The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-01-16
The New Governor Makes Numerous
Notable recommendations to
Kansas Lawmakers.
State Could Have Economy Through
Business-Iike Methods of
Operation.
Merit System Should be Employed by
Both State and County
Administrations.
Stronger Country Schools, Welfare
Measures and Better Prison,
Among Other Suggestions.

Executive Office, Topeka, Kan, jan
uary II, 1915.
Gentlemen of the Legislature:
According to custom and the pro-
visions of the Constitution Of Kansas,
submit these suggestions and recon-
mendations upon those public matters
which seem to me of immediate con-
Germ.
You have met to provide for more
expeditions conduct of public bust
ness; to make such changes in the
statutes as time, experience and ever
changing conditions may indicate are
required; to enact such new legisla-
ton as the needs of the people de-
mand. l am sure every member OF
both houses fully appreciate this re-
sponsibility. l hope l may be par
doned if in my zeal to do my part, 1
remind you individually that although
you owe a duty to the district which
you represent, your higher duty is to
all the people of Kansas. The pres
sure of special interests, the demands
of special sections of the state, the
needs of friends, all must be subordi-
mated to the good of the people as
whole. We are not here to legislate
for any section, nor for any political
party, but for the whole state, and
log rolling" and swapping votes"
and playing politics" must have no
place in our program. Nor should our
time be FILTERED away in unimpOrtant
local legislation in which the great
body Of the people have no interest.
We must be sure that our apprOpria-
ton bills are free from the faint Of
the pork barrel" l urge both houses
to adopt the rule that no member of
the legislature from a distrit in which
there is a state institution shall be
made a member of the ways and
means committee.
Kansas is ripe for a constructive
legislative program The state is hap
PLY free from bitter partisan strife;
no one question of OYershadowing i'm
portance divides US. We have an ex-
ceptional opportunity of giving to the
problems which shall come before US,
the unbiased and non-partisan delib-
Grafton which should precede all leg
islation; of studying the needs of the
state; of investigating the evils and
abuses of our political system; Of
weighing the new demands of a new
age; of giving the people Of Kansas
our most honest and conscientious
and efficient service.
This does not imply the enactment
of a great number of laws. 1t is recog-
niZed that the tendency of our day is
toward too much legislation-too
many ill-adVised, useless, cOntradic-
tory and ambiguous laws, inevitably
the breeders of misunderstanding
strife and litigation. Your effort
should be to simplify existing laws
To m lxn IN
simple that the most humble citizen
may understand and respect it, so
plain and explicit that the most pow
erful cannot evade it.
Economy Through Efficiency.
Kansas, in common with the other
states, has experienced in the last
decade an increase in the cost of gov
eminent and the burdens of taxation
far beyond the increase of population.
In twelve years public expenditures
have increased IS per cent in the
state; II per cent in the county; 1913
per cent in the city; 119 per cent in
the township; 1872 per cent for schools.
While most of this increase has been
for local purposes (the state taxes
being only S3,371 1898 out of a total
of S29, Asa, 1888 for the last tax year,
the state should set an example of
economy 1t should keep down ap-
preparations to the very limit consist
ent with imperative demands. This is
simply exercising the prudence that
business men generally are practicing
at this time The increase in state
expenditures is due partly to the en-
larged functions of government made
necessary by new industrial condi-
tons; by the establishing of new and
inc nv no
increased cost of the necessities OF
life in the markets of the world. But
a belief is growing in Kansas, as else.
where, that the business methods OF
the state and county governments
have not kept step with the best
methods of the day; that they are
neither the most efficient nor the most
economical. Kansas must rearTange
and readjust its entire system of ad
ministration on a more scientific basis
Needless duplication of effort must be
eliminated, responsibility be concen
trated and different departments be
co-orlinated To do this, in my opin
ion, cannot fail to increase efficiency
and to diminish cost-to give the PEG
pie much better service for less
money.
In recent years the state has de
voted much energy to regulating pri
vate or semi-public business, with
beneficial results 1t should now re
organize and regulate its own bust
Eess.
An AH-State Efffcie-~~ and Economy
Committee.
1 recommend and urge upon the leg
islature that it appoint Immediately {
Joint committee on efficiency and
economy. After a thorough analysis
of the present organization of the
state, county and township govern
ments in Kansas, a study Of wha
other substantially Minnesota ant
IoWa-are doing to increase and con
centrate the responsibility Of officials
to make their responsibility to the PEG
pie more direct and to produce create
unity of at.ion among the diferen