The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-08

upon me, and I believe upon the peo-
pie. 1t is notorious that the state, the
county and the city have Jagged be-
hind private corporations ana 1ndl-
vidual firms in adopting business
methods of proved efficiency and
economy. This is partly due to an
easy-going lethargy which worshlps
precedent and resents change. But the
people now are ready for an 1mme-
diate reorganizing of our unWleldy
and waSteful system; for eliminating
unnecessary boards, commissions and
officers; for concentrating authority
and responsibilities short for adopt
ing the same business principles in
public affairs that they use so sue
cessfully in their private business.
This. 1 think, is plain business sense.
The state, county or city should no
more hesitate or neglect to adopt
! labor-saving, time-saving, money
saving methods than it would hest
tate to adopt labor-saving machinery
or labor-saving office appliances. The
people OF Kansas want whatever tends
to eliminate a waste of time or
vase of money. They want more di-
rect methods in dealing with public af-
fairs and in the transaction of public
business. The rapidly-increasing cost
of every supply purchased by the state,
makes it almost inevitable that ap-
preparations for the mere mainten-
ance of state institutions will be great
er than those of two years ago. On
every side pressure will be brought
to bear for the making of improve
mentS, for expansion, for increased ia
cilities. The need in many quarters
is great and Kansas is not nigsGrd-
ly. With such demands upon the peo-
pies money it is imperative that a
scientific. systematic method be adopt
ed; that the cost of administration be
reduced to the minimum; that no
public funds be wasted thru red tape
formalities; that the state get 100
cents value for every dollar it
spends. Political red tape is the most
expensive kind of dry goods we buy
and the most useless
\ Question of Public Morals. DE-
| But it is not only in the interest of
economy that a revision of the ma
chinery of government is demanded
! The business man who has lax Sys-
| tenn of bookkeeping who conducts his
I business by slipshod methods, encour-
a gcs graft and dishonesty and ineffi-
cheney among his employees. If they
go wrong a part of the responsibility
rests with him. Likewise the state
which retains slipshod methods in the
! conduct of its affairs is putting a pre-
MUM upon inefficiency and loosenesS
and waste and dishonesty on the part
| of it's employees. If you do not insist
upon strict business methods, and pro-
vide a businesslike system of govern
/
the shortcomings and inefficiency of
the men elected or appointed to serve
you. The question is not as much one
| of public morals as of public economy.
The purpose of government is not to
| furnish jobs to vote getters. 1t is not
to supply fat contracts to business men
who may have contributed literally to
the campaign fund.
We must get away forever from the
idea that public office is a reward of
/ anything other than ability and indus
try, and fitness for the duties of the
| off1ce. We must seek for expert man.
agement of all public affairs, for men
trained in the work required of them
we must eliminate the sinecures, cut
/ out the figure-heads, make it impos-
slbie for an incompetent, who depends
| upon deputies to do his work to hold
! a place in the public service. And
this, say, is as much in the interest
OF public morals, as in the interest of
economy and efficiency. 1 believe
public sentiment in Kansas is ripe for
this step forward, and that the people