Newspaper Page Text
EVERYBODY 12 PAGES j READ IT I EVERYBODY . 12 PAGES NEEDS IT L LAST EDITION. MONDAY EVENING. TOPEKA, KANSAS- MABCH. 10. 1913- MONDAY EVENING. TWO CENTS irivc CENTS HODGES FAVORS THE PLAN Governor for Commission Form State Goyernment. His Message to the Legislature Today. DEFECTS OF PRESENT SYSTEM Jot Time Enough to Do Work Well. Proposes Legislative Assembly Two for Each District. CONVENE OFTEN NECESSARY And Properly Consider and Draw Up Laws. Wants Members to Go Home and Talk It Over With People. Governor Hodges today sent his first message to the legislature since the day that body convened. The gover nor favors state government by com mission rather than by two branches of the legislature. He proposes one as sembly of two members from each of the eight congressional districts to re place present two bodies of 165 legis lators. He urges this for considera tion in the future and wants thee members to talk it over with the folks at home. The governor says: Topeka. March 10, 1913. To the Legislate of the State of Kansas: As the legislative duties of the leg islature of 1913 draw to a close. I de sire to congratulate the members of both branches on the magnificent work which they have accomplished. I be lieve that I am justified in saying that you have worked harder and accom plished more than any legislature in recent years. About every pledge you made to the people last year has been fulfilled. But I am convinced that this mag nificent record Is due rather to the efficient membership this legislature, than to the system. In common with a large and grow ing number of thoughtful people, I am persuaded that the Instrumentalities for legislation provided for in our state constiution. have become antiqua ted and inefficient. Our system is fash ioned after the English parliaments with its two houses based upon the distinction between the nobility and the common people, each house repre sentative the divers Interests of these classes. No such, reason exists In this Mate for a dual legislative system and even in England at the present time the dual system has been practically abandoned and the upper house shorn of its importance, and I believe that we should now concern ourselves in devising a system for legislating, that will give us more efficiency and quick er response to the demands of our economic and social conditions and to the will of the people. I have been led to this conclusion by an experience of eight years as a member of the senate of this state and my convictions on this subject are by no means of recent date. As far back as March 12, 1911. in an interview printed in one of the great dailies. I advocated that our present legislative system be abandoned and that a leg islative assembly of thirty members from thirty legislative districts, under the check of the recall, be provided for in Its place. The suggestion made at that time met with much favorable comment, and I firmly believe that there is a growing public opinion in Its favor. Not Time for Good Work. You senators and representatives cannot but have observed the defects of our present system. In a short ses sion of fifty days, you are required to study and pass upon hundreds of measures and the hurry with which this must be done, must of necessity result In a number of more or less crude and ill-digested laws, which of ten puzzle learned jurists to interpret with anything like satisfaction to , themselves or to the public. Hundreds of measures also embodying import ant legislation, die on the calendar ev ery two years. After a brief session, the legislature adjourns and the busi ness of one co-ordinate branch of the state government is absolutely aban doned for a whole biennium, unless the legislature is convoked in an ex pensive extraordinary session by the governor. It is as if the head of an important department of some other "big business" should give only fifty days every two years to its manage ment. The Veneration for Ancient Custom. I am aware of the veneration with which ancient institutions are regarded In some quarters, but I see no reason why we should cling to these institu tions in carrying on the all important affairs of the state, when in almost every other activity of life we are dis carding old traditions and antiquated methods for newer and progressive ideas and more efficient and economic methods. This legislature has itself discarded the antiquated and Inefficient methods of managing the business of our big institutions and have concen trated the responsibility in the hands of a few. instead of many boards in a word has applied to them the prin ciple of government by commission. "We have recognized in this state also that the old methods of city government are expensive, inefficient and unsatisfac tory and everywhere the commission plan of city government Is being adopted and in almost every case is yielding high class results. Favors Government by Commission. For myself, I can see no good reason why this new idea of