The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-10
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to be chosen from each district every
two years.
The governor is prohibited from ap-
pointing members OF the commission
except when there is vacancy within
sixty days of regular state election
and then the executive may appoint
for this period in order for the commits
sion tostransact business.
The resolution will provide that the
same legislative record of the acts of
the commission must be kept as is
now kept by each branch except that
a special assistant in the office OF the
secretary of state will keep the per-
manent records. A majority of all the
members is necessary to pass a bill.
The proposed plan is strictly for a leg
| fslative assembly.
Idea of Hodges.
This is the idea embo ed in an adj
dress by Governor George H. Hodges
to the 1918 legislature which pro-
voked- an immense amount OF COM
ment not only in America but in 9TH
er countries where. popular assem-
; blies with legislative powers are part
, of the government. In a recent inter-
view Governor Hodges declared that
he would leave the proposal to the
succeeding administration. Senator
Howe, who endorses the idea of a one.
house legislature, will take up the
| fight for the reform on the floor of the
senate.
Il believe the people of Kansas ap-
prove the sentiment that our legisla-
| tive machinery is cumbersome and
out Of date said he. II believe the
voters would like an opportunity to
! pass judgment on this plan for SIM
plification OF the 1aw-making body Of
this state and 1 shall use my best eff
forts to give them that opportunity.
i 1t will probably meet bitter opposition
and may nc pass the legislature at
this time, but believe such a reform
| is inevitable"
! AS outlined today by Senator Howe
the resolution will provide that a re-
vision, practically rewriting Article
Two OF the Constitution of this state,
| be submitted to the voters Of the state
as an amendment. The amendment
will reconstruct all that part Of the
Constitution describing the organiza-
ton of tie Kansas legislature substi-
tuting for the two-house legislature
meeting every two years, a single body
of sixteen memt crs who shall meet
four times year. The duties and
powers of the proposed commission
would be in all respects the same as
that of the legislature.
i Two From Each District.
I, Members of the proposed assem-
bly, said Senator Howe today.
would hold office for terms Of four
years. half the number being elective
each two years. Salaries of $4,000 a
year are proposed and an allowance
made for travelling expenses to per-
nit them to visit all the state institu-
tons at frequent intervals. Two mem
bers would be elected from each con-
gressional district. In the event of an
increase of population sufficient to al
low the state congressman-at -large
the assembly would be granted an ad-
ditional two members to be elected al
large.
1.-The advantage Of the smaller. bet
ter paid body Of legislators lies in the
obviously better opportunity for good
service it would have. Sixteen mer
with ample time and ample compensa-
ton are as capable of giving adequate
study to legislative problems as an in
finitely larger number of men would be
under present circumstances. Now the
legislature is composed Of two houses
often with conflicting political pur-
poses. Both are transitOry: neither II
sufficiently paid to make the Office at
tractive to any class OF citizens. Worf
Is done in haste amid the confusion OF
conflicting interests. 1t is rare that the
attention of the entire legislature II
focused even for an interval on a sin
gle problem of state. Good work i.
done in committee to be torn to piece.
on the floors of the two assemblies
Bad laws are passed in haste to be re
xretted at leisure when q little delibera.
ton might have turned them into be
neflcent measures or condemned then
for what they afterward prove to be. :
IL While nearly every section Of Artf