The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-16
Plan to Revise Kansas COnsti-
tuition in Senate.
Senator Waggener Would Give
Electors Authority.
HINDRANCE TO NEW LAWS
Ideas of People in 1861 Not
Suited to State.
Senate Sees No Danger From
Prohibition Laws.

Believing that the Kansas constitu-
ton is antiquated and out of date,
Bale Waggener, senator from Atchi-
son introduced in the senate Thurs
day a resolution calling for revision
and amending of the state organic
acts. This resolution recommends that
the electors vote at the next election
of members to the legislature for or
against a constitutional convention.
The veteran senator from Atchison
believes that the governme ideas
of the authors of the constitution in
1861 when the state had but a few
thousand inhabitants are not suited to
the application of the state supervision
today. The restrictions placed on the
legislatures only hamper the expan-
sion of a fun grown state. thinks the
AtchiSon senator.
The resolution in full, pointing out
the problems that will have to be set
tied in the next few years and showing
the relation of the proposed laws to
the constitutional requirements, fol-
lows:
WHEREAS, The present state constitu-
ton was adopted in 1859 and became effec-
tive in 1861 when only a small portion
of this commonwealth was settled and
had but few thousand inha bitants and
their government problems were almost
entirely those of a pioneer community,
and
WHEREAS, The growth and develop
ment Of this state in the succeeding half
century, and the diversity and complex
1ty of it's concerns have brought new
problems to the present generation which
need new laws and broader governmental
powers than are permitted by the present
constitution, and
WHEREAS, Each succeeding legislature
finds the restrictions and limitations of
the present constitution more onerous and
less adapted to the needs of a full grown
state, and,
WHEREAS, The present constitution
prevents the legislature from dealing in
effective way with the more pressing
problems of the twentieth century state
government, such as reform in jury trials,
fewer elections. the short ballot, the initia
tive and referendum and the recall of
derelict officers the abolition of obso-
Jete and useless officers non-partisan
elections for judicial and educational Off
GERS, improvement of the general election
laws, including the qualifications of vot-
ers, reformation of the laws of assess
ment and taxation, state aid for good
roads, irrigation and other internal i'm
provements and many other reforms as
important and desirable as these herein
recited and,
WHEREAS, Only these amendments
can be submitted by any one legislature
while the modern reform program out
lined above cannot be instituted within
the life of one generation by such made
quate constitutional means, and
WHEREAS, The prohibftory law has
now become so thoroughly identified with
the life and thought of the people of Kan
sas that there is no longer any danger
of its repeal or omission by a new con-
stitution, and the safe guarding of that
law wise and salutary though it be, ought
no longer to bar other pressing and
greatly needed constitutional reform;
THEREFORE, BE 1T RESOLVED, By
the legislature of the state of Kansas two
thirds of the members elected to each
branch of the legislature concurrfng
therein:
SECTION 1: That two-thirds of the
members elected to each branch of the
legislature think it necessary to call
the constitution of the state of Kansas,
and it is recommended that the electors
vote at the next election OF members to
tional convention.
SECTION 2-This proposition shall be
submitted to the electors OF the state OF
1Eansas al the general election of repre-
sentatives in the year 1914 for their ap-
provel or rejection.