government by commission should not be adopted for the transaction of the business of the state. Two years ago I suggested a single legislative assembly of thirty members from thirty legislative dis tricts. I am now inclined to believe that this number is too large and that a legislative assembly of one, or at most two, from each congressional district, would be amply large. My judgment is that the governor should be ex officio a member and presiding officer of this assembly, and that it should be permitted to meet in such frequent and regular or adjourned sessions as the exigencies of the pub lic business may demand; that their terms of office be for four or six years, and that they be paid salaries sufficient to justify them in devoting their entire time to the public busi ness. Such a legislative assembly would not, I believe, be more expen sive than our present system. It would centralize responsibility and ac countability, and under the check of the recall, would be quickly respon sive to the wishes of the people. Advantages of Vew Plan. A legislative assembly such as I have suggested could give ample time to the consideration of every measure, not only in relation to its subject matter, but to the drafting of it in plain, con cise, and easily understandable lan guage. It would be ready at any time to deal with new conditions, and to provide relief in emergency cases, and, with time to inform itself about con- (Continued on Page Two.) FOR HIGHER WAGE Inevitable That Any Increase Must Be Paid by Pnblic. Interesting Data Given at Vice and Wage Probe. Chicago. March 10. James Simpson, vice president of Marshall Field and company, was recalled to the witness chair before the state vice commission today. The room was again filled, a large number of the spectators being women. Simpson was asked again as to the profits of his firm, and again asked to be excused from answering. He assured the commission that Marshall Field and company could well subscribe to any minimum wage scale law for women which might be adopted. "It is Inevitable," he said, "that any increases would be paid by the public. Senator Tossey asked if Marshall Field and company could raise the minimum wage of women to $2 a day without raising prices of goods to consumer. "It could be done," Simpson said, "and without materially affecting the profits of the firm." George Lytton. vice president of The Hub, next faced the commission with his back to the spectators. Lieutenant Governor Barrett O'Hara chairman of the committee, explained that the com mission desired to ascertain the relation of low w-ages to immorality of women. Lytton said It was the practice of the house to give annual presents to its employees, independent of the profits of the year. He asked to be excused from answering a question, asking what percentage of the net profits of the firm of the gifts formed. The house employs 150 women, none of whom re ceive less than $6.50 a week. "Do you have to charge more for clothing than others because of higher wages?" asked Chairman O'Hara. "Oh, no." "Do you believe it is good policy to pay good wages?" "Certainly." Lytton declined to state the profits of his firm. There are 104 women at The Hub re ceiving $6.50. "It has been estimated that it costs eight or nine dollars to maintain a young woman," said Senator Juul. "Where does the difference come from?-' Conies From Parents. "They live at home and it comes from the parents." "Then you take all of a girl's time and skill and expect her parents to help pay their wages?" pursued Juul. "I wiil say that we have been con sidering raising the minimum wage to $8." . Witness said he had devoted much time to the wage question as it affects women, and that a woman can live on $8 a week. He promised to give the commission a schedule of the ex penses of a working girl. "What we want," said Senator Juul, "is what she must spend. Never mind the pleasures. I suppose when we make a law we'll have to add a dollar or two for recreation and the like." (Continued on Page Two.) openFbOing Third Session of Present Parli ament Convenes. Precautions Taken Against Attacks by Suffragists. London, March 10. King George today opened the third session of the present parliament after an elapse of only two days, the briefest recess on record. The king and queen took their places on the throne in the pres ence of a great gathering. The open ing was preceded by the usual proces sion from Buckingham palace to Westminster hall, the center of the brilliant picture being the great gilded glass coach drawn by the famous Hanoverian cream-colored horses. A drizzling rain fell throughout the day, but this had no effect on the tens of thousands of sightseers. Tho king's speech from the throne chiefly was devoted to the Balkan war, expressing the earnest desire of the European powers to hasten the conclusion of peace. His majesty opened with a reference to the jubilee of the marriage of his parents. