The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-07
Sentiment Appears to Favor
Such Change.
Davis of KiOwa Believes Question
Ready for Submission.
CLOSE INLAST SESSION
Joint Resolution Had the NeceS-
sary Majority.
But 1t Failed to Get Necessary
TWO-Thirds in House.

Commenting today on the discus
sion revived recently regarding an
amendment to the constitution to pro-
vide that state officers be elected for
a term of four years, ]. w. DAVIS
representative from Kiowa, expressed
himself in favor of such an amend
ment as follows:
1.-The constitution should be amend
ed so as to prescribe a four years
term for state officers, and they should
be ineligible to reelection, ana lneHS-
fble, also, to hold any other ONCE our
ing the term for which they are eject
ed. A concurrent resolution TO tnat
effect was offered in the house at the
last session, and received the approval
of a Joint session of both the mousse
and senate judiciary commlttees' puI
afterward failed to receive the neces-
sary two-thirds majority in the house
Some of the persons who opposed II
and voted against it, and denounced
II as an 'un-American doctrine, are
now in favor of it, and are even claim
ing credit for the proposition. Ihere
are two sides to the question, but the
weight of opinion is in favor of the
amendment"
1t was Mr. Davis who introduced the
resolution he speaks of and a minor
ity report was made by the judiciary
committee on the resolution. The ma
jority report against it had only one
majority G. H. Buchanan OF VIM
field, chairman of the committee
signed the majority report against the
resolution. The minority report, as
found in the last house journal, READS
az follows:
the committee attending the meeting
believe that the resolution ought to be
adopted by the house. A short time
ago the judiciary committee of the
house and senate met in JOINT Ses-
sion and this proposed amendment
was one of the three most favorably
regarded by the meeting of the joint
committee. Since that time one or two
members of the house committee have
apparently changed their views on
that question, which leaves those fav-
oring the resolution in minority of
one.
This committee would respectfully
urge that in its judgment the time has
come in Kansas when state officers
should hold for a period of four years
and be ineligible for reelection. Such
a policy would give greater stability to
our laws and enable state administra-
tons to more effectualiy carry out state
policies The vast expense attending
primary election would be largely avoid
ed. We also believe that the state eX-
ecutive officers should be ineligible to
reelection and that the temptation and
opportunity should be removed for the
upbuilding of a great political machine
to further personal ambitions. We ex-
press the hope that the house will en-
terrain the soundness of these views
and that the resolution will pass
The minority report was signed by
Jay ]. Buck, S. L. Ryan, 7. F. Morri-
son, J. w. Davis, c. w. Reeder, Frank
j. Morrill,
There is & fast growing sentiment
over the state as expressed by news
papers and politicians in favor of the
four-year term for state officers. Such
a plan would in q measure, remove
the state from the unrest and expense
of a state election every other year,
and would enable a state administra-
tion TO stand on its own bottom from
the first and not be busy during the
first two years planning to hold office
the next two years. The plan is sue
cussful in Missouri. 1t is believed that
a resolution to thus amend the consti-
tuition will be presented early In the
next session.
J. ]. Veatch, of Washington county,
a veteran of the last house. is here
today. Mr.. Veatch has some pronounced
views on many important matters and
he says he will give them expression
during the session. For instance, he is
opposed to the building of the medical
hospital at Kansas City. Kan, and will
heW to the line on Auditor Nations
cut of the appropriations for the state
institutions. The proposed swimming
pool for Manhattan made the Washing
ton member snort in disgust. 1.-The
farmer boys in my time used to wade
knee deep in the mud to get in the
creek he said, land now they want
4 cement bath tub to swim in Mr..
Veateh will also oppose the new ath-
letic field for K. U. He favors the con-
solidation of boards as proposed by
Auditor Nation. and believes that the
penal institutions should be placed I'M
der the board of control.
The following state senators are in
the city today: J. A. Milligan of An
derson, c. L. Harris of Butler, A. F.