The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-20

a commissioner. similar to the plan fol
lowed by the national government.
| should include the state board of agTicul
/ ture, the departments of horticulture
/ live stock, grain inspection, entomology
dairy, stallion registration, feeding stuffs
veterinary, forestry and possibly others
! Not only would this reduce the cost OF
maintaining these departments, but the
! benefits resulting from a more closely
correlated administration would be many
believe departments employing in
| spectors, such as the health. labor, fire
and hotel departments may by co-opera-
ton greatly reduce the expense of state
| inspection and eliminate many sinecure
| jobs.
I am heartily in favor of the commits
| sion's recommendation that the state tax
commission be abolished and its duties
| placed in the hands of single officer tC
be known as the state tax commissioner
Fewer Judicial Districts.
The state has too many judicial dis
tricts- There is great inequality, of bust
ness in them. A log-rolling lobby smoth-
cred a bill in the house to reduce the
number of districts, after the senate had
passed it at the last session. recon-
mend a similar bill be passed at this ses-
sion, reducing the number of judges; and
empowering the chief justice of the su-
preme court to transfer judges from one
district to another when the work of a
court has become congested. thus dis
tributing the work more uniformly Such
measure will reduce expenses and help
in cleaning up cluttered court dockets.
An Executive Budget System
l recommend adopting the executive
budget system of making appropriations.
requiring the governor to submit to the
legislature a carefully prepared schedule
of the financial needs of the state. show
ing where and why increases, if any, are
demanded Our present haphazard spend
ing OF public monies inevitably leads to
pork-barre legislation and Inequalities and
1nJustlces demoralizing to the public serv-
ice. At the governors conference in
Washington last month, the twenty-four
governors present were unanimously of
the opinion that this system marks a
most important forward step in IegisIa-
tive methods. 1t is not revolutionary in
its effect; it merely introduces system
into state expenses. The governor has no
more power under it than under the pres
ent order; all that the budget plan does
is to substitute foresight for hindsight
to substitute unified, coherent plan of
distribution of the states appropriations
for a patched and incoherent plan I
earnestly urge the adoption of the Mary
land budget system for Kansas with
such modification as is necessary to meet
any needs peculiar to the state
Four-Year Term of OFFICE
L recommend that all terms of office
In state and county, be made four years
with all elective officers subject to re-
call; and that all officers purely clerical
in both state and county administrations
be made appointive instead of elective.
We hold too many elections and vote
upon too many officials. The saving in
election expenses alone will amount to
thousands of dollars and 1 believe the
service will be greatly improved and
that there will be fewer scrambies for
public place.
Simplified County Government.
The most extravaganza and wastefuI
branch OF government is that of the
county in its present form. County taxes
have nearly doubled in the last ten years
increasing from 81, 1885,, 335 in 1906 to S.
942,736 in 1916. With all our comma inf
of increased taxation, it seems incredible
that no effort has been made by the legis-
lature TO curb extravaganza at this source
where it is greatest We have sometimes
seemed to begrudge the money required
for the maintenance Of state institutions,
even TO the extent of hampering their
growth, development and usefulness when
in reality the money required for them
is but small part of the public revenues.
We have been saving at the spigot and
wasting at the bunghole.
Every county now elects thirteen or
more county officers several of which are
unnecessary. Commission form of gov
for the counties is worthy of
serious consideration, but it is doubtful
II 1T can be adopted without changing the
constitution In the meantime, a number
OF county offices can be abolished or COM
Of deeds can easily be dispensed with and
its duties given to the county clerk.
Legislation in this direction should not
take effect earlier than expiration of
terms OF present incumbents.
The City Manager for Cities.
The citizens of any city in Kansas may
safely be trusted to devise and revise the
method of their own local government in
accordance with their desires and to meet
their peculiar needs without being COM
PEELED to wait the pleasure of state
legislature recommend immediate
legislation giving the cities of Kansas
home rule, empowering them to adopt
the city manager plan of government at
law to be fully guarded against conflict
with state laws and interference by the
cities with the police powers of the state
The city manager plan is a great for
ward step in the direction of better gov
eminent, and everywhere it is in opera
ton is producing striking results in the
way Of economies and better service
Reform In ReceivershIps.
The recent scandal caused by the pay
ment OF enormous and exorbitant re-
and attorneys fees in the case
OF bankrupt natural gas company i'm
pels me to urge you to enact a law plac-
ing in the hands of the public utilities
commission the business of all bankrupt
public service companies; the commission
to appoint the receiver and to have gen
same manner as the bank commissioner
now handles the business of an insoIvent
state bank. The fees of the receiver and
the attorneys employed should be limited
by law to a sum in keeping with those
paid in the ordinary conduct of business
Such a measure will put an end to a
form of graft that has become a public
stencil. Every dollar squandered or graft
ed in such receivership cases finally is
paid by the public and the people are
looking to this legislature for the Fighting
of this ancient wrong.
Revenue and Expenditures.
Kansas in common with the other !
states of the union, is disturbed by the |
rapid increase in taxes affecting every |
citizen. The solution Of this problem |
should be the first concern of all who are |
entrusted with raising and expanding
public funds. The functions of govern |
ment have increased; the cost of all
used by the state, including /
labor, has SO advanced, that greater |
revenues are imperative. Consequently in
creased taxes cannot be avoided Instead /
of eXcusing carelessness or extravaga nee
this calls for greater care and economy 1
pocket wrote: ITO All Road AGENTS
Please pass the bearer and ob1ige me-
signed my name thereto. With a /
laugh he pocketed the note, and we /