The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-10
Governor for Commission Form
State Government.
His Message to the Legislature
Today.
DEFECTS OF PRESENT SYSTEM
Not Time Enough to Do Work
Well.
Proposes Legislative Assembly
Two for Each District.
CONVENE OFTEN NECESSARY
CONVENE OFTEN NECESSARY
And Properly Consider and
Draw Up Laws.
Wants Members to Go Home
and Talk 1t Over With People.

Governor Hodges today sent his first
message to the legislature since the
dav that body convened. The COVER
nor favors state government by COM
mission rather than by two branches
of the legislature. He proposes one as
sembly of two members from each OF
the eight congressional districts to re-
place present two bodies of 165 1egis-
lators. He urges this for considera-
ton in the future and wants thee
members to talk it over with the folks
at home. The governor says:
Topeka. March 10, 1913.
To the Legislat re of the State of
Kansas:
AS the legislative duties of the leg
islature of 1913 draw to close L de-
sire to congratulate the members of
both branches on the magnificent work
which they have accomplished. 1 be-
Ieye that 1 am justified in saying that
YOU have worked harder and accom-
plished more than any legislature in
recent years. About every pledge you
made to the people last year has been
fulfilled.
But 1 am convinced that this mag
nificent record is due rather to the
efficient membership this legislature,
than to the system.
ing number of thoughtful people, 1 am
persuaded that the instrumentalities
for legislation provided for in our state
constitution, have become antigua
ted ana inefficient Our system is fash
ioned after the English parliament,
with it's two houses based upon the
distinction between the nobility and
the common people, each house repre-
sentative the divers interests of these
classes. No such reason exists in this
state for a dual legislative system and
even in England at the present time
the dual system has been practically
abandoned and the upper house shorn
of its importance, and 1 believe that
we should now concern ourselves in
devising a system for legislating, that
will give us more efficiency and quick
er response to the demands of our
economic and social conditions and
to the will of the people.
1 have been led to this conclusion
by an experience of eight years as a
member of the senate of this state and
my convictions on this subject are by
no means of recent date. AS far back
printed in one of the great dailies- L
advocated that our present Legislative
system be abandoned and that a leg
iSlative assembly of thirty members
from thirty legislative districts, under
the check of the recall, be provided
for in it's place The suggestion made
at that time met with much favorable
comment, and 1 firmly believe that
there is a growing public opinion in
its favor.
Not Time for Good Work.
You senators and representatives
cannot but have observed the defects
of our present system. In a short ses-
sion of fifty days, you are required to
measures and the hurry with which
this must be done. must of necessity
result in a number of more or less
crude and iIl-digested laws, which of
ten puzzle learned juristS to interpret
with anything like satisfaction to
themselves or to the public. Hundreds
of measures also embodying import
ant legislation, die on the calendar ev-
cry two years. After a brief session.
the legislature adjournS and the bust
ness of one coordinate branch of the
state government is absolutely aban-
doned for a whole biennium. unless
the legislature is convoked in an ex-
pensive extraordinary session by the
governor. 1t is as if the head of an
important department of some other
big business should give only fifty
days every two years to its manage
ment.
The Veneration for Ancient Custom.
I am aware of the veneration with
which ancient institutions are regarded
in some quarters. but I see no reason
why we should cling to these institu-
tions in carrying on the all important
affairs of the state, when in almost
every other activity of life We are dis
carding old traditions and antiquate ted
methods for newer and progressive
ideas and more efficient and economic
methods. This legislature has itself
discarded the antiquated and inefficient
methods of managing the business of
our big institutions and have concen-
trated the responsibility in the hands
of a few. instead of many boards-in
a word has applied to them the prin-
ciple of government by commission. We
have recognized in this state also that
the old methods of city government are
expensive inefficient and unsatisfac-
tory and everywhere the commission
plan of city government is being
adopted and in almost every case is
welding high class results.
Favors Government by Commission.
For myself, 1 can see no good reason
why this new idea of government by
commission should not be adopted for
the transaction of the business of the
state. Two years ago L suggested
single legislative assembly of thirty
members from thirty legislative dis
tricts. 1 am now inclined to believe
that this number is too large and that
a legislative assembly of one, or at