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. He expressed gratitude for the action shown by the nation to the widowed queen mother, Alexandra. Referring to the Balkan war, the king said : "I am hopeful that the consultations between the powers will enable them not only to bring about a complete un derstanding among themselves but to exercise a beneficent influence in has tening the conclusion of the war." (Continued on Pace Two.) MAKES JO RULE President Wilson Regulates Time to Receive Callers. Must Jfot Be Disturbed From 9 to 11 A. M. HIS CABINET NOT INCLUDED Large List of APPOintmellts fr Today. Executive Will Take Hand in Affairs of Congress. Washington, March 10. Nominations sent to the senate today by President Wilson included: First assistant pdstmaster general Daniel C. Roper, of South Carolina. Third assistant postmaster general Alexander M. Dockery, of Missouri. Fourth assistant postmaster general James I. Blakeslee, of Pennsylvania. United States Judge district of Porto Rico Peter J. Hamilton, of Alabama. Commissioner of labor statistics Charles P. Neill. of the District of Col umbia. Washington, March 10. After four strenuous days, in which his confer ences with Democratic leaders fre quently were interrupted by hand shakers, President Wilson today de cided that hereafter he will make ap pointments only after 11 o'clock in the morning or for the East room in the afternoon. He plans to come to the executive office about 9 a. m., and first devote two full uninterrupted hours to correspondence and other important business each day. Mem bers of his cabinet and persons for whom he sends will not be Bubject to the new rule, but all others will. On cabinet days the president will see his visitors before 11 o'clock, the hour of meeting. The president's list today was long enough to keep him busy. Postmaster General Burleson open ed the executive offices today just a few minutes after the president walk ed over from the White House. Sev eral Democratic national committee men from the west had engagements today. Senator Stone. Speaker Clark and Representative Alexander of Mis souri, who were next on the list, came to discuss Missouri claims to several important positions. Late today in the East room, the men of the diplomatic corps were to be presented formally to the president and on Wednesday the diplomats and their wives will meet Mrs. Wilson. Tonight at 9 o'clock the president will press a button in the White House which will open a stockbreed ers convention at Fort Worth. Tex. Does Not Include Congressmen. Secretary Garrison, after a ' talk early with the president, declared Mr. Wilson agreed with him that the per sonnel of the department ought not to be discussed for several weeks at least. President Wilson's rule about discussing patronage with his visitors does not apply to members of congress. It was pointed out at the White House today that the president intended his announcement that ofHceseekers should address themselves to heads of de partments should not be interpreted as including senators and representatives to whom the president hopes to be ac cessible at all times and on all sub jects. Mr. Wilson intends to consult with the members of congress and vice versa, the wnoie purpose is to aivert the stream of applicants and their friends from the White House to the government departments so that the field of choice may be gradually re-, Secretary of State Bryan Suggests That the United States Play the fart of Big Brother U the He peblics of Central and South America, duced before he takes up the question of appointments. When the president was governor of New Jersey he always gave precedence to members of the legislature and when that body was in session he would always keep his door open to the legislators to come and go unannounced. Mr. Wilson hop ed thus to encourage frequent con sultations about legislative matters. It is probably when congress is in ses sion he will pursue the same course, and it has even been suggested that when critical moments arrive, in deal ing with legislation, Mr. Wilson may go to the president's room at the capi tol to be in close proximity with mem bers of both houses. Work Over Tariff. President Wilson will take a hand himself in framing legislation with con gress. With the co-operation of party leaders in the house and senate, he pro poses to work over tariff, currency and other important measures even before they are introduced and to lend the weight of the administration to the sup port of the bills. -(Continued on Page Two.) MURDERS FARMER Charles Thompson - Shoots J. G. Higgle in Back. Tragedy Occurred on Farm Near Peabody, Kan. Peabody, Kan.. March 10. J. G. Riggle, farmer living on the Basslin farm, near Peabody, was shot and killed Sunday by Charles Thompson. No trouble existed between the men, but Thompson, it is said, labors under illusions. Riggle was shot in the back as he was entering his house and died three hours later. He left a widow and one little girl. . Deputy Sheriff Calbeck and Con stable Charles Marsh