The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-24
Idea Commission Form State
Government Spreading.
SENATOR QUINCY is FOR IT
Other States Are Discussing
Hodges Message.
DIR. Graybill May Be a Candi-
date for Governor.

Within the next month the state re-
ference library will issue a bulletin on
the proposed new commission form OF
government for states, as advocated by
Governor George H. Hodges in a recent
message to the Kansas legislature. This
data Is being compiled by Miss Casey,
reference librarian, and she will pub
hsh In phamplet form all reviews on
the new reform which have been
printed in recent years.
since Governor Hodges sent his spe-
cial message to the legislature advo-
eating the adoption of a one house COM
mission form legislature, hundreds of
inquiries concerning the new plan have
been received by the reference library.
At present the new plan is a live subject
for debate in many of the schools and
colleges of the state. Governor Hodges
plan calls for commission form of Leg
1slature which shall devote it's entire
time to the work of codifying and re-
pairing the present laws on the statute
books in addition to enacting new leg
islation to meet the demands of the
state.
Not only has this new plan been
widely discussed in Kansas, but it has
brought many inquiries from other
probably be strongly advocated by
political parties outside the boundaries
of Kansas. Oregon discussed the plan
year ago. Other states have talked
about it. Yet in none of the states of
the Union is the plan in actual opera
ton. Now Miss Casey is collecting all
possible information on the subject and
will next month issue a booklet deal
ing entirely with the one house legisla-
ture. This phamplet will be given
state wide circulation and copies will
be furnished to persons in other states
who are interested in or have advo-
Gated the new reform.
One of the enthusiastic exponents
of the new plan of commission form
of government for states is Fred H.
Quincy of Salina, who was for eight
years senator from the Salina- Ottawa
county district. Several years ago
Quincy advocated the new plan and
his theory was at that time widely
published.
II have always been in favor of
commission government for cities, and
am in favor of any form of COM
mission government for the state
which will systematic and depart
mentize the business of the state along
the same lines that successful private
business is conducted" he said,
''The legislative department of the
state should, in my opinion, be re-
and given ample time to consider all
laws thoroughly before enactment in
stead of after, as at present. Any
one who has closely observed the
present method of legislation Will
readily agree that this change would
be beneficial to a degree.
"In my opinion five commissioners,
one of whom should be the governor.
at the head of five departments of the
state business with sUbordinates tun-
der civil service. could handle the bus
mess of the state much more effi-
ciently and at great saving In cosr
over the present system. For the ex-
ecutiVe departments OF the state, or
course, the commissioners should be
elected by the people. and would be
held responsible for their various de-
partments and should be made sub
ject to recall for unfaithfulness in Of
flee"
Among the men who have been
as possible harmony can
didaes for governor on the Republi-
can ticket in 1914, is DR.. J. w. Gray
bill of Newton, recently elected grand
master workman for the A. o. U. w.
in Kansas. By virtue of his work in
lodge affairs, DIR. Graybill is well
known in the state and he has for a
mum Der of years taken an active hand
in the political affairs in the Seventh
and Eighth districts.
DR. Graybill was elected as grand
examiner for the Workmen in
1907 and last year was named as
grand master when the Kansas lodge
men met in Independence 1t was
largely through his efforts that the
suit with the supreme lodge was set
tied and the lodge membership slump
in Kansas was blocked. In the mean
time DIR. Graybille continued to take
an active hand in the political affairs
of the state and fought and bled for
the Republican cause in the Eighth
While the Newton man has
made no formal announcement of his
his name has been suggest
ed in the list of possible harmony cam
didates for governor in the next cam
paign.