The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-14

efficiency and at a greatly reduced cost
to the state.
To the same end 1 recommend that
| the present bureau of labor and in
dustry, bureau of mining Industries
and the free employment bureau
be abolished and a new bureau OF
labor and industry created, which shall
combine these three activities, with en-
, larged powers, under a commissioner
| of labor and industry to be appointed
by the governor. by and with the con-
| sent of the senate, until the next gen
eral election, at which time and at
every general election thereafter said
| commissioner shall be elected by the
people This will not only promote eff
ficiency and reduce expenses, but 1t
will elevate the department of labor to
| the high rank of other elective state
| offices, and give all the laboring men
of the state a voice in the choice OF
| the head of this department.
I recommend that you scrutin1Ze the
! necessity for inspectors in the various
departments and allow only such number 1oe.
! as are necessary for the efficient carr
| ing On of the work of each.
For Boards of Control.
| I believe that a classification of the
various state institutions and the placing
| of them under the management of three
boards will result in a great saving 10
| the taxpayers, not only in the cost or dc-
miniStration but in the cost of ma1nten-
ance, and 1 am sure their efficiency Will
| be increased. 1 therefore recommend
that all the state educational institutions,
| including the School for the Deaf and tre
School for the Blind, be placed under the
| management of board of regents CON
! sisting of three members, who shall De
| paid a reasonable salary and devote all
| their time to the interests of the state.
In addition to looking after these
schools this board might well be made
| board of efficiency and economy, to IN
Vestigate conditions at state institutions
| and report to the executive and the fegis-
lature where Implications may be avoided,
efficiency increased and expense minim-
| lied.
I also recommend that the State Sol
diers' Home at Dodge City, the Mother
| Bickerdyke Home and all other oenexo 70
the Deaf and the School for the Blind, pc
placed under the management OF the
board of control
I also recommend that all the state
penal and reformatory institutions. Ill
Guiding the Industrial School for BOYS
and the Industrial School for Girls be
placed under the management and con-
troll of penal board of three members,
who shall receive a salary or $l,oW eacn
per annum and all actual and necessary
expenses.
Since the last session of the legislature
fire las destroyed some of the oulIdlngs
at the State Home for the Feeble Minded
at Winfield, and the Industrial Reforma-
tory at Hutchinson. I recommend tnat
suitable approximations Tai RG 't fbeiT eouit
ments. I would also recommend SUIT,
able appropriation for buildings aLu
equipment at the new OlotC AiiSoAAO --OS
pital at Larned.
The Appropriations.
I call your attention to the approprle-
tons asked for by our benevolent and
institutions alone are asking S2,324,574
more than was allowed them by the last
legislature. 1 am constrained TO recon-.
mend to you, that while the efficiency Oh
all these institutions should be kept In
mind and the Kansas standard malc-
tanned, you should exercise the utmost
care and Judgment in determining their
needs. No good citizen of this common.
wealth wants to impair the usefulness CT
our public institutions, whether peneVc-
lent educational; but after scanning
and carefully considering their demands,
I am quite clear that the appropriation
of such vast sums is altogether out OF tIle
question 1 believe that you Will IND on
investigation that there are many duph-
cations of work in our state educational
institutions. that some departments are
of little or no value, and that some cost
more than they are worth to the state
In another part of this message l nave
recommended the consolidation of the
different educational boards. With such
a board I believe these objectionable
features will be eliminated. With the~I
formation now at hand do not recon-
mend anv appropriations for new build
ings at our educational institutions. In
the natter Of maintenance funds' rec
ommend that these institutions pc treaIeu
fairly but not with prodigaltty The PEG
pie demand economy, and l know or no
better service these institutions can re l.
der the state than by setting an example
of reasonable economy in the administra-
tion of their own affairs. l ask you 10
carefully investigate the needs OF these
and deal justly by both the
schools and taxpayers
High school visitation is costing TINS
state l am informed well over S20,Vo
a wear in salaries, travelling expenses. |
clerk hire and office expenses. In the |
opinion of many competent 10 judge inns
system of high school visitation Is use
less If this is true the system should De |
abolished.
State Employees Must Be on Jop.
7 recommend that no state officer, cleo |
tive or appointive, be paid for time spent |
in other than the performance OF MS o.
fetal duties with the exception of the al |
lowance of such vacations. not ottener |
than once each year, as the Legislature |
may decide upon.
| am sincerely gratified to report to you |
that our utilities law is great success |
and thai it needs only slight amendment, |
If any In the hands of broad gagged |
men it will continue to be an instrument |
of the highest value for the development
provisions both people and public service
are adequately protected and
antagonismS erad1cated
call the attention of the members OF
this legislature to the pledges made al
The various party platforms to which }
have not specifically referred, and reiter-
ate what I have said about the obnga-
lions of legislators to observe the terms
IF their contract with the people. be-
love that this legislature Will consclen-
tiously endeavor to keep ta1th with the
electorate and that when this session is
,ver and YOU return to your homes your
will feel satisfied with tie
work YOU have accomplished. Respect
-' GEO. H. HODGES,
I