The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-23

Revenue Collector. But access to
those returns is restricted TO those
states which have adopted the State
income tax. Therefore, in addition
to the just return from q moderate
State income tax, we would have the
very desirable aid OF this reliable fund
OF information in carrying out our
general property tax system.
Workmen's Compensation Act
My attention HAS been called to
serious faults in the Workmen's Com
pensation Act. In my judgment, any
form of workmen's insurance should
possess in the strongest possible de-
gree two features: First, the relia-
bility Of the insurance, that is, the
certainty that it will be paid; Sec
Ond, the time eIement-it should be
paid at the earliest possible moment
Our Workmen's Compensation Act
was copied from the statutes of other
states and we have managed to copy
some serious faults, the most seri-
GUS Of which is that the present stat
ute leaves the administration of the
law to the courts unless a compro-
mise or arbitration is had
1 strongly urge that the Legisla-
ture give constructive attention to
the entire subject of a Workmen's
Compensation Act. / do this out of
the full realization that the law we
have is in reality a reflection upon
our character as a justice-loving peo-
pie. call especial attention to the
law in Ohio, where the State with
very splendid results has taken care
of the subject of workmen's compen-
sation, through State insurance.
Working Conditions of Women.
I am heartily in favor of any legis-
lation that will improve the conditions
and hours for the working women of
Kansas.
Good Roads.
No subject is receiving in the coun-
try today such widespread attention
as that of good roads. In a recent
meeting at Annapolis of the Cover
nors' Conference, l was deeply i'm
pressed by the fact that the subject
of good roads was the most absorbing
of any in the conference. The gov
errors represented forty-two states
and l believe that, without exception,
every State was studying good
roads program with the intention of
intensified activity upon this subject.
The program of the Good Roads As
ISOLATION calls for a bond issue for
building haTd-surfaced roads, the prin-
cipaI and interest on these bonds to
be met out of the proceeds of auto
mobile licenses. A similar program
has been adopted by the State of Hi
nOis in a popular election, the vote
in favor of it being more than six to
one. A system of State roads con-
Meeting all our market centers would
add new life and new potential
ty to every industry in the
State. It is peculiarly just that
the cost of the State roads would
be met by a license upon the vehicles
which use these roads. So many
things are made possible by a gen
eral good roads system that the State
would be madly reactionary to longer
ignore it.
1 endorse the program which the
Kansas Good Roads Association has
presented, with the deepest hope that
it receive your best attention.
Treatment Of State Institutions.
While fully conscious Of the fact
that taxes during the war period have
been high, l urge against a program
of retrenchment which would curtail
the necessary institutional buildings.
The needs of the educational institu-
tions have been happily cared for by
the PRONUNCIATION of the mill tax law
but there remain the eleemosnary and
corrective institutions. 1t would be
very easy to limit their usefulness in
calcuIably at this hour by adopting
a penurious policy in dealing with
their necessities.
There is much money that we might
save which is now. wasted in ineffi-
cheney and Acknowledgement in many
of our expressions of government and
to save this should be our most seri-
GUS concern, but saving money at the
expense of needfuI public progress is
a form of public waste from which we
should refrain
State Geological Department.
The growing Importance to Kansas
of her natural resources in petroleum,
natural gas, lead and zinc, coal, clays,
salt, gypsum, ROAD materials, cement
and water, and the peculiar need for
special study of certain problems in
connection with the water supply for
public use in irrigation, development
of road materials, further develop
ment of petroleum resources, all call
for the reorganization of the State
Geological Department. If il is to be
made useful in a comprehensive way
it will need to be placed upon an ade-
quate business basis. A very consid-
cradle increase in the funds needed
for the Geological Department will be
necessary.
Needed Inspection of Metal Mines.
Within the past three years there
has been a tremendous development
of the lead and zinc mining industry
in the southeastern portion of the
State. This industry has grown to a
point where it rivals the coal indus
try of the State, but no provision has
been made for the proper safeguard
ing of these mines. There is immedi-
ate need that a provision be made for
the inspection of the lead and zinc
mines of this State in order to pre-
vent appalling loss of life and infIic-
ton of injury.
It is my belief that the Legislature
should provide for a deputy state
mine inspector under the present
State Mine Inspection Department,
and that he should be selected with
view to his capacity for work
in the lead and zinc mines.
Educational.
My attention has been called to the
legislative program of the State
Teachers Association, which strikes
me as being full of suggestions which
Like Papa.