The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-01-18

two s-page forms. making the actual price
paid by the state 1913 per 1000 impressions
against 81 50 paid by the state OF Iowa.
The state OF Kansas pays 80 per cent. more
for composition than the state of Iowa, and $50
per cent. more for press work. Illustrations
of these extravagant prices paid for printing
can be multiplied, but it is unnecessary.
Another very important matter in connec-
ton with the state printing, that should re-
ceive your attention, is the voluminous matter
published in the reports of the departments.
great deal of matter which is of no i'm
portance whatever is embodied in these
reports. The executive council should be
authorized and required to limit the
size Of reports. and to determine the character
and expense of binding. The appropriation for
public printing for the years 1895 and 1896
should not exceed $4,000, thus saving the
the immediate attention of the legislature, and
thorough revision of the prices paid for pub
lie printing should be Immediately had
Fees and Salaries.
Your attention is called to the abuses which
have grown up under our system of fees and
salaries. The most practical way 10 reform
these abuses would be, where it is at all FEAST
BILE, to abolish the fees system and substitute
fixed salary for all officers.
Your careful scrutiny is invited to the matter
OF salaries, with a view to such reductions as
will bring them in harmony with the changed
business conditions Of the state.
Enrolling Clerks.
Your attention is called to the act OF MAY I.
1855. sections 355l. 1852 and 1868 OF the revised
statutes. providing for the engrossing and en-
rolling OF bills. 1t was clearly the intention Of
the law that the secretary Of state should have
charge Of this work, and that the enrolling
clerk Of each house should be held accountable
for the care and custody of the bills for their
respective houses, when such bills were not in
the hands Of the secretary Of state The au-
thOrity for the employment of additional
clerks rests with the secretary of state
and the enrolling clerks. l would sug-
gest that the law be so revised as to
place the employment of assistant engrossing
and enrolling clerks, and the entire control
of the work. with the secretary OF state. and
that the enrolling clerks be required to take
charge OF the bills from their respective
houses, delivering them to the secretary OF
state. taking his receipt therefor, and when
the bills have been enrolled or engrossed. re-
ceive them from the secretary Of state, receipt
ing to him therefor This would define clearly
the duties OF the different officers, that each
could be held strictly accountable for the dis
charge Of his duty
The act referred to provides for the compen-
Sation Of clerks at a stated sum per folio. and
no authority exists for employing assistant en-
crossing or enrolling clerks by the day. The
disregard of this law by the legislature has
cost the state thousands of dollars biennially
and has caused an unSeemly scramble for
places, in many instances by persons utterly
unqualified to discharge the duties OF enrolling
clerks.
State Boards.
Several propositions have been discussed
looking to a change of the powers and duties OF
the state boards, but l doubt the wisdom of
making any radical changes in this respect
Some amendments might be made which would
increase the efficiency of these boards, and it
would be well for YOU to consider the propriety
of abolishing entirely some of them. II would
seem that either the board OF public works or
the office of state architect might be
dispensed with. The office of silk COM
missioner can be abolished without
any detriment TO the state. The state
board Of health might be made less expensive
without materially diminishing its efficiency.
The office of state veterinarian might be abol-
ished and the Office placed under the control
of the professor Of veterinary at the agricul-
tural college. In these times Of depression it
Is your duty to cut OF all expenditures not
absolutely necessary. There has never seemed
to me any reason why members Of the state
boards should be paid mileage. 1t would be far
more reasonable and sensible to pay them
their necessary travelling expenses actually
paid, and their per diem for all time necessar-
lily employed, and know no good reason why
the per diem should be increased. The treas
urer of the board Of charities handles a large
amount Of money, and gives only a small bond
as member OF the board. The busineSS-like
way to do would be to abolish all these minor
treaSurers and require all moneys to be paid
by the state treasurer. But if this not done.
he ought 10 be required to give bond Sufi-
GENTLY large TO cover any moneys belonging TO
the state that may come into his hands.
There seems to be no system Of checks or
counterchecks on any of these boards. The
board Of charities eNpend about $4,000 per
year. They make their own contracts, audit
their own accounts and manage matters after
their own will. There is no provision even for
the investigation Of their accounts, except
when the legislature Is seized with a Spasm of
virtue, and examinations of this kind are but
of little value. The most critical examinations
ought to be made Of the accounts Of every
state institution, at least once a quar-
ter. by an expert accountant. who should
visit the institutions at irregular sea-
sons without the slightest notice to the
officers He could render valuable assist
ance by suggesting improved modes OF
keeping accounts. The governor, as the chief
executive Of the state. is virtually responsible
for the proper management OF the state inSti-
tutionS. To enable him to be brought in closer
touch with their management would suggest
that he be authorized to employ an additional
clerk. who should be an expert accountant.
and whose duty it should be 20 examine quar-
terlv. or oftener II directed by the governor.
the accounts of all the state institutions and
state boards. He should also be subject to the
orders Of the governor at all times. with au-
thority to examine the accounts of county
treasurers far enough at least TO protect the
state in the matter of state taxes and school
land funds. The simple fact that there is a
of almost 100000 in these accounts
emphasizes the Importance of this last sug-
gestion.
deem it of far more Importance that these
suggestions should be carried out than that
radical changes should be made in the num-
berS. powers and duties OF the boards. Ere
quent changes in the laws make many and I'M
necessary complications. and it is better to
endure the ills We have than to fly to those we
know not Of.
Insane and Insane AsyIums.
The dictates Of humanity demand that the
care should be given to our unfortu-
nate fellow citizens who have been bereft of
their reason. No reasonable expense should
be spared to provide for