The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-28

thing like LOO bills were introduced
and several hundred of these were re-
ported by committees and that a great
deal of time was occupied in consider
ing bills which We're ultimately killed
in one house or the other.
The Omnibus Method.
"A great many legislative sins are
committed by the omnibus method.
Measures that meet the positive dis
approval sometimes of a maj rity of
the house or senate are omnibussed,
when if considered separately in either
body their passage would be impos-
sibIe.
81 know of enactments upon The
statute books, that after passing one
branch of the legislature were object
cd out of an omnibus reading and roll
call and were never voted on in the
senate at all, but were shown after
wards by the Journal as having passed
the senate in the usual legal way
The omnibus method would be i'm
possible with single house legisla-
ture of few members.
Roasts New Kansas Laws.
Much time was given to the pass
age of a bill relating to the practice
of opractic-whateVef that is l
LEI this bill become a law without my
signature, but on examination found
that it required me to appoint as
members of a board, three chiroprac-
tors who had practiced their art III
Kansas for two years past In order
to comply with this provision of the
law 1 would have been compelled 10
appoint men or women who had been
openly violating the medical registra :
ton laws of our state for two years
2 thing which, as governor, L refused
to do.
The law governing the inspection
Of hotels and lodging houses contains
this provision: All carpets and equip
ment used in offices and sleeping
rooms, including walls and ceilings,
must be well plastered and be kept in
1 clean and sanitary condition at all
times
Opposition TO Hodges Plan.
I'm my message of March 10, 1919,
| proposed to the Kansas legislature
the substitution for the present sys-
TEN. of a one house legislature con-
sisting of not to exceed sixteen mem
bers. Ny most violent critic has pro-
posed one house legislature com
posed of thirty. l still believe that
the number should not exceed 10.
One-half of them might be elected
from districts. and one-half of them
at large. or they might all be nomi-
mated by districts and elected at large,
with provisions for recall, and the
initiative and referendum. These legls-
lators should be elected for terms of
] our years toNIl' viii AONA'7AOAA 10
expiration in rotation in order to Sc
cure stability and experience.
Il further believe that these leglS-
lators should be nominated and elected
upon Il nOn-partiSan ballot, like that
which has recently been provided in
Kansas for the election of judges; or
if not that, then with provision for
inority representation.
They should be paid salaries which
would enable them to give their time
to the study of state affairs. They
should meet at such intervals as the
business of the state demanded and
should have power to employ expert
assistance in the drafting of laws.
Need of Reform in Kansas.
Just at this time the necessity for
such a legislative body is quite appar-
ent in Kansas. Such a legislature
would enable us to handle the gas sit
uation; it would have enabled us to
handle the situation with reference to
the inspection of grain; it would have
enabled US to handle without trouble
the difficulties arising from the de-
struction of our Irvine plant at the
Kansas penitentiary. 1t would enable
us to provide aid for those counties
which have been sorely afflicted by the
drouth. and so every year, such n body,
able to meet without large expense
whenever necessity required, would be
good business proposition for the
people of the state. As it is. one CO.
ordinate branch of the state govern
ment is absolutely abandoned for a
whole biennium unless the legislature
is cOnVoked in an expensive, extraOr-
session by the governor. 1t is
as if the head of an important depart
ment of some other big business should
give only 1ftv days every two years
to it's management.
In my judgment, such a legisla-
ture as 1 am advoca ting would give us
fewer but better laws: it would give US
laws that need less Interpretation from
the courts and accordi-5ly give US less
litigation. 1t would be representative.
AS matter of fact. under the present
system. the sovereign voter helps elect
one representative out of 1875 and one
senator out of 40 and if his senator
and representative happen to diSa gree,
he is not represented at all. Under the
one-house system, elected as I have
proposed. each vot>r would cast his
vote for either eight or all sixteen, and
If he is alert he may know from the
daily newspapers on which one OF them
to fix the responsibility for any partic-
ular action. but he cannot keep track
of 1855
Doesn't Favor Commission Legislation
What reason is there, may 1 ask,
for adhering to antiquated methods
in conducting the great business of the
state when in every other department
of human activity, newer. more effi-
cient and more economical methods
have been ard are constantly being
adopted. Reasonable conservatism is
a good thing. but let it be progressive
conservatism. Let us adopt, in the
of the public business.
the progressive policies that every
other big business is adopting in the
conduct of it's affairs.
AS L have already said, 1 am not
at this time the adoption
of 4 commission form of government
for the state, but the adoption of
small, one-house legislature. retaining
the present separation of legislative,
executive. and judicial powers. If
this step shall prove successful, we