of all state schools was placed under the State Board of Education Repeal of the inheritance tax New power for the Kansas Bureau of Labor Allowed for the state publication of school textbooks New miner safety laws Created a hospital for patients with tuberculous Placed public hospitals under the control of county governments Created the office of prison matron for women's county jails Created the office of divorce proctor women's roles were advanced in state government. On March 10, 1913, he delivered a speech to the Kansas Legislature calling for an overhaul of the Legislature by combining the Kansas House of Representatives and Kansas Senate into a single Legislative Assembly, consisting of one or two members from each congressional district with the governor serving as the presiding officer. He said the size of the Legislature was too large for the state. Hodges also proposed moving the state from having legislative sessions in odd number years to holding annual legislative sessions, suggesting the biennium procedure caused legislators to rush through their business and not have ample time to study legislation. Hodges was the last governor of Kansas to serve with a Democratic legislature. After losing his reelection bid, Hodges returned to his various business interests as he had established a successful career as a businessman. He was a member of the State Board of Regents from 1925 to 1927. He also served on the State Textbook Commission. References External links National Governors Association article on George Hartshorn Hodges Political Graveyard Speeches delivered by Governor Hodges Online resources on George H. Hodges at Kansas Memory website Publications concerning Kansas Governor Hodges's administration available via the KGI Online Library 1866 births 1947 deaths People from Richland County, Wisconsin American Disciples of Christ Mayors of places in Kansas Democratic Party governors of Kansas Democratic Party Kansas state senators Politicians from Olathe, Kansas People from Kansas City, Missouri