Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-08-28
HODGES DECLARES it WILL
SHORTLY BE ADOPTED, URGING
SMALLER LEGISLATIVE BODIES
AND FREQUENT SESSIONS.
BETTER PAY FOR LAWMAKERS
PRESENT CONDITIONS DO NOT
BRING OUT MOST ABLE MEN,
1T is ASSERTED; POOR MAN
HAS NO CHANCE OF SUCCESS.
(sy optIo a. ?. Leased WIrel


Colorado Springs, Col, Aug. Is
Radical changes in the management
Of state affairs, so far as legislation
are concerned, were advocated by
Governors Emmett ONeal Of Ala
bama, George w. P. Hunt Of Arizona
and George H. Hodges Of Kansas in
papers read today. before the confer
ence Of governors.
Governor o'Neal suggested far
reaching reforms in the makeup and
methods of legislatures, including
more frequent sessions. smaller men,
bership, better salaries for members
and greater percentage Of members
at large Governor Hunt character
lied an efficient legislature as the
tarred stick of state government"
He advocated single house and said
that the double house cannot be de-
Tended in state government except
in the interest Of royalty" The pa
per by Governor Hodges proved to be
an elaborate treatise on commission
government in state sysairs. His
championship Of this form Of govern
ment attracted a large audience of
residents and visitors in the city who
are interested in the subject. Shortly
before going into the conference Gov
ernor Hodges gave out an interview
in which he stated that the commis-
sion form Of state government would
be adopted by Kansas in the near
future.
National and state assumption Of
election expenses of candidates was
advocated as an effective means Of
purifying politics" by Governor Jo-
seph NJ. Carey Of Wyoming today in
an address before the fifth annual
conference Of governors.
Governor Carey reviewed the de-
velopment of nationaI ana state gov
eminent since the adoption Of the
federal constitution and voiced an
optimistic belief that political conal-
tions have improved greatly. Sup
porting this opinion he cited the inn
provement that has resulted since the
civil war days from the adoption Of
registration laws, the Australian bal
lot and in some states laws govern
ing campaign contributions and ex-
penditures. corrupt practices acts,
and direct primary laws. and CON
tinued:
Earnest efforts to prevent Illegal
voting and intimidation Of electors;
Limitation Of contributions; publicity
Of campaign expenditures restriction
and limitation Of expenditures; CON
troll Of political agents and workers
all are bearing fruit. If we can de-
wise means by which the states and
general government shall beaar the
burdens incident to primaries and
elections, we shall be in a position TO
reduce corruption to minimum.
1T takes money to conduct 8 cam
paign and to make a showing Of the
qualifications Of candidate. This,
! I believe. is a proper expenditure for
state and nation. Surprising it costs
Ehe general government s2O000o0o
il each quadrienniaI presidential cleo
ticn, this sum would be well expended
if elections could be purified and the
president Of the United States. when
elected, should be the choice of ire
people and be under no obligations t.
anyone for the amount Of money
which presidential election costs
In this connection the sneaker fss
ferred to the agitation Ia some states
for preferential presidential Urinary