The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-12
Message of Coz. H. j. Allen
TOTHE KANSAS LEGISLATURE OF 1921.

! there is the. possibility of a budget com
mission composed of the governor, auditor
! and n budget director 10 revise departi
mental estimates, not in most artificial
fashion as under the present budget law
| hut with investigatory powers definitely
established and defined by statute. The
budget director might be made the work
ing member of the commission, appointed
| by the governor. and would act as his oil
! rect agent in keeping In touch with the
organization, activities and procedure OF
| the several administrative departments
| and to dlscha rye the burden of responsible
/ ity laid upon the governor IN recommend
! ing in detail the provision that should be
made each biennium for the conduct OF
! these activities In one state this commits
! officers of the two houses. the ways and
| means chairman of both houses, and three
/ business representatives, sernthg part time
| The present law is inadequate in provid-
| ing the procedure to be followed by the
Recommendations. 1t does not bind the
| LEGISLATURE in accord with fundamental
| budgetary practice, to prevent it from In
| creasing- the appropriations. In some
! sta tes thru amendments to the constitu-
tion, the budgetary commission is given
! the power to fix maximum budgets, be-
| low which the legislature may go, but
above which they are not allowed to APP
Pro Provision for participation by the COVER
nor-elect could be made In the Work or the
commission.
| The net result of correct budgetary
plan would place before the legislature
correlated, well-thought-out administrative
program which would relieve that body OF
the work of proposing and formulating
hastily n program of annual expenditures
Ra0uests wonId no longer be treated ar
mere requests for money desired 1t would
be a responsible estimate of the amounts
required
The historic function that belongs to the
legislature in holding the purse strings of
the state is safeguarded by budget sys-
tenn.
A State Agricultural Department
1t Is trite to say that agriculture is the
chief resource of Kansas, yet the natural
emphasis upon this truth Is SO great that
it should never be forgotten while there Is
anything we can do to add to its effective
ness. Its relation should lead Kansas to
create an agricultural department. the i'm
spOnd to the relative Importance of the in
dustry in the state.
There has grown up in the state, out of
the realization of the need of protecting the
proper purposes of agriculture in all its
branches. a number of valuable Organiza-
tons. some of which perform functions at
the state house. others at the Agricultural
college and elsewhere. Nothing I may say
upon this subject should be taken as a re-
Election upon the splendid work which all
of these organizations have performed, but
for the single purpose Of giving to all their
efforts the power and support of govern
ment, they should now be consolidated into
a department of agriculture under proper
legal authority and supported all the
other arms of government are supported.
From time to time there have been Gre
ated in this state fifteen different express
sions of service which should be combined
into the agricultural department. These are
l. State Board of Agriculture with var
ious officials and employes).
. Horticultural Society.
8. chronological commission.
T. chronological commissioner.
). State entomologists.
6. State dairy commissioner.
4 Grain inspector.
s. Live stock sanitary commissioner.
0. State veterinarian.