, 1925-01-14
Lucas Advice

In his address to the members of the house of
representatives at its organization Secretary OF
State Frank Il. Lucas certainly spoke words of
wisdom to the members, which, if needed will
result in benefit to the state. Mr.. Lucas has
made an exceptionally efficient executive officer
himself and he is for that reason qualified TO
advise those who come to take part in the legis-
lative branch of the state government. The sal
lent points in Mr.. Lucas address follow:
"While this is supposedly a law making body,
the successful legislator is the man who scarcely
ever introduces a bill, but sits on the side lines
ready to protect the interests of the people of
the entire state against freak legislation. We
already have more laws than are necessary for
| the government of n free American people, and
if about half of them were repealed we would be
much better off. True, changing conditions
make necessary some new laws, and undoubtedly
some of the old ones should be revamped and
amended to meet these changed conditions. L
have no idea of the legislative program for this
session, but l am of the opinion that If the en-
tire time of this body was taken up with the
passage of n very few important laws to meet
the present crisis in the life of the State, and
a few others brought down to date, you could go
home with the feeling that the Eighteenth Leg
~islature should go down in history as the most
business like ever held in this State or any other.
| have seen members introduce as many as ten
bills the first day for the introduction of bills.
If this was general among the ~sixty.two members
of this body, the first day would see the intro,
duction of more than 600 bills-more than could
possibly be given intelligent consideration i'll
forty weeks, much less forty days.
In every campaign we hear of people going
over the state talking reduction of taxation-yet
when the time comes when such reduction could
be made everybody seems to be very busily en-
gagged in thinking up new ways to spend more
money. The only way to save money is to save
it. 1 do not mean to say that any department
should be crippled so as to be unable to function,
but 1 do mean that every expenditure should be
investigated and if it does not prove to be II
good investment it should be chopped off-just
as you would do in your own business If you
could see proper returns for the expenditure of
money. You have heard the criticism of pre-
vious legislatures, so that you will have this ex-
perience for your guidance.
Wyoming has grown to its present prominence
first through the livestock and ranching business.
Today this business is in bad straits, and only
the most careful management will ever get it
back to normal. Only those improvements alb
s~olutely essential are being made on the ranches
today, and we can only fairly ask those engaged
in this line TO pay their share for the essential
improvements on State property. However, L
know you gentlemen have come here with a full
determination TO do your duty as you see it. You
are on trial before n jury of the entire popula-
ton of the State-not as a body, but as individ-
ual members-and / know you are going to give
the best there is in YOU. l have nothing TO sug-
gest in the way of legislation other than the
thoughts l have given you. My duties are en-
tirely executive, and | expect to carry out-or at
least help-the rules you give the next forty
days for the conduct of my Office