The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-18
Civil Service a Failure in Kan
sas, Is Belief Here.
Efficiency and Economy Com
mittee Makes Report.
SAVE STATE $50, 900 A YEAR
Consolidation OF Boards Is One
OF Recommendations.
Governor May Be ShOrn OF
Considerable Patronage.


civil service in state departments IS
not meeting with success and IS weak
entne the general efficiency OF state /
denartruents. according to report I
gIed with Governor Capper and the [
state legislature members OF the eftl-
cheney and economy committee The
committee makes numerous recon-
nerdatious for changes in the man
azement of state departments and /
meets the governors demands for a
reduction in useless boards and com
missions by recommending consolida-
lions OF boards and commissioners in
a manner that VIII save the state S3u,-
600 "A wear in salaries
The report Is not complete Mem
hers OF the committee have notlrled
the governor and legislative members
that supplemental reports Will De tlieu
later The legislature VIII be asked to
adopt the recommendations OF the
committee and il is probable Cover
nor Capper viii offer a definite rec
ommendati0u concerning the plan IN
his MESA ge Co the legislature the
committee was appointed by the leg
islarure in 1915 at the request OF the
governor for "a state program OF errl-
cheney and economy.
II Governor Capper and the legisla-
ture approve the report of the COM
mirtse. the governor viii be shorn OF
much Of the patronage that now at
taches To the office. The plan as out
lined by the committee would mean
that a state tax commissioner instead
Of "A state tax commission or three
members would be employed by the
state Following out the same plan
two of the three men drawing $4,000
a year each as members of the pub
lie utilities commission. would lose
their jobs The board of corrections
would be consolidated with the board
Of control and the board Of admins
rrari0n would be reduced from three
members 20 member 70 be known as
the educational commissioner.
Civil service Law.
The big slap ar the state administra-
rluu = pet measures is the fiat state
Uent that the civil service law is not
producing effective results and is les
SEEMING rather than improving eff
cheney Of state departments. Members
" the committee recommend to Gov
eruor Capper that he himself try the
policies of civil service before urging
its provisions on other departments
This committee is inclined to doubt
the success of the civil service law
SAYS the committee. most of whose
me mbers voted for the measure in the
last legislative session. While assur-
ing the governor that they are in ac-
cord with the purpose of the law they
offer these observations
Cd ON the whole it Is protecting a class
90 people which Heed No encouragement TO
apply for POSITIONS 90 These individuals
not being chosen by the heads OF depart
weucs are not serving at their pleasure are
unrau genial and annoying in many in
STANCES unaermi mag the real efficiency of
ADMINISTERS ton l+,i Trials 10 GUST them are
"iluus and expensive a. \ lot OF the IN
skilled help IN our Institutions two years
ID %
effect WIS well advanced in age It must
logically follow that We must ut once in
surure pension system for the end of the
usefulness et many to the state IS rapidly /
approaching Many forwdrd-looking states. [
So nelu= high in the control of their penal .
and charitable institutions especially. have
nn demand for civil service law. In other
states where there are such laws we find
very common criticism 81 the lack of flex-
tolity- The modern and ideal civil service I
commi ssinus. IS advocated by their ardent
enthusiasts in the United States today are
MODERN oilgarrhies
When our governor. commissioners AMI
boards observe in practice the spirit of
cisl service. it viii trickle through to
tine heads Of our departments
other Recommendations.
Other recommendations by the COM
mirtee are.
Limit senate employees to fifty per
sons house employees to sixty seven The
LAST senate had 1I6 saIaried employees and
Officers. the house 1O7.
Iue governor To submit budget to the
legislature covering state dppropria lions
tur the state tax commission from three
menh beers 20 one. be to be- known as state
one utilities commissioner instead of
three
A commissioner OF state educational in
sututians instead Of a board OF admins
trarinn of three members
Consolidation OF the boards Of corrections
aud control now consisting Of three mem
beers each, aud the appointment Of a com
missioner II penal and charitable institu-
tons In their place.
4 of fr1fe
20 exercise general supervision over all state
INSTITUTIONS. To consist OF the governor.
comm sslouer OF educa rionaI Institutions
commissioner Of renal and charitable in
stltutious. state accountant and tax com
one emergency fund for ali institutions
and departments placed under the control
~ the commission Of administration
4 uniform system Of accounting
monthly report from all departments
and institutions to the state accountant.
Tor the commission Of administrau ton
central store and one state purchasing
AGENT 20 buy for the state when conditions
All fees collected to be deposited daily
aud RENTED 10 the state treasurer
new department. Of agriculture. in
charge Of tie commissioner Of agriculture
70 replace the state board Of agriculture
departments Of horticulture. livestock
80 = % ION - loin,tio2Y carrying. rOr-
es1ry- stallion registration feeding stuffs-
highway engineer irrigation veterinary
fish aud game and all other depa rtments
existing that might come properly under
this head.
REIMBURSEMENT Of judicial system to allow
fle supreme court 10 assign district Judges
20 helm out IN districts where the work
las piled up.
More skilled help for the state architect
Abolition Of state colOred schools ut Quin-
darp and Topeka
Abolition or state school Of mines At Weir
city
Abolition OF experiment stations ut Dodge
CRY and Tribune
Abolition Of the academy School of Agri-
culmrei and department Of journalism at
the state Agrtru lruraI college
Better distribution Of work ut the uni
Yer-irv and agricultural college
new library building at the university
at La Hreuce.