The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-10


as possible to enable the commission to
produce all the textbooks used in the pub
lie schools.
l recommend that you enact law pro
v1d1ng for free textbooks in all the public
schools, adopting a plan similar to that m
Nebraska, the books to be the property
of the district.
Better Roads.
Kansas must join other progressive states
in road Improvement While the advent
of the automobile has emphasized our lack
of good roads, the need of them existed
before the motor car was invented. 1t is
fundamental. Bad roads shut our chief |
producers-our farmers-out of markets
and entail enormous expense in reaching
them. at a time when prices are highest
benefit of their better roads. and Ill com
petition with them our own farmers are
of this situation is that we are now spend
ing enough money in a haphazard way to
give Kansas much better roads if our
system of building, maintaining and super
NiS1ng them was more businesS-l1ke- The
whole system of county and township man
agement of roads should be revised and
systematized.
| am strongly Opposed to more commits
sions, but to obtain this states proportion
| of the federal appropriation for good roads,
| under the Shackelford act, it seems neces-
sary that the Legislature create state high
way commission or highway commissioner
| to have general supervision of system or
state highways. This be an honorary
commission or can be composed in whole
or III part of existing state Officers.
| / recommend that prison camps be
tablished wherever the highway commits
sion obtain the cooperation of county
authorities, and that prisoners now con-
| fined in county JailS, may be worked upon
county roads. Hundreds of prisoners are
for minor offenses. Their confinement in
, id1eneSS is economic waste. Worse than
that; it is demoralizing to character and
detrimental to health. These men should
be put to work. and the greater part OF
the year could be utilized in making the
improvements now so badly needed upon
The Prohibitory Laws.
Prohibition prohibits in Kansas, the
press agents of the booze makers to the
contrary, Notwithstanding. No single law
was ever enacted resulting in greater good
| to commonwealth than the prohibitory
law of Kansas Not only has it brought
sobriety to our own people, but it has
been potent factor in fastening national
prohibition. But until that day comes we
the outlawed liquor interests from setting
our laws at naught You will recall that
making the point of delivery in Kansas
the place of sale of interstate shipments
of liquor was defeated by the Kansas City
liquor interests Clean out the lobby ana
pass such a measure at this session
To strengthen further prohibitory
law. l ask for law empowering the gov
ernor to suspend from office upon evil
dence, any county attorney, mayor, police
official or other officer charged with law
enforcement, who fails to perform his duty
in compliance with his oath of office.
y l also ask that in cases of infraction of
the prOh1bltOry laws, city attorneys De
given inquisitorial powers as the county
attorney and attorney general of the state
now have.
l further recommend that Kansas news
papers and periodicals be prohibited from
publishing liquor advertisements and the
advertisements of liquor dealers and manu-
facturerS, and that the sale and the dis
play for sale by newsdealers and others
of all publications carving such adver-
tisements. be likewise prohibited.
1 ask this legislature to adopt me
mortal petitionipg the congress of the
the nation at the earliest possible date, an
amendment to the federal constitution,
prohibiting the manufacture. sale and I'M
portatiOn of alcoholic bevera ges. and In
the meantime to enact federal Jaws which
will aid and assist states having prohibit
tory laws to enforce them
The High Cost of Living.
The increasing cost of living has be-
come almost unbearable burden upon
the people 1t would be well for this leg
sature to investigate the meat packers
trust, the creamery and cold storage bust
ness. and all trade conditions in Kansas
which give rise to suspicious of combina-
tons or manipulation. There is general
recognition by all economists of the alb
normal difference between the prices re, re-,
by the ultimate consumer. the result of
which is small profits for the farmer and
remedy for this evil. better organization
and better methods Of marketing are
age by the necessary laws, the forming of
farmer cooperative marketing societies.
The state department of agriculture should
be empowered to undertake and promote
this important work.
Industrial Development.
The manufactured products of Kansas
Of Of our farms. exclusive of livestock. But
they are confined to a few restricted lines:
and the state state presents the anomaly no Of
materials hundreds of miles to be convert
ed into finished products and shipped
Kansas must develop industrialiy: we
need home markets: we need the growth
little towns and cities in which men and
women are employed the year round.
recommend that the functions of the state
depa rtment of labor and industry be en-
larged to embrace activities promoting the
Industrial Development of the state; in
tics and other information which will en-
able man ufacturers to appreciate the ad-
vantages of Kansas as manufacturing
!, field.
state Oil Department.
The oil and gas industry is developing
rapidly in Kansas The state oil depart
couragement and aid. 1t should bear the
same relation to the industry in Its
bears to agriculture or the banking de
partment to the business of banking. 1t
should compile statistics and obtain com
plete information concerning the industry
in Kansas and its possibilities OF further
| empowered to conserve the states supply
of oil and gas preventing the deplorabfe
wastes that now characterize the indus,
try 1t should fix standard grades of
kerosene and gasoline and a standard of
| mea surement for natural gas. The expense
of maintaining the department should be
borne by the industries affected A new
law providing for reasonable inspection
fees will be necessary.
Flood Prevention,
Following the devastating floods of two
: years ago, when property valued at mil
lions of dollars was destroyed in Kansas,
/ called a conference of public officials,
representatives of big business interests
and other interested citizens. at which
. ways and means for flood prevention were
: | discussed. 1t the of this con-
ference that the project was SO stupendous
, that it could be handled successfully only
. by the state and federal governments
working in cooperation. When the mat
ter was brought to the attention of con