The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-10
CAPPER DEMANDS
'Continne.l from I.a-e one.I

'Contfnue.I from I'"-e O1eI
by the state and local governments. and
partly to the enlarged functions of gov
eminent which call for greater eXpendi-
lures for the public welfare. but more than
III III rs uue 70 our antlpuateu' eNtfaNasaiht
business system which often calls for the
expenditure of dollars where dimes would
be amply sufficient
These two things: First. Il sane. bust
ness-like over hauling and reorganizing of
our machinery of government state and
local, aud second. il good start at least
in the direction of Il more equitable dis
tribution of the burdens of taxation should
have your chief attention and best efforts.
simplified and oMre Efficient Government.
Kansas has admittedly outgrown our
present system of government. 1t is
honSe-podSei Il patGh.work; antlquated
cumbersome. wasteful. inefficient. entirely
out of Keeping with the more scientific
systems OF business, now employed by
private concerns and many other states.
a multiplicity Of boards. commissions, bu-
reaus ana departments duplicate the work
of one another, divide responsibility which
should be concentrated. and by interfering
with one another often retard the public
business. They increase the cost of gov
eminent without giving adequate return or
efficient service to the public Some of the
defects of which the people complain are
More than fifty years old Consequently
there has arisen in many quarters an in
sfStent demand for new constitution. 1t
seems only fair that the people of the
state should be given opportunity of
deciding whether they desire the calling of
constitutional convention The old OBJ
endangering the prohibitory amendment
no longer exists; ana If the people desire
now to undertake this important task, they
should not be denied.
In case the Legislature in its wisdom
should decide this to be an inopportune
time for the consideration of the question
of a constitutional convention, l recon-
mend that an amendment to the constitu-
tion be submitted to the people permitting
the submission to the people of an indie
finite number of amendments at any gen
eral election, instead of three only, as the
constitution now provides. This will make
possible more consistent readjustment of
Sible under the three amendment provisO.
Consolidation of Boards.
There should be general consolidation
of boards. commissions and offices wher-,
ever such consolidating will simplify the
machinery of administration and effect
economy.
I desire to call your attention to the re-
port of the efficiency aud economy commits
sion created by the Legislature of 1915. and
ask that you give careful consideration to
its recommendations especially its sugges-
tton for consolidating and co-Ordinating
state bureaus and departments; that the
Institutions, namely: The board of admin
1strattou. the board of control. the board
Of corrections and the board of managers
of soldiers homes, be abolished; and that
the state schools, penal institutions. cha rlt-
able institutions and soldiers hoL.Cs be
placed under one board. to he appointed
by the governor. composed of a director
of educational Institutions: a director of
penal institutions: a director of charitable
Institutions; director of soldiers homes
with the governor eX-officio member and
chairman, empowdered to appoint bust
ness manager and purchasing agent for
all state institutions. If this consolidation
is made, honorary boards could be pro-
vided to counsel and advise with the heads
OF the educational institutions in regard
TO politics affecting the welfare and man
agement of the schools.
Our present system under which a varie-
ty of boards receive bids and purchase
supplies separately for the various
institutions is neither businesslike nor
economical. Other states have effected
great saving thru creating an expert
purchasing agent with power to take ad-
vantage OF market conditions | am con
WINGED that a high grade, experienced bus
mess man in this position, business
manager and purchasing ageut for the
four classes of state institutions will save
the people thousands of dollars and at
the same time improve the public service.
also recommend consolidating all de
partments pertaining to agriculture into
commissioner. similar to the plan followed
by the national government. 1t should in
clude the state board of agriculture the
departments of horticulture. livestock,
grain inspection. entomology dairy, stall
lion registration, feeding -stuffs, vet
Urinary, forestry and possibly others Not
only would this reduce the cost of main
tanning these departments but the bene-
fits resulting from more closely CORE
lated administration would be many.
= believe departments employing in
spectors. such as the health. labor. fire
ton greatly reduce the expense of state
inspection and eliminate many sinecure
Jobs
ii 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 to
be known as the state tax commissioner.
Reduce the Number of Judicial Districts.
The state has too many judicial districts.
, There is great inequality of business in
them. A log rolling lobby smothered "A
bin in the house to reduce the number of
districts after the senate had passed it
at the last session. recommend sim
far bill be passed at this session. reducfn g
the number of judges; and empowering
tile chief Justice of the supreme court to