took Thompson to Marion. He showed little concern. Thompson is 32 years old and always has lived here. Two of his brothers are farmers in East Branch. TOWN IS WRECKED Dynamite Explosion Creates Havoc in Scotland. Xumber of Dead and Injured Jiot Yet Known. Glasgow, ' Scotland, March 10. A terrific dynamite explosion today wrecked the town of Irvine, In Ayr shire. The number of -dead is not yet known. -,Jt is said-hat the injure numDer nunareas. The explosion occurred at. Nobel's explosives works ' at Arder, twenty miles from Glasgow. For a radius of several miles it had the force of a de structive earthquake. The '., town . of Irvine was shaken to its foundations. Many houses, churches, schools and pufelio institutions were destroyed; People walking on the streets were thrown ' to- the ground and many ef them injured, The inhabitants rushed from their heuses in consternation. The water front and the harbor were masses of wreckage. There were three distinct explosions, followed by an immense column of smoke two miles high. Here's Tour Chance. The Chicago Great Western R. R. will make very low fares to the North and West this spring. Write H. B. Bryhing, district passenger agent, C. G. W. R. R., 809 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo., for particulars. Adv. PLAYING BIG BROTHER r .u with - XaAZ . REBELS WIN FIGHT Huerta Troops Are Reported to Be in Retreat. State Soldiers Are Occupying Town of Tiacozari. RESULT OF LENGTHY BATTLE Movement of Strong Rebel Forces Is Reported. Garrisons Defended by Small Bands of Federals. Douglas, Ariz., March- 10. After a battle lasting from Saturday morning until yesterday afternoon, 800 state troops today hold Nacozari and 260 Huerta soldiers defending the town are retreating to Agua Prieta. This news was received here today when com munication was restored between this point. The capture of Nacozari opens the TOaJ, a-lt is te"eved, to Agua Prieta,, and if the latter town is taken, the in surgent state troops can march east ward along the border, encountering only small garrisons at Nogales, Naso and other little towns. At none of the ports on the Sonora Arizona border are there more than 300 federal troops. All the Huerta sol diers in northern Sonora did not ex ceed 1,000 men, it was said today on sound authority, while the state gov ernment in its revolt against the pro visional president within a few days has raised an army of nearly 10,000 men, according to carefully compiled figures made up from the reports of the various state troop leaders. At Nacozari are the hundred men under Prefect Bracamonte of Monte zuma. There were only 260 federal troops defending Nacozari when the attack was made Saturday. : Similarly small garrisons defend Agua Prieta, Nosales and Naco, while another strong rebel group from Mag dalena below Nogales, is reported as moving to the border to assist in at tacking the ports of entry. Communi cations remain cut with Hermosillo, the state capital held by the insurg ents, and even with American mining settlements near the border. There is much anxiety felt for the American mining men at Nacozari and at Can anea, on a part of the Southern Pa cific of Mexico, which also has been cut by state troops. Added proof of the capture of Naco zari, the first victory for the insurgent state troops, in Sonora, came today with the arrival at Agua. Prieta of a special train bearing 175 defeated federals.- Lieutenant Colonel Lopez, the federal commander, a passenger on the train, had been shot through the neck and was in a critical condition. Twentv snlri being cared for at Agua Prieta. No Americans were nun in tne attack ex cept J. S. Williams, Jr., a mining man, who was shot through the leg. The federals admitted Nacozari is in com plete control of the constitutionalists. -General Ojeda declared today that he TtMlf Tint evfinata A CT-ll n Prlata ,,nlaea he receives such orders from Mexico vny. . , . t Small Town Attacked. Mexico City, March 10. Zapatistas attacked Telol-Capam, a small town in the state of Guerrero. They killed several officials, sacked public build ings and shops and carried away ten girls, members of prominent families. Efforts to enclte trouble at Vera Cruz by calling a general strike of the hotel, railroad and shipping employees were frustrated by the authorities, who promptly arrested the leaders. . Vicente Segura, a retired millionaire matador, who several months ago pur chased a supply of arms and ammuni tion at New Orleans to aid the revolt started by Felix Diaz at Vera Cruz, has turned over the bill of lading for these supplies to the Mexican gov ernment, which will have them deliv ered to the federal army fighting against the rebels in the northern DRY WHITE HOUSE Teetotalers in Ascendency . New Administration. in President and Family Averse to Intoxicating Liquors. Washington, March 10. The Wilson administration will be "dry." This ex pression is used entirely in a sense that it appeals to the inner man of the nation and not necessarily to