The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-11
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

ture is a forceful document. He is
forceful in all things he undertakes.
There is scarcely state activity to
which he does not devote attention.
And while it is not probable that there
will be general agreem ent with the
governor on the part of the members
/ of the legislature with all of his old
policies which he reiterates and some
of the new ones which he presents,
there are many of them which are
well worth while even If they are out
of the ordinary. He recommends that
| legislation be enacted or the planks
/ in the last Republican state platform,
in toto. Like President Taft he evil
IDENTIFY believes that campaign pledges
are made to be fulfilled. And it is
| to be presumed that if several of the
| important ones in the platform like
paving the way for the recall. the ini-
tiative and referendum. the election Of
United States senators, according to
the Oregon plan, the adoption of a
public utilities law. and the like, are
not acted upon, the people will find
way of getting such legislation enacted
INFO law. They apparently voted in
favor of it on last election day. They
are entitled to get it.
| In addition to recommending the re-
demption of all the party's promises,
the governor advances ideas on many
divers propositions. that will command
attention. He believes that much OF
the laws delay could be obviated if the
judgment of a jury did not have to be
made up of the unanimous sentiment
of its members and he suggests that
a law be passed which will make the
verdict of nine of the twelve men in
a jury box. the verdict of the jury.
But the governor seems to have slip
| ped a cog in one respect on this same
general subject. He thinks there ought
| to be a law requiring the supreme
court to disregard errors that do not
affect the substantial rights of the
parties concerned. That is just what
the Kansas supreme court has been
doing for several years now. and for
which rather unusual judicial but
Inonetheless proper attitude, 1t has re-
ceived the communication of news
papers and men in all parts of the
country.
| In the matter of the valuation of the
railroads which the governor seems to
think is so essential, he suggests that
a law be passed compelling the rail-
roads to file an itemized account of the
cost of every identical hit of property,
! facilities and equipment that they have
| in Kansas. This would certainly give
the state a line on the value of the
railroads. property, and it would put
the burden of the expense in arriving
at the valuation on the railroads The
governor also thinks it would be well
| to amend the constitution so that all
the revenue needed for state purposes
can be derived from the corporations.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
nection that some of these plans for
the amendment of the constitution will
have to be set aside temporarily There
will have to be separate constitutional
amendments to bring about the recall
the initiative and the referendum 1t
| is likely that some of the legislators
Will have plans of their own for other
possible amendments to the constitu-
ton, and that instrument happens to
provide that not more than three prop
ositions to amend the constitution can
be submitted to the people at one cleo
ton. This limits the legislature from
passing on more than that number of
proposed constitutional amendments.
So it looks as if gubernatorial chick
en- or two had been counted without
there being any possibility Of them be-
ing Matched.
Other important corporation legisla-
ton which the governor thinks would
be worth while is action that would
prevent corporations doing business in
the state from beginning litigation ex-
cept in state courts. And he renews his
Recommendation for a public utilities
commission built along the lines of
those in New York and Wisconsin to
have supervisory and regulatory pow
ers over all the statewide public sery-
ice corporations. The governor evil
IDENTIFY recognizes the justice of the
] claim presented two years ago that
local authorities should have this
power over purely local public service
corporations, and he suggests that such
power be given them, and that it not
be placed in the hands of the state
board.
Governor Stubs also has plans for
strengthening the cause of prohibition
He would like the authority to remove
from Office county officials who fail to
do their duty in enforcing any Of the
laws, and he thinks that second Of
tenders against prohibitcry law should
be sent to prison:
On one important question that is
pressing to the front in Kansas these
days does the governor remain silent
the right of women to vote. He says
nothing in opposition to the movement,
nor does he say a word of encourage
ment for it. He simply ignores it.
J And this is a question Of vital con-
Germ
The governors message is well
worth the time it will take for any
kansan to read it, and it is worth the
serious attention of the Legislators
i.
!. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
Insurance is based upon statistics