The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-08
NEEDS OF KANSAS
/ Constitutional Convention
Placed in the Lead.
Good Government League Com
mittee on Legislation Reports.

Coincident with the inauguration to-
day of Governor Arthur Capper for his
second term as chief executive of Kan
sas, the Kansas Better Government
league which he founded, met to con-
slider radical changes by which it is
hoped to simplify state, county and
city governments.
The committee on legislation sub
mitted the following report
The fundamental need, toward Sc
curing in Kansas, more economical
and efficient state, county and city
government, is a re-drafting of the
state constitution. While there is
much that may be done without con-
stitutional changes, it must be appar-
ent to anyone who undertakes TO
frame legislation to modernize the va
rious branches and divisions or the
governmental machinery, That the
constitution presents serious obstacles
| to the thoroughgoing reorganization
| that is needed.
To meet this need of constitutional
! change, two methods are open one ~
| thru a series of amendments Ine
| other thru a constitutional convention
| The latter method would be simpler
and more effective.
| The first recommendation. therefore
| is that the legislature be urged to pass
| a resolution submitting to vote OF
| the people, a proposition for call for
! a constitutional convention. rms
resolution should provide that In case
the convention is called, any sconStltu-
ton adopted by the convention, snail
| not go into effect until submitted TO
| and ratified by vote of the people
The constitution provides that only
/ three amendments to the constitution
| may be submitted at one time. 1t is
recommended that the following three
! amendments be submitted by the legls-
| lature at the coming session:
! 1. An amendment to that section OF
the constitution which deals with the
| calling of constitutional convention.
/ and with the submission of proposed
constitutional amendments. This
amendment should provide that a con-
stitutional convention shall be called,
by a majority of the votes cast on the
proposition, and not only by ma
jority of the total vote cast, as the
| present provision seems to call for. 1t
should provide further that no consti-
tuition could be adopted without ratifi-
cation by a majority vote of the peo-
pie, in order that this phase of the
matter be put beyond possible queS-
ton This amendment should remove
the present restriction which prevents
more than three constitutional amend
ments being submitted at one time.
2. An amendment to enable the
state to aid in the building of high
ways. ----s.
9. An amendment providing for the
election of state and county officers
for four-year terms.
In the matter of immediate legisla-
ton, the following is recommended as
of special Importance:
| i. An act, requiring the governor
to submit at the opening of the legis-
lature, a budget covering an estimate
of all needed expenditures for all the
various departments and institutions
|
2-An act, to become effective upon
its passage, enabling the cities to
adopt by vote of the people, the
city manager plan of government
3-An act revising county govern
ment and placing its offices upon a
modern, business basis, to the consid-
cradle extent now possible under the
present constitution
Am act providing for a uniform
accounting system for counties and
cities.
5-An act extending the budget
system to cities and counties.
6-An act consolidating, wherever
that may be done without Gripping
the public service, all state boards
and commissions.
II Resolutions and bills covering these
recommendations, as to the constitu-
ton, and as to legislation as above
enumerated, are being prepared either
by members of the legislature or by
others competent to do so, and will
be ready for introduction early in the
approaching session of the legislature
A reorganization of the judiciary
system of the state, in the interests
of economy and of an expeditions
handling of the business of the courts
is greatly needed. To what extent
wise reorganization toward that end
can be brought about without changes
in the constitution, is problematical
1 The question is being considered by
leading lawyers of the state, and if
it is decided that a reorganization
should be attempted without waiting
for constitutional changes, a bill will
be drafted and will be introduced in
the legislature.
1t is further recommended that the
league express its approval of:
A smaller legislature, of approx
mately forty members.
undermining of our present il