The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-08
HODGES WANTS 1T
Governor Insists Soldiers
Homes Be Consolidated.
Only Four Representatives
Opposed Text Book Bill.

Governor George H. Hodges will in
sist on the passage of a bill by the
present legislature putting the Mother
B1ekerdyke Home at Ellsworth and
the Soldiers Home at Fort Dodge I'M
der the supervision of the board of
control to offset the action of the leg
islature in putting the Olathe school
for the deaf and the Kansas City
school for the blind under the super
vision of the new educational board.
Not only does the governor believe
that this action will result in greater
benefit to the two institutions, but he
argues that it will mean an annual
saving of $4,000 to the state.
In his inaugural speech and in hts
message to the legislature, Governor
Hodges urged just this action. Now a
new bill is being drafted to conform
with the governors ideas surrounding
the proposed change in the control of
the several institutions and the meas
ure Will be presented to the legisla-
bill will legislate out of office the
boards of managers of the two insti-
tutions and the state will save $4,000
a year by virtue of this change.
1t will be comparatively easy
matter too, for the state board of
control to take over the Ellsworth and
Fort Dodge institutions since the
Olathe and Kansas City, Kan. schools
have been placed under the Supervi-
sion of the new educational board. Re
Gently it was reported that Governor
Hodges proposed to place the Mother
Bickerdyke home and the Old Sol
dier'S home under the wing of the state
penal board and many protests against
this action We're filed. But no such
change was ever contemplated. The
two institutions can very easily be
placed under the care of the board of
control and persons interested in the
two institutions have endorsed the
proposed change. Governor Hodges
himself believes that this change will
be of great benefit in the management
of the institutions.
Only four members of the house OPP
posed the passage of the measure pro-
viding for the publication of school
text books by the state when the
Burger bill came up for consideration
and final roll call in the house late
Friday afternoon. Those four mem
berS were Atkinson, Blaisdel, Wacker,
and Mitchell. There were 1O2 mem
bers voted for the bill on final pas
sage.
In the discussion of the bill sever
al amendments We're made by the
house members. This. changed the
personnel of the state school book
commission SO that it viii be COM
posed of the governor, superintendent
of public instruction, president state
COlIeSe, STATE
normal, president board of agricul-
ture and the commissioner of labor
and industry. House members also in
creased the original appropriation for
additional equipment for the state
printing plant from 100000 to $780,
O0O. The measure also carries APP
preparation of $4,000 for the pur-
chase of school text book copyrights
and further provides that the text
book commission may, if necessary,
1orr5y A..
cure additional land for new buildings
for the state printing plant in order
to accommodate the increased equip
ment necessary to print the books.
Under terms of the bill, persons
selling school text books may furnish
them to school patrons at profit not
to exceed ten per cent and must make
affidavit that they will fulfill this
contract with the state commission.
Failure to observe the provisions of
man to fine and the cancellation of
his contract. Each school district
board and board OF education shall
provide a revolving fund for the pur-
pose to enable the school district Off
GERS to purchase books to be used in
the school. They shall then designate
a purchasing or distributing agent.
Prices of books shall be based on es-
Inmates furnished the com mission by
the state printer.
This bill was a part of the Demo-
cratic platform and it was claimed
that the state publication of school
text books would result in the saving
of thousands of dollars annually to
school patrons.
Only the signature of Governor
Hodges now remains to make the new
administration bill a law.
After passing the house, the bill spent
a lively hour in the senate. But A. M.
Keene, Republican. and author of the
measure advocated in the Democratic
platform, camped with the solons of
the upper house and his measure was
not seriously injured. Just before the I
s o'clock whistle blew Friday night, |
the house again took up the Keene
bill with the few amendments inserted
by the senate and concurred in the
senate alteratio without debate
1t is probab that the Keene bill
will be signed by Governor Hodges in
time to be sent back to the 1egiSla ture |
sometime Monday. Then only the for |
NAL course of publishing the new law
in the official state paper will be nee f;
essary to make the measure a law and
to legislate out of office next July the
present boards of regents of Kansas
the state agricultural col |
lege and the state normal
nnATc Cali al EDgnAV