Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-15
Kansas ed--Nebraska's Too


Two wears ago voiced in my first utterance
as governor, the need OF Kansas for more mod
ern system Of transacting its public business.
The appreciation of that need has grown upon
me. and | believe upon the people. 1t is no.
torlous that the state, the county and the city
have Jagged behind private corporations and in
dividual firms in adopting business methods of
proved efficiency and economy. This is partly due
to an easy-going lethargy which worships prece-
dent and resents change. But the people now
are ready for an immediate recognizing of our
unwieldy and wasteful system; for eliminating
unnecessary boards, commissions and officers;
for concentrating authority and responsibility
in short for adopting the same business prin-
ciples in public affairs that they so success
fully in their private business.
This, 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 hesitate to
adopt labor-saving machinery or labor-saving Of
hce appliances The people of Kansas want
whatever tends to eliminate waste. Of time or a
waste OF money. They want more direct methods
in dealing with public affairs and in the transac-
ton Of public business. The rapidly-increasing
cost of every supply purchased by the state,
makes it almost inevitable that appropriations
for the mere maintenance of state institutions
will be greater than those of two years ago. On
every side pressure will be brought to bear for
the making of improvements, for expansion, for
increased facilities. The need in many quarters
is great, and Kansas is not niggardly With
such demands upon the peoples money it is i'm
perative that scientific, systematic method be
adopted; that the cost of administration be re-
duced to the minimum; that no public funds be
wasted through 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.
But it is not only in the interest of economy
that revision of the machinery of government
is demanded. The business man who has lax
system of bookkeeping, who conducts his bust
ness by sipshod methods, encourages graft and
If they go wrong part of the responsibility
rests with him. Likewise the state which retains
spshod methods in the conduct Of its affairs is
putting premium upon incfciency and loose
ness and waste and dishonesty on the part of its
employees. If you do not insist upon strict bust
ness methods, and provide busness-like system
OF government, you, yourselves, are to blame for
the shortcomings and inefficiency of the men
elected or appointed to serve you. The question
is 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 sup
ply fat contracts to business men who may have
contributed literally to the campaign funds. We
must get away forever from the idea that public |
office is reward of anything other than ability
and industry and fitness for the duties Of the Of
nee we must seek Tor expert management OF
all public affairs, for men trained in the work
required of them; we must eliminate the sine
cures, cut out the fgure-heads, make it mpossi-
bic for an incompetent, who depends upon dep |
utes to do his work, to hold place in the public
service. And this say, is as much in the in
terest of public morals, as in the interest of |
and efficiency believe public senti-
ment in Kansas is ripe for this step forward, |
md that the people Of Kansas will be sorely dis
appointed if good start in that direction is not
made by the legislature converting tomorrow. 1t
n state and county and city government will re-
luire changes in the state constitution, but this
should not deter u.s.