The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-06
STUBS MESSAGE
Asks Legislature to Increase
Railroad ROard.
Additional Work Imposed Aakes
This Necessary.
OFFERS AN OBJECTION
Thinks Physical Valuation Ap-
preparation Too Large.
Not Disposed to Interfere With
Legislative PrerOgatives.

message to the legislature today:
THE enactments of this legislature
will very largely increase the duties of
the board of railroad commissioners
during the next two years. The addi-
tional work which has been imposed
upon that board is of vast and vital
Importance to the farming, CONNER
cial and industrial interests of our
state.
| Il most earnestly recommend that
you increase the number of railroad
commissioners from three 10 five and
empower the governor to appoint two
additional members of the board who
shall be chosen with special reference
to their technical knowledge of rail-
road affairs and qualifications for the
office to which they are appointed.
L am aware that this proposition
will subject me to the criticism of seek
ing to multiply offices and increase pat
ronage at my disposal, but these state
ments will be more than answered by
my recommendation to the legislature
to consolidate three state boards into
one which, if enacted into law would
have eliminated six appointiVe offices,
and the further recommendation that
five oil inspectors, each of whom re-
celved a salary and expense account of
500 per month and were also appoint
i've by the governor, be abolished, and
TIE 1uIlueI IdCI IIdC DIT the very De-
ginning of this administration I direct
ed the state grain inspector to discharge
every man who was not needed in his
department which cut out II more ap-
pointive officers, each of whom received
$S5 per month.
Should Be Appointive.
''While I am strongly impressed
with the opinion that this kind of a
board should be appointed by the
governor and that he should be held
| responsible directly to the people for
the results of their work. yet if the
legislature in its wisdom considers it
best to have them elected by the peo-
pie I will cheerfully defer to their
judgment. But to induce men of great
capacity for this class of work to be-
come candidates for such offices, the
official term should be made four
years, whether they be appointive or
elective, so that the officers of that
board will have time to formulate a
policy and pursue it for a sufficient
length of time that the people may be
able to determine its wisdom before
their terms expire.
1.-The proposed appropriations of
$4,000 for physical valuation of rail-
roads are in my judgment unneces-
sarily extravagant. II this legislature
will enact into law the measure which
has passed the house requiring the
railroads to furnish itemized state
ments, under oath, of the value of
their property, and appropriate $25,-
600 per annum to be used for physical
valuation of railroads, the state Will
very soon be in a position to make
rates intelligentIy and defend their
schedules in any court in the land.
st have no disposition whatever to
interfere with the constitutional pre-
rogatives of the legislature to make !
the laws of this state, but it is my
sworn duty to press upon your atten-
ton those matters which I believe will
promote the general welfare of this |
commonwealth. I, therefore, urge |
your most serious consideration of the |
matters herein above mentioned.
''W. r. STUBBS."
Rushing the Work.
The house is winding up its affairs
today Like the man who went on |
placed everything in order, the house
is rushing things toward one single |
The local pllls
have all been disposed of, the concur
rent resolutions and bills on third read |
ing were cleaned up today. There only |
some 200 bills on general orders
some Is appropriation bills among them-
The clerks are working overtime on |
the house records, while the members
were in buzz of disorder all day con-
ferring with each other on the matters
that must be disposed of before MON
dav night at midnight Long speeches
on anV subject are absolutely barred |
The speakers gavel has worked IKE
steam trip-hammer all day IN the Ell
forts to keep order Ihe con1uslon OF
last hours of every legislation is al
ready apparent.
Work in Harmony.
In spite of the fact that the utilities
hill fight was the bitterest, the hardest
and longest ever had in any state leg
islature in the past II years the mem,
hers today worked together in peace and
good will. There are no sore spots
apparent, no personal enmities. A
lot of important and beneficial leglsla-
left undone and some foolish and dras- |
tic bills passed. No house ever work
ed harder, did less, talked longer or ate
more apples.
The house committees worked long
and hard carefully considering all OF
the one thousand bills introduced
A lot of work will be left over for
Monday. but if the same progress IS
made that marked the past two days
the calendar will have been well clear
ed of important bills when the gaVel
v,ie rJ,f