those who look for stereotyped methods of government. It became known that President Wilson and his family, all of them, are averse to the use of li quor or wine in any form. Intoxicat ing liquors will have no place in the White House during the next four years unless the president's opinions undergo sharp change. The premier in the president's cabi net, Secretary of State Bryan, as ia well known, has been a prohibition ad vocate for many years. On one occa sion, Mr. Bryan would have it a na tional issue and it was due to his ef forts that the prohibition legislation In Nebraska was put into effect. It is well known that Speaker Clark is a teetotaler and has been for many years. The fact that a large portion of the Democratic majority in the sen ate and house is from the south, where prohibition is general, makes certain the fact that there will be little wine and less wassail than has been known in Washington for many years. There never has been so dry a pros pect in the White House since the days of President Hayes, when Mrs.Hayes ex cluded fines and liquors from the ex ecutive mansion, immediately on be coming its mistress. The sideboard on which the wine glasses and decanters of that administration once were dis played now graces a local barroom. GAS HEARING AGAIN. Wyandotte Gas Company Shows Big That the contracts between pine line companies and the Wyandotte County Gas company are void because of a lack of supply of gas, and the asser tion that the Wyandotte Gas company's books show a decrease of over $100,000 in gross" receipts the -first two months in the present year from those of January and February, 1912, were the burden of the argument of Attorney J. W. Dana, of the company at the reopening -of the gas hearing before the public utilities commission this mormng. Dana declared that the contracts ob ligated the Kansas City Pipe Line com pany and its successors to furnish gas only so long as there was gas to be furnished,- and that those contracts did not contemplate a quarantee of un limited gas for an indefinite period of time. He urged that his own company should not be held as obligated to fur nish gas only so long as it could make money in handling it. He read excerpts from the. contract with the Kansas City Pipe Line com pany of 1906, providing that the con tract was binding only while there was an ample supply of gas to be furnished, and barring accidents to the pipe lines, etc. "The pipe line companies did not at tempt to undertake the impossible," he declared. "The Wyandotte County Gas company has lost 40 per cent of its business on account of the shortage in gas, and our books show a loss in gross receipts of over J100.000 in January and February of this year from the re ceipts of the same two months a year ago." Mr. Dana wants to know, he said, if his company is warranted in continuing the supply of gas under such circum stances. Mr. Dana was arguing when the hearing adjourned over two weeks ago. He will be given a chance to finish his argument after which representatives of other distributing companies and the cities will be given a hearing. The end of the hearing is no in sight, and nobody will hazard a guess as to when it will be. TYPICAL MARCH DAY. Blustery Today, Bnt Fair. Weather Ahead. rri..i!nai uarrh wARthr in the order of things in Topeka today. The tem peratures are normal, a urwno the northwest blowing at a 20 mile nace is of a damp variety that Is pen etrating. There is tair weamer aneu acnu lng to both the weekly forecast, and . ,.. frtr tViA nnt 24 hours. It will probably be slightly colder to- mgnt. , The weekly forecast reads: "Spring- I -nraotHAV With f IT KU IPS and TlOT- mal temperatures is promised for the coming weeK to an Botuuuo ui country by the weather bureau. 'The distribution of pressure over the northern hemisphere," says the bu reau's weekly bulletin, "is such as to indicate that the temperature dur ing the current week will average the normal over practically all parts of the country. Precipitation during the week will be generally light and local. It is not probable that any general storm will cross the country during the 7 o'clock 33 11 o'clock 49 8 o'clock 36 12 o'clock 49 9 o'clock 41 1 1 o'clock 48 10 o'clock 42 j 2 o'clock 44 So Supreme Court Decisions Today. Washington, March 10. The su preme court met today but announced . JunMnn, In tha Imnnrtsint rat. cases or the newspapers publicity law. Weather Forecast for Kansas. Fair tonight and Tuesday, slightly cooler tonight. NOT TILL FRIDAY Legislature May Put Off Ad journment to Then. A Postponement From Toes day Agreed To. SO SENATE CAN FINISH Working Without Pay for Near ly a Week. Honse Work Is Done and Ready to Go Home. The Kansas legislature may not stop the consideration of bills before Friday night. That this additional time will be granted for the comple tion of the work and consideration of bills now on the calendar, was vir tually agreed to at a conference Sun day afternoon of members of the two houses. An extension