The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-13

to call to fts aid such expert advice
as 1t may require, and should invite the
suggestions Of business men and other
citizens.
Combine or Abolish Boards.
have NO wish to define the scope
of this committees work. but do de-
sire to suggest that in my opinion the
consolidating OF many state boards.
commissions and Offices can be effected
with Improvement rather. than detri-
ment to the public business.
The state inspection system should
be overhauled thoroughly. Recently.
the state auditor learned that six differ
ent state inspectors had been in the
same little town on the same day. doing
work that one inspector probably could
have done equally well.
The state board of irrigation should
be Immediately abolished. It is an alb
solute waste OF the states money to
continue its existence. The work can
easily be done by the present staff of
the Agricultural college.
The judicial districts Of the state may
be reduced greatly in number without
impairing the service OF the courts or
increasing the laws delay.
The board Of corrections can be abol-
ished and its duties performed by the
board of control
The offices of hotel commissioner two
members of the state barber board.
and oil inspector can all be abolished
and their work done by the existing
employees in other departments.
Several state offices, the duties of
which are purely administrative or
clerical, such as the superintendent of
insurance, state printer. superintendent
OF public instruction, and possibly
others. should. 1 believe. be made APP
pointive instead Of elective, in the in
n nk~.nk svarr ~2lt
County government can be simplified
greatly by reorganizing and CONSOLE
dating some of the offices, making
others appointive and reducing salar-
les In keeping with the salaries paid
by private business for the perform
ance Of similar duties.
I do not consider a constitutional
convention necessary to accomplish
these reforms. Most of these changes
can be made under our present con-
stitutfOn; where they cannot, an amend
ment should be submitted to the peo-
pie reducing the number of elective
state offices and providing for four
year terms with the power OF recall
at any time.
State and County Merit System.
Any plan of administration which
sponsibility is open to the dangers
which follow the creation of a bureau
cracy. But these dangers may be
avoided by strengthening the merit sys-
tenn and extending it to all branches
OF state and county government. We
now have a civil service law applying
to a few state institutions; but the
weakness of this law is apparent when
We see how recklessly it has been dis
regarded and violated. We will never
attain an efficient nor economic gov
eminent until offices large and small
are removed from the hands Of spOils-
men. 1 urge the enacting of a civic
service law so explicit and SO strong
that no partisan official will dare evade
it, basing all rewards. promotion and
salaries solely on merit, on loyalty and
industry In the public service.
Public Welfare.
The conservation Of human life and
human resources is every year assum-
ing larger and larger place in Amer
lean ideals Of government. We are
realizing that human life is the chief
asset OF the state;s and wee are using
our governmental machinery more and
more not only to maintain but also to
increase and better the conditions OF
life and health and the social well
being Of the people. We have learned
the state, We must not only produce
citizens, but good citizens-men and
women of sound bodies, clear minds
and clean souls. We now consider az
fundamental economic functions of the
state, many duties that were left a
generation ago to chance. And this
change in our attitude toward the life
and health Of the individual is not
sentimental nor entirely humanitarian
in its source: it is based on the sound
est economic principles.
No question which will come before
you can be Of more vital or far-reach-
ing import than those problems which
we have come to group under the gen.
eral head Of public welfare. 1t Is our
duty to see that our future citizens
are wel1-born; that they are properly
nourished and are reared In that en-
vironment most likely to develop in
them their full capacity and powers.
1t is our duty to them, from motives
of humanity, Ito give them a chance
in life;'' 1t is our duty to the state,
from an economic motive, to develop
them into good and useful citizens for
the state.
This Is all the more apparent when
we consider the loss to Kansas in the
preventable deaths Of infants; the ex-
pense to the. state Of tho child rem
dered delinquent through preventable
disease. or the loss to the state
through sub-normal. Informed, or
DdOIy nurtureO CnllOfen tndt can not
be developed into the highest type of
citizen.
Needed Welfare Measures.
To promote a higher type Of citi-
zenship, to insure to every child born
in Kansas a record Of birth, an equal
share in the paternal care Of the gov
eminent and q recognition Of its pO-
tential worth as q future citizen, rec
ommend the establishment Of q divi-
sim Of child hygiene as a part Of the
state board Of health. This new di-
vision should take into account the
circularizing Of tn expectant mother
who applies for information, the care
OF the newborn babe and the we'll
being, health and nurture Of the
growing child.
Tn tho ,oroo ~.r~~.1 IT, - ,,,,rps~