The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-10

Allen White, pointing an inquisitorial
finger at his inquisitor, that eighteen
states have adopted laws permitting
the commission form of government in
cities, in some cases with the initiative
and referendum and recall provisions
attached His inquisitor did not
know, so Bill White, as he is known
in Kansas, proceeded to elaborate.
cat the close of the year 1903 there
were ninety-two cities in the country
with commission government" said he,
NOW there are 1876 cities. American
cities have been adopting commission
government at the rate of one a week
Utilities Commission Idea, Too.
"And do you know said William
Allen White again, that the public
utilities commission plan for the con-
troll of railroads, street cars, telegraph,
gas and light, telephone and water
companies has swept the country?
No; well, twenty-seven states have
adopted the public utilities commission
plan for the control of corporations
within their borders. Ohio has a
splendid law along that line. And
while we are talking about Ohio" said
the inquisitorial informant of The
News, 81 want to say that Ohio has
redeemed itself for the bribery exposes
there. Since the political scandals
were made public there the legislature
has become busy and redeemed seven
OuL VI LlIl6 VI It's PlSOSCS.
'The Oregon plan for the initiative
and referendum has been adopted in
eighteen states, including Arizona. You
people in Colorado have done very
well, but there are. other states which
have been busy. Before the converting
of the last legislature there were nine
states which had the initiative and ref
erendum. The new states which have
recently submitted the oregon plan to
the people are: Washington, Wyoming,
California, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Florida and Wisconsin. In ten other
states the measure passed either one
or both houses by a majority, but not
by constitutional majority.
Fourteen states have now adopted
the Oregon plan for the direct election
of United States senators. Before the
last legislatures there were only four
states which had it,
Comments on Gary Statement.
The name of Ebert H. Gary. chair
man of the directorate of the United
States Steel Corporation, was then
mentioned in connection with his
statement that the government would
have to assume control of corpora
tions:
"The corporation magnates see the
handwriting on the wall" said the
Kansas editor. '"The trend of public
sentiment is unmistakabie The facts
1 have just given you prove it. The
corporations want omething stable
upon which they can depend. They
are willing for a stable control SO that
this constant fight for their privileges
and rights will cease.
1.-The court of commerce, which is
the solution suggested by Gary should
be one of the first national reforms. 1t
is the great issue. The interstate com
merce commission should be broaden
ed so as to take in all CORPORATIONS and
also the control of stocks and bonds.
Some system can be worked out where
by the stocks and bonds can be con-
trolled. The court of commerce should
set the pace for the state commissions
which are now almost universal
Then, having exhausted the ma
tional subject, William Allen White
turned to Colorado.
There are two measures above all
else which the people of Colorado
should demand by initiative if they
can't get them from the legislature.
One is q strict anti-pass law, extending
to railroads, street cars, telephone and
other franks. and the primary for pres
| idential preference. Kansas has the