of time for considera tion of bills on the calendar will com as a direct concession on the part of the house members. They are In a position to adjourn Tuesday noon the hour set by the provisions of a Joint resolution but the senate will in that brief time be unable to consider the house bills which are pending in the upper house. So." in order to dis pose of the house bills in the senate, the house members are confronted with the proposition that they must either consent to an extension of time or lose some of their favorite legisla tion by an adjournment Tuesday noon. Working Without Pay. ' Members of both branches of th legislature have been working with out pay since last Tuesday night, when they drew their final pay check. To continue the consideration of bills un til Friday night, means a 63 day ses sion. It means the adjournment slna die cannot be taken until Tuesday of next week. March 18, as three days must be allowed after consideration of bills stops in order to enable the governor to sign the new laws and to message them back to the legislature. Of course practically all of the mem bers could go home Friday night or Saturday of this week, even if the time for final adjournment is extend ed. But at the best, it probably means that the members must spend ten days in Topeka for which time the state pays them not one penny and In addi tion to donating their services, the members must pay their own boards bills. Among house members there was a strong opposition to the plan to ad vance the date , for adjournment. Yet there seems to be nothing else to do. The senate cannot complete its work by Tuesday noon. To go home at that time, means that adjournment must be taken with many important bills still pending. It means that some of the measures for which the house members have fought and bled, must be heart lessly permitted to die on the calendar to insist , on the provisions of the joint resolution. Means Life of Salary Bill. The question of a Tuesday noon ad journment, means the life or death of the fee and salary bill, which has passed the honse. This measure is now on the calendar in the senate, but would probably not be considered by the upper house men at this session if they are forced to stand by their agree ment to quit work Tuesday. Other im portant bills are yet in the senate hop per and after a lengthy conference, ad ministration members declared that It would be suicide to attempt to adjourn before the latter part of the week. As for the house, an advance date for adjournment means easy nailing. By hard work. It could clean up the senate calendar and leave Topeka right on schedule time; yet in order to get their measures through the senate they are virtually forced to extend the date for final adjournment. This would afford ample time to consider all senate bills. With only slight ceremonies, the house has put to sleep for this session , at least, the Carey bill creating an ef ficiency commission. The Carey plan. which virtually meant that a civil serv ice rule for all state employees would be established, did not create enthu- - siasm among the house members. Per haps it was because of the late hour of the session that the workers in the lower branch of the legislature declined to go Into the merits of the Hutchin son salt packer's pet theory. They listened impatiently to the desultory reading of the bill and on final roll call extended the measure a scant 25 votes. The house has passed the senate Mil by Davis, of Bourbon, permitting the organization of co-operative and part nership insurance companies. Even some of the house insurance men voted for the measure on final passage. In his bill. Davis provided that farm ers and business men, corporations and Individuals might organize benefit fire Insurance companies to insure against losses by fire. This policy puts the fire Insurance premiums on an actual cost basis and it is claimed that in many cases, will mean a saving of from 40 to 60 per cent In premiums to the insured. Bailey, of Brown, an insur ance man, fought for the passage of the bill, although he himself is engaged in the Insurance business. The bill has the approval of the state insurance commissioner's office. Am nnrrtnri'jtifttl of 140.000 for a Kan- sas exhibit at the Panama-Pacific ex position In San Francisco in 1915, has 1 annAtTad htf tlA hnilflA. All & (1 d I - Ifrrjl ' ' - - tional appropriation of J10.000 for the San Diego exposition, was nn injm ' bill on motion of Speaker W. L. Brown. BlR Damage Suit Against Bankers. St. Louis. Mo., March 10. A suit for $1,400,000 was filed in the United States district court today against Ben Kd wards, president of the Na tional Bank of Commerce, and George Lane Edwards, former director of the. bank, for the alleged loss incurred ny the bank, when it absorbed the Fourth National bank in December. 1906. Not Vet Completed. Washington. March 10. President Wilson has not completed his roll of diplomats but announcements are ex pected within a few daya 4