The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-01-15
State Could Have Economy Through
Business-like 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.

uary IL, 1915.
Gentlemen of the legislature
According to custom and the pro
visions of the Constitution of Kansas,
i 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. / am sure every member OF
both houses fully appreciate this re-
sponsibility. | hope may be par
doned if in my zeal to do my part, |
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 a
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 urge both houses
to adopt the rule that no member OF
the legislature from distrit in which
there is 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 overshadoWlng 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 DELHI
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 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
and to make every new enactment sc
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 6S per cent in the
state; II per cent in the county; 1873
per cent in the city; 1l9 per cent i'll
the township; 1872 per cent for schools
While most of this increase has been
for local purposes (the state taxes
being only $3,37l 1898 out of a total
of $29,4S3,SS3 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
needed state Institutions; and by the
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 rearrange
and readjust its entire system of ad
ministration on more scientific basis
Needless duplication of effort must be
eliminated, responsibility be concen-
trated and different departments be
co-ordinated To do this, in my opin-
ion, cannot fail to increase efficiency
and to diminish cost-to give the peo-
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
ness.
An All.state Efficiency and Economy
Committee.
| recommend and urge upon the leg |
islature that it appoint Immediately a
joint committee on efficiency and |!
economy. After thorough analysis
of the present organization of the |
state, county and township govern
ments in Kansas. a study of what
other substantially Minnesota and
lowa-are doing to increase and con-
centrate the responsibility of officials I
to make their responsibility to the peo-
pie more direct and to produce greater
unity Of action among the different