The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-21
SPEAKS FOR MS PLAN


Kansas City. Jan 21-A plea for the
simplifcation Of legislative machinery
and the centrAliSation OF responsibility
among public officials was made by
in an address before the Mems Broth
erhood of the Central Methodist church
here.
Powerful private interests find their
best shelter behind q multiplicity OF
barriers" said Governor Hodges, and
politicians have no desire to make
plain the rules Of the game. Reform
ers generally attack corruption or In
efficiency by adding some new Office or
board of control So it has come about
maintain control over their own gov
errment and it has fallen more COM
pletely into the hands Of the profess
sional politician.
Crude or complicated laws of neces-
sity require Interpretation and even
the lawyer finds himself all but sub
merged by the flood OF judicial de-
cisions interpreting these laws There
appears to be no good reason why our
laws should not be written in simple
and direct language, expressing 20
clearly their purpose that a man of
average intelligence may understand
what is meant.
IF the voter is to reach the goal of
representative. responsible and effi-
cient government. it must be through
such a sfmpffication of our legislative
machinery, as will permit the elector-
ate to bring steady and persistent
pressure to bear and fix the responsi-
bility for any failure, on the part OF
any member Of the legislative body. to
respond to the will OF the majority OF
Cites . Case.
''One county in our state has no pub
lie or privately owned utility. Its rep
resentative received 1SS votes and while
his party declared for a utilities COM
mission law, he voted against this party
other member of the same party re-
ceived 1000 votes in his county. His
county recognized the necessity of the
utilities enactment and he supported
the measure. It takes q decided stretch
OF the imagination to recognize as truly
representative. a body wherein the
power OF 1873 votes in one county equals
that Of 1000 in another.
This system Of scattered RESPONSE
bility puts the very smallest incentive
upon the individual to accomplish ef-
fective results
Governor Hodges referred to a rec
ommendatfOn he made some time age
providing the substitution for the pres
ent Kansas legislature of a one house
body Of not to exceed sixteen member
and said the need of such a plan al
that recommended was especially ap-
parent now.
"Such legislature he said. would
enable us to handle the gas situation;
| 1t would enable us to deal without trou-
BILE, with the difficulties arising from
the destruction of the twine plant al
the Kansas penitentiary. It would en-
able US to provide aid for those coun-
ties which have been sorely afflicted by
| the drouth.
'Such a legislature would give us
laws that need less Interpretation and
accordingly would give us less lftiga-
tion. What is the reason for adherine
to antiquated methods in conducting
the great business of a state when In
every other department OF human ac.
tivity newer, more efficient and more
economical methods are constantly be.
| ing adopted7sLett us adopt in the man
agement of public business the progress
sive policy that every other big bust.
ness is adopting. in the conduct of its
| a ffairS