The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-04
DESIRABLE TO STATE CHARTER
And Avoid Danger Sections and
Destruction of Sections
Conceded To Be Sound and AL
ready Reviewed by Courts.
CHANGES A SHORT LIST
The Anti-New COnstitutiOnalists
Even Claim Quicker Action.
Could Secure Governor Aliens
Earnestly Advocated Changes.

Earnestly Advocated Changes.
Governor Allen and his friends this
morning claimed they had won sew
eral house converts to the convention
plan since the Martin amendment was
considered Friday afternoon. The
house opposition. however. is basing
its hopes of success on the demand for
protection against a wide OPEN con-
vention and the fact that not once
since the legislature came to Topeka
has a resolution been offered urging
that the law makers submit the con-
stitutional question plan to the voters.
Just before Governor Allen took
the stand today to appear before the
members of the legislature to persons
ally espouse his urgent desires for
new constitution for the state of KAN
sas. it was openly charged that the
opposition to his plan was not due to
the merits of the case but to personal
feeling.
One of these charges was that Rep
resentative Martin, the leader of the
opposition to the governors program,
Iahad sent word to the governor-elect
at Wichita that he was friendly to the
new constitution proposition and would
favor it. These same friends of the
governor now declare that Martin re-
versed his position and attacked the
governors measure because he was
peeved at the election of Mr.. Lambert-
son as speaker.
BE that as it may, a number of sim
! cere opponents to new constitution
present new practical way of secur y
hu he
nor, or at least the most important
ones, by regular procedure under a
plan permitted by the present consti-
tuition; namely let the present legis-
! lature submit three of the important
proposed changes to the people at the
next general election and at the fol-
| lowing general election submit three
more.
They claim that this could be done
| as quickly, or more quickly than new
constitution could be secured and
would avoid enormous expense and the
overturning of our present constitu-
ton, most of whose sections are
deemed rock bound and invaluable and
have been passed upon by the high |
est court in the land; they also claim
a campaign of education could be con-
Quoted over three amendments and the
voter could vote intelligently on three
! amendments whereby if he were COM
| PEELED to vote upon the entire new cons !
stitution he might be confused. and
the campaign of education involving
every entire point in the constitution
would be very difficult
| The fact is recited that when Ore
| gon voted on it's new constitution the
ballot was about five feet long and
was a mass of matter laid before the
I voter which he absolutely could not di- J
| gest, and in voting did not know really
just what he was voting for.
Only a few important ones. they as
sert. and which may be counted on the
| fingers. would cover all of the changes
that even Governor Allen himself adj
| vocates.
Here. they say, are the important
proposed changes by the advocates OF
a constitutional convention:
state aid to internal improves
ments relating to highways only.
Provision encouraging farm
! ownership, doing away with the enor-
nous number of tenant farmers now
in Kansas and bringing UP the farm
ownership of titled land from about
20 per cent or 25 per cent toward the
! French percentage of about 80 per
cent.
/ 3-To make number two above eff
ficient, it is claimed that another
, change in the constitution would be
necessary providing for certain es-
sential reforms in taxation, namely, .
| provision doing away with both the
taxation on the land and the mortgage
thereon. This is sometimes termed
I double taxation: also, a provision
classifying taxation SO that non-resi-
dent or vacant land. or land held for
speculative purposes, should carry
higher taxes than improved lands or
the improvements thereon.
4-The amendment permitting an
inctease in pay for the members of the
legislature.
5-The amendment providing for
four-year terms instead of two.
6-Short ballot This covering
changes in county government.
u 7-An amendment changing the
constitution. perritting a majority or
! three fourths of the jury to return .
verdict in minor cases.
Some Amendments Can Wait.
1t is claimed that a number of these
. amendments are not important but
can wait to be voted upon at the Sec
ond general election. For instance
Kansas practically has a four year
term now for those who have made
good records in the Two year term.
II In regard to pay of members of the
: legislature ii is declared If this were
: doubled or tripled many of the MEM
, bers would not be reimbursed for the
, time they lose or the expense they are
/ (Continued on Page Two.D