The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-27
Twenty Per Cent Cut for AL
Getting Over $4,000 Year.
Also Would Require Employees
to Work Eight Hours a Day.
CONSOLIDATION OF BOARDS
Abolish Board of Adminfstra-
tiOn and Adopt Regent System.
Then, of Course, He Has No Use
for the Industrial Court.

Kansas farmers are not going to re-
nOunce their state and government be-
cause of the Ugh tax Ievies. But they
are going before the legislature with
a mighty howl against the present
high cost Of public service. What is
more they were assured today by
Jonathan NJ Davis. governor-elect,
that they would have his attentive
ear and considerable aid and much
sympathy.
Thirty farmers and business men,
representing the state taxpayers
league. are today protesting loudly
against existing conditions in a meet
ing at the National hotel. They fatty
announced to ,he world that they had
been unable to figure out an increased
efficiency in the multi boards and
commissions in keeping with the ad-
vance in cost Of state government
They not only declared for a change,
but demanded one But the leaders
even in the eat and passion OF de-
nouncinE expensive road building
projects and boards and commissions
didn't subscribe TO the new plan TO
give their property to the government
and join the Indians.
GOVeFnOT-elect Davis went berore
the tax leaguers at today's meeting
with his first outline of a legislative
program. The Davis speech was the
outstanding feature of the meeting
Wis Outlines Plan.
There was none of the rabble rous-
ing stuff in the new governors talk /
He told about conditions. in The. Ian
guage and spirit of the farmer who
has taken a rice reduction in prod
uct. but with clear and concise pro-
gram of relief. The plan which Davis
outlined in today's meeting is sub
stantially the program which he will
send TO the legislature in January.
Il am convinced the people of this
state are Overwhelmingly demanding a
tax reduction" said the governor
elect
Then the new Democrat governor
told Of some OF the things he planned
for the winter. It was the straight
from the shoulder. concrete program
on which the governor will make his
fight-in short tie first public pro-
nouncement of the new administration +
policies.
Il want a fair survey Of public de-
partments and institutions for the
good of the state without any view of
playing politics or putting anyone in
hole said Davis. IF this cannot I
be done. then 1 believe the legislature /
should use an iron hand in reducing
taxes"
Davis program hits hard in a good
many places But he insisted today il
would be his fighting creed for the
winter and that he wouldn't COM /
promise. Briefly he proposes:
His Proposals.
Abolition OF the industrial court with
Stnte control over industrial affairs.
probably placed with some board of de- /
partmant-
Abolition Of the present utilities COM
mission with one utility commissioner
instead OF three and home rule for
cities in handling utility matters
Reduction Of salaries 20 per cent for
all employees in state Institutions and
departments where salaries Of more
than $1,000 year are now paid.
Law requiring all state officials and
employes to spend eight hours day in
lost Also law prohibiting persons in
state service TO draw more than one /
salary OF engage in more than one oc-
suPation VIII deserving the state (
Consolidation Of boards and commits
sious dealing with agricultural actfvi-
Consolidation boards and commissions
Sions dealing with public health and
Abolition present state board admin
istration and creation regent system
with members paid on per diem basis
Law requiring state printing plant
TO supply counties with uniform sys-
TENS Of blanks, blank books and office
Legislation limiting public indebted
ness.
No Partisanship.
Il am without obligations except .
the obligation owe to all the people .
to be of service to the state" Davis 4
declared in denial of any intimation 4
or partisan action I'VE cannot go a :
these matters from a partisan stand I
point. but must tackle them from the
standpoint OF citizenship"
Following the Davis talk Z. J.
Hec<le. manager of the Kansas Auto /
mobile Owners association. told the
leaguers of the rganization's plan to 4
secure submission of a sixty million 1
dollar road bond issue. The Heckie /
plan brought the anti-hard surface 4
road members to their feet in a fight 4
ing spirit But Heckle held his ground 4
and met flood of questions and criti- 4
clsms without giving up the cause.
When the meeting recessed for an /
hour in order to secure nourishmenl. 1
the road question was bubbling ana 4
boiling and threatened to take up a 1
big portion of the afternSen time.
This afternoon n. A Turner. state
auditor. was on the program for
discussion of present state expenses
and possible retrenchments by the next
legislature.
Tax league members were here to-
DAY from a dozen counties About
thirty men participated in the meeting.