The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-08
COMMENT
Commission Government for states.

In the last few years more than two hundred
towns and cities have adopted the commission
form of government. The principle of the com
mission plan, the Outlooks readers know. Is
to center authority and responsibility in what
is virtually a board of directors for the city, In
almost every instance the adoption of this plan
has led to increased municipal efficiency. Now
Governor George H. Hodges of Kansas Is pro-
posing that the plan which has worked so sue
cessfuly in cities be adopted by the States. In a
message sent to the Kansas legislature on the
of its adjournment, the governor asserts that
government by two-chamber legislature Is
cumbersome and inefficient. He recommends
that il be superseded In Kansas by n State COM
mission to be made up of eight at most of
sixteen members, which should act as board
Of directors for the State In common with a
large and growing number of thoughtful people,
the governor says in his message, Il am per-
suaded that the Observation-Disclosures for legislation
come antiquated and inefficient our system Is
fashioned after the English parliament, with it's
two houses based upon the distinction between
the nobility and the common people, each mouse
representing the divers interests of these classes.
No such reason exist in this State for dual
legislative system and even in England, at the
present time, the dual system has been prac-
tcally abandoned and the upper house shorn of
its Importance; and I believe that we should now
concern ourselves in devisng system for iegis-
latng that will give more efficiency and
quicker response to the demands of our economic
and social conditions and to the will of the peo-
pie" The governor says he has been led to this
conclusion by his experience of eight years as a
member of the State senate Under the existing
system he points out that there is congestion of
business accommodating for each legislative ses-
sion: that the legislature with its two large in
dependent houses is a most inefficient organi2a-
ton for transacting business, and that the out
come is apt be inaction highly important
measures, and hasty and iii-consideFed action OF
hundreds of minor bills. The considera-
tons that have led cities all over the country TO
turn to the commission form of government APP
ply, in Governor Hodges opinion, to the States.
He suggests that the State commission should be
made up of two members from each
congressional district;t hat the members be paid
large enough salaries to enable them to devote
all their time to the work. that they meet in
frequent session, and that they be elected for
terms of four six years. subject to the recall.
"A legislative assembly much as l have sug-
gested," he says could give ample time to the
consideration of every measure, not only in rela~
ton to its subject matter, but to the drafting of
it in plain, concise. and easily understandable
language 1t would be ready at any time to deal
with new conditions and to provide relief in
emergency cases, and with time to inform. it
self about conditions and to study the needs OF
the people and of State institutions there
seems to me to be question but what it would
be vastly more efficient than present system
as well as vastly more economical" The gov
ernor did not ash. the legislature to act on his
recommendation, but he urged the members to
hitting d constitutional amendment the sub
progressive Democrat of high standing and wide
legislative experience. His recommendations are
being generally discussed in the Kansas news
papers, and such frendiiness to them has been
shown, They ought TO be discussed; but the
arguments for commission government in cities
do not necessarily apply to States.-The Out
look.