The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-14
New Governors First Message
Is to the Point.
Brief, Concise, Frank Talk to
Members.
FULFILL THE PARTY PLEDGES
That Is the Burden of His
Communication.
Cut the Taxes by AbOlishing
Some Offices.
ELECT JUDGE THOMPSON
Only Thing Democrats Can Do,
Says Hodges.
Names the Issues to Be Fought
Out in Legislature.
That Is the Burden of His
Communication.
Cut the Taxes by AbOlishing
Some Offices.
Only Thing Democrats Can Do,
Says Hodges.
Names the Issues to Be Fought
Out in Legislature.

Whatever merit marks or mistake
that may be checked up to the Gov
ernor Hodges administration durin,
the next two years, it is certain tina
his first message to the Legislature
should go on the merit side of the bi,
ledger. The message is different from
all those that have preceded it from
the hands of the governors that hav'
gone before. In the first place it EN-
braces brevity as the soul of wit anC
understanding. 1t deals frankly an(
fearlessly with all the public questions
at issue in Kansas today. 1t is inter
esting. 1t is plain and simple, convey
ing intelligently to any mind what i
has to say and the points that are tc
be made.
The salient points of the message
that are apt to be the most talked
about among public men here in To
peka and over the state are the fol
lowing:
The new governor urges that Demo
cratic members vote for w. H
Thompson for United States senator
whether they signed statement No. /
or not. Hodges and Thompson had
not been particularly friendly during
friends were spoken of as being in
sympathy with the plan to elect some
one else beside the Garden City Judge.
Hodges comes out flatfooted on this
proposition, and without mincing mat
ters, calls on all good Democrats to
vote for Thompson and fulfill their
pledges to the people who selected
Thompson to represent them in the
national senate.
Hodges comes out squarely for the
Massachusetts ballot law. 1t can be
safely predicted that the effort of the
Democratic legislature will be direct
ed toward amending the Kansas cleo
ton laws in conformity to the Massa-
chusetts law.
Road building occupies promi-
nent place in the message. New and
important road laws may be expect
ed as part of the work of the next
legislature.
Hodges calls for two constitutional
amendments to be submitted to the
people at the next election. The first
of these is the initiative and refer
endum and the next is the election of
state and county offices for four year
terms. The next is the recall of un-
faithful officials and the fourth is
state aid in building roads and
bridges. The new governor ranks the
I. and r. and the recall as the first
two. Only three can be submitted
and he leaves it to the legislature to
select from the four year term and
state aid for roads and bridges for
the third amendment.
He wants mortgages held by nom
residents of the state made taxable
in and by the state.
He urges the unconditional repeal
of the inheritance tax law
He wants a new grain inspection
law.
He is in favor of state publication
of school books.
He asks that his own contingent fund
be cut from $4,000 per year to $5 900
and that the attorney generals fund
be left at $4,000 per year. And he
says in this regard that he will hold
local officials strictly responsible for
enforcement of the prohfbitory law
He wants a commission to prepare a
revision and codification of the laws
so that all useless and conflicting laws
may be removed from the statute
books
He hopes that the legislature will NOT
even introduce a Jim Crow law as
there is no need for such a measure in
Kansas.
He believes that the bank guaranty
utilities and national guard laws of the
state are good laws and have been well
carried out by those responsible for
their effectiveness.
He wants to reduce state expense and
also taxes. He would abolish the of
missioner. making the state auditor do
the accountants work, and the agri-
cultural college the live stock commits
sioner's work He also favors boards
of control for state institutions He
also favors the abolition of high school
visitation. He urges that no state
officer. elective or appointive. be paid
for the time spent in other than his
official duties except for one vacation
n year.
The following is the message:
Executive Office
Topeka, Kan, Jan. IA, 1913.
Gentlemen of the Legislature:
Under and by virtue of the consti-
tuition of the state of Kansas it is the
duty of the governor to communicate
to you such information and to rec
ommend to you such legislation as he
may deem proper and eXpedient
touching state affairs.
L therefore call your attention to
the fact that the congress of the
United States has submitted to the
several states an amendment to the
federal constitution providing for the
election of United States senators by
direct vote of the people. 1 recon-
mend that you promptly ratify the
same and authorize the certification