees of state institutions. I
Every student of government must
come to the conclusion that
he extravagant- application of what
s known in politics as 1.-The Spells
System" which makes the public SER
nee the mere tool of partisanship and /
lacuOnaHsm. and demands the whole
ale changing of public servants after /
every election merely to crafty per-
sonaL or factiOnal or rar.tisan inter l