The state herald., 1915-01-15

ana hard-fought legal contests un-
the bitterness existing between en-
ployer and employe. To protect him
self the employer pays large sums Of
turn assume his liability, and in or
der to make a profit can pay the em-
ploye but fraction of the amounts SO
received.
The system of workmen's compensa-
tion. except in certain cases of serious
and willful misconduct, gives the en-
ploy6 right against his employer to
a fixed and definite or easily ascer-
tainable sum on the mere occurrence
of an accident in the course of the
employment. The amount Of compen-
OF injury. or disability. and according
to the injured employees earning abil-
ity and is not made later than a GER
tain number of days after the Injury,
or his dependents when they are most
needed. 1t limits the employers la
bility; which is now unlimited, IN case
1t removes the danger of excessive
verdicts.. The employe is put to no
expense in the collection of the amount
of compensation due. Appeal may be
the courts. but experience In the states
where the law Is now in force shows
that seldom is appeal made. Work
and public CHARITIES from the burden
of caring for injured workers and
their dependents. relieves the courts
of much litigation and tends In a con-
siderable degree to remove the bitter
ness 80 frequently following contests
In the courts between employer and
employe,
The people are demanding that this
Legislature Increase the efficiency and
eliminate the extravaganza and waste
fulness of the present organization of
our state government. 1t is earnestly
financial committee. or such commit
tee as you may appoint for the pur-
pose. make a thorough survey OF ev-
cry office. board. bureau and depart
ment, with n view of making known
all existing inefficiency and lack of
economy.
Many fields of inquiry suggest them
selves. Az the state has grown de-
mands have arisen for boards. bureaus
and commissions to perform certain
functions. Each need or imagined
need resulted In the creation of a new
office. From time to time these needs
have changed. ceased to be urgent and
In many cases ceased to exist-but the
% offees ffnsa havins different "ey poieies and o
covering the same field has caused ex-
ecutive and administrative authority to
become more and more decentralized,
until at the present time 1t is difficult,
and sometimes impossible, to execute a
unified policy. After such n survey IL
made. all duplication. lack of co-ordi-
and commissions should be eliminated
and an efficient, economical organiza-
tion substituted.
Budget.
II is highly important that there
should be available in collected form
accurate statistics on the expense of
our state government. This Lcgisla-
ture should pass a law making II a
to file with the state treasurer on or
before January first preceding each
legislative session. an estimate in de-
tall of the amounts required by their
respective departments for the biennial
period following. The state treasurer
should submit such estimates to the
committee on appropriations for In
Information. Provision should be made
for the publication of these estimates.
The committee on appropriations. hav-
Ing the treasurer's estimate of avail
able revenue and the estimates of ex-
pense for the biennial period, would be
greatly facilitated In It's work, and aid
In preventing oyer-appropriation. Pub
lication of these figures would inform
the public more accurately on the eS-
pense of Its state government
Abolish Classified Approprintion..
The present system of classified ap-
preparations encourages the vice of over
appropriations. As result. depart
ments of government classed below the
second class. and having no mill levy
Tor their support. In many instances
have been without funds. for as long
efficient results. each department OF
government must know exactly how
much revenue II has to work with
otherwise. the operations of the de-
departments affected by over-appropri-
ntions are restricted. and in several
instances In the past. have been COM
plsteiy demoralized. Il In just ns un-
wise and unburinesslike for state
to spend more than Its Income ns II is
for an individual or business concern
to do the same. The states revenues
can be determined exactly and appro-
printions should be kept within the
available amount A canvass Of states
has been made to determine how many
states have classified appropriations,
the Inquiry. only one. Missouri, has any
classification. In Missouri the expense
OF the Legislature is placed In the sev-
,hth, ana last, class. and as result
th.f" mas not been an unpaid approprl-
alton In thirteen years. The moral IL
obvious. II every salary suffers pro-
horuonaiely BY over appropriation.
there viii he little danger Of the same
This evil can be overcome By the en-
actment Of law providing that all
approximations have equal rank as
and that II there is not sufficient reve-
nue To pay all appropriations In full
cnch separate appropriation shall ro.
celN. an amount bearing the same ra-
TO To the full amount of the same ms
the total available revenue bears 10 the
total amount appropriated
Prohibition.
~ IN" November election the peopl.
decided that on January. 1915, this
stat" In To become dry. Tho duty now
devolvcr upon you to carry out IN.
peoples viii by appropriate. and ade-
qnnte legislation. Great care must be
taken In preparing this law 90 avoid
legal difficulties and TO make II en-.
foreehblr, n a poor law IN drafted,
wholesale evasion and CONSEQUENT law.
losrnesn VIII follow surely aud the
taxpayer OF every county VIII be com.
poll.d TO pay heavy tribute. You should
be guided by the experience. Of other
states, After years OF experiment Kan
shH has prohtbitory laws that are .n-
forc1nblo and effective
Certain rights Of purchase and sale
Tor medicinal and Hacrhmentnl purposes
are provided by the constitutional
amendment and these rights should he
saferunrded but not extended Whole.
ralors should not be permitted to soil TO
retailers Tor any purpose whatsoever
Adequate means of enforcement and
punishment for violations should he
provided, Those upon whom the duty
% law enforcement win fall intimate.
" should have the power to discharge
fully this duty. Adequate means OF
law enforcement will prevent the law
breaker from getting his first start
Inadequate means viii provide him his
opportunity. Such notices and records
should be reauir.d 60 be kent ms will