Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1909-04-15

Margan of desiring no other public
utility legislation except the con-
version of the State Board of Rail-
road Commissioners ilto an ap-
pointive board, instead of one elect
ed by the people. The Governor
did, in fact, recommend the addi-
ton of two members to the board,
the two additional men to be ap-
pointed. Representative Mitchell,
in discussing the failure of the pub
lie utilities bills, remarks that prob
ably majority of the House favor
popular election of these officials,
and if the bills had been passed they
would have been amended so as to
make the two additional members
elective. Mr.. Mitchell says that
number of the supporters of the ad
lninistration bills preferred election
of the board.
A Republican platform plan that
failed in the Legislature was for the
election of the State Tax Commis-
sioners also, who are now appoint
ed for period of four years.
The Capital hopes that the next
Republican platform will reverse
itself on these two propositions.
Certainly the State Tax Commission
has "made good. Gov. Hoch Sc
lected the members with care, and
having four years to serve they are
continuing the good work of year
and two years ago which enabled
Kansas to do what has never been
done in any statc-raise it's assess
nent from 400 to $500 million dol
lars, and without serious injury to
any class of property.
The Railroad Commissioners are
elective, and without disparagement
to the members it is the simple truth
10 say that not a single member
nominated for this expert board had
ever had the slightest experience,
and none of the nominees were
known to have any special fitness
whatever for these important Offices.
1t the utilities bill had passed this
winter, Gov. Stubbs would undoubt
edly have sought through the state
for two men with special fitness for
this work
In the last State campaign in New
York the Democrats were unable to
make fight on the Hughes utilities
law or commissions, but they did
attack Gov. Hugh On the principle
that the commissions should BE-
elected by the people rather thar
appointed by the Cove. nor
Gov. Hughes squarely met tina
challenge and went over the state
urging that the change should not
be made from appointive to elective
in this case. His argument was per
fectly sound. Nobody believes that
the personal wish to control the ap
20 ntments had anything to do witt
Gov. Hughes stand for appoin iv
commissioners. His argument was
that this sort of work is one requir
ing knowledge and peculiar fitness
and that the class of men desired
for such position must usually be
urged to accept appointment, GER
talnly, they will seldom be so eager
for the Office that they will go
through strenuous primary cam
paign to secure the nomination and
later the campaign for election. 1t
is far easier, ds Gov. Hughes SAID,
to get efficient and competent com
missioners when the office can be of
fered to them by appointment, with
out contest. From the Inter state
Commerce commission down, such
boards that have been efficient have
been appointive aud not elective.
The dis ,inction between appoint
i've and elective places is clear. 1t
is when special qualifications of an
expert character are required that
the state will get the best service
from appointment,
Ex-Gov. Folk. .suf Missouri, goes
further than this in favoring more
appointive offices. He puts the
matter in this way:
"Paradoxical as it may seem, the
] fewer elective offices we have the
more government by the people We
shall have. 1t is this way: ! he peo-
pie have no organization. they
cannot organize for the election OF
many. They can concentrate their
attention To one man They can
devote their thought to the election
of Governor and get good man.
But when it comes to electing the
various other State officials it is a
difficult task for them to become
posted on the qualifications of the
various candidates and they vote