The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-30
In State Politics
CHANGE MESSAGE
Grapevine Dope Says Governor
Reyises Plans.
Some of Vital Features of Pro-
gram Are Altered.
due TO INDUSTRIAL COURT
Row Breaks Out Over Double
! Expense of Court.
May Create Willingness To
Abandon Proposal.
BY A. L. SHULTZ.

Governor Aliens message seems to
have suddenly undergone a revision.
Persons who somehow get the grape
vine dope from state departments have
a feeling that the message which the
governor prepared ten days ago is not
the message which will be read in To-
peka January II. There is also an i'm
preston that some of the vital fea-
lures in the governors program is be-
ing given a rather thoro cOmbing and
may meet decided alterations before
the legislature really gets under way.
Last week proof sheets of the ten
tative draft of the governors message
were printed. Then before leaving for
his home in Wichita, the governor said
he would spend his Christmas on the
legislative recommendations Confer
ences in Topeka this week regarding
proposed laws may result in further
changes.
Governor Changes Views.
There is a feeling in state political
circles that the governor is changing
some of his views regarding the indus
trial court law. Recently he an
nounced that he would urge the legis-
lature to recreate the public utilities
commission. He proposed consolida-
ton of a number of departments and
boards and commissions and grouping
of these interests under the present
sion.
Three New Fat Jobs.
This change would give to the gov
ernor three new fat jobs. 1t would
afford the patronage which is decided
ly lacking in state administration cir
cles at this time. The plan would also
permit the governor to break up the
personnel of the present industrial
court-a purpose which seems close to
the governors heart.
Now there seems to be a possibility
| that the plan has run amuck or been
decidedly altered. The proposal to
provide one tribunal with rate max
| ing powers and another court with
authority to fix wages, did not meet
with exactly unanimous approval
| This disapproval was particularly
| evident among persons who realis'
bent on the state in presenting prac-
| tically the same evidence TO separate
| tribunals. Further danger that botf
bodies might be hopelessly tied up ir
| litigation has been pointed out. II
| addition to these troubles some new
| opposition to the industrial court it
self has developed. This may have
| created a Willingness to abandon some
| of the demands in the original pro-
posal.
| Other Changes Possible.
Changes in the governors message
| beyond features affecting the indus
| trial court act are also probable. The
| fact that the allied organizations OF
| farmers and stockmen will send e
program to the governor may cause
| further changes. Some changes ir
highway proposals may also be asked
as result of a conference here today
| in which Governor Allen himself /.
| participating.
Maybe the amended message is a re.
| suit of advance, dope on the 1egisla
| tuIe regarding its attitude toward the
| governors previous policies. Maybe
| it resulted from efforts of organiZa
| tons affected by proposed provision:
| of measures to be recommended dur.
| ing the coming session. In any even
| the main interest in state politica
| circles today is the new "slants' which
| the governor will take in his law max
| ing program. There is a deep convic
| ton among political. observers tina
| one of the most vital changes affect:
the governors attitude toward his in
| dustrial court. Just the extent tt
| which he will change this plan may
not be known until the message il
read nearly two weeks hence-ant
the detailed plan may be kept undel
cover until the administration bill
reaches the reading clerks desk.