The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-12
MESSAGE OF GOV. ALLEN
,Continued from Rage SIX

crease in the cost of printing.
Department of Education.
There has been much discussion In Kan
sas for several years upon the subject OF
ton of officers whose duties are highly
technical In such departments of the
government as insurance, state printing
that more expert results might be obtain
ed by appointment than by selections thru
The Kansas State Teachers association
has laid special emphasis upon the need
OF this change for the head of our eduea-
tiOnal system. Our system of education
has increased i'll its complexities, and the
consequent demand for educational leader
consensus of opinion among those educa-
Houal leaders who have made thoro and
scientific study of the problem that our
chief educational officer should receive
office by appointment The experience of
other states of the Union. including Massa-
chusetts. New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
this view. In order to make the offices
of superintendent of public instruction ana
an amendment to the constitution is neces-
sary. The office of insurance commits
sioner could be made appointive by statute.
Grain Warehouse Law.
Tor the purpose of enabling us to render
more direct service to the farmer, changes
should be made in our present grain ware
house law. Our chief grain inspector has
pointed out the fact that our present law
does not distinguish between the require
ments of the large terminal elevators and
the smaller country elevators. 1t is i'm
possible for the small dealer to comply
with the law it now exists.
Several other states have created under
their law two sets OF requirements-One
for the large terminal warehouses and one
for the smaller country elevators. This
enables the small elevators to store grain
for the farmers and issue warehouse re-
ceipts.
Our present law was designed to regu-
late elevators where the capacity was large
hrs
GENTLY heavy to justify the expenses of
state inspectors and weighmasters. This
requirement of the present law makes it i'm
possible for the smaller elevators scattered
turnout the state to operate as public ware
houses. Since the farmer sells much of his
grain to the smaller elevators and mills
the present public warehouse law is of
little direct benefit to the producer. Dur
ing the past two crop years much grain
was piled upon the ground because of lack
of storage room and actual car shortage.
Thousands of dollars were lost in deteriora-
market has suffered one of the sharpest
declines in history. and grain marketed at
the present prices is considered to be
under the production cost.
| number Of farm organizations, have
! recently expressed themselves being in
favor of some plan whereby the farmers
could store their grain. Recent sugges-
lions from farmers, millers. grain men and
bankers lead me to believe that our pres
ent warehouse law should be extended and
amended.
The chief grain inspector suggests that
IN amending present law two classes
of warehouse regulation be created-one
to care for the larger houses. identical with
the present law; the other with somewhat
less rigid requirements to cover the opera
ton of the smaller elevators Minnesota
and Illinois both have such laws, and / am
told that their application has proven salts
factory. The smaller public warehouses,
| as well as the larger, should be required to
secure licenses from the state grain depart
Of GRAIN dsant to os
every legal protection should be given the
warehouse receipts in order that banks
might readily. accept them as collateral
high enough to cover INSURANCE natural
| shrinkage, the cost of handling grain, with
4 reasonable profit to the warehouseman.
III be glad later to give more extended
report upon this subject to the proper
that this is one of the opportunities for
| helpful legislation to meet n present need
of the grain farmers of the state.
Oil and Gas Department.
believe that an efficient organization
should be made to enable the state to
render better service In reference to the oil
and gas production, which has become one
of the most important industries of the
state. Most of the legislation in Kan
sas connected with the supervision of the
development of our oil and gas resources
was enacted long before the industry at
l tanned Its present great importance. The
present department of oil inspection was
| oil refiners from leaving in their oil ex-
plosive properties which go into the
creation of the most valuable by-products
| of the petroleum industry.
Our inspection department should take
on, therefore, larger duty, so to In
clude the chemical analysis of lubricating
| as well as illuminating oils, linseed oil,
paints and varnishes. 1t should also have
| charge of all problems arising from the
full handling and consumption of natural
gas, losses due to drowning of oil and gas
| sands as the result of improper casing and
| plugging, pollution of surface and under
1 ground water from
| and other regulations necessary for the
growth of this industry in the state.
| There also should be organized in the de-
partment system of information which
| ing fraudulent or highly speculative pro-
| motion of oil stocks and royalties. If we
should adopt provision similar to that in
vogue in California, which would require
| the complete log of every well drilled to be
| flied with the oil and gas department. to-
| the Irospecting in the yarions fields as
| would be proper to have, this source of in
| formation could be made of inestimable
| value to the blue sky department.
| Many of these subjects have been par
| TALLY dealt with by the state legislature
| from time to time and have resulted in
| groups of statutes which are unrelated and
| not adapted to present conditions. 1 be-
| lieve We need simple, effective organiza-
would retain ali the BENEFITS of the present
| law and give to the department the added
| chemical. geological and engineering ma
4
| information, supervision of casing and
plugging. not only to conserve oil and gas
but to prevent pollution of domestic water
| supplies, appraisas of oil securities re-
ferred to the state for approval, and in.
spection of the refined products as directed
| by law, and that the expense of this work
he paid, as heretofore, by suitable fees col,
lected from the various activities affected
under the law.
Indiscriminate Selling of Pistols.
| 1t seems that something should be don't
to regulate tie sale of pistols. There are
too many young men and boys carrying
pocket guns. Pawnshops pile their win
dows full of pistols stimulating the desire
to buy. The public is at least entitled tc
the protection that would come from Law
requiring proper listing and certifying o.
sales
Bill for Licensing Professional Engineers
and Land Surveyors.
| believe law should be created pro
lviding an adequate licensing system fol
professional engineers and surveyors. Til,
public is now protected by n license syste II
lagainst persons who are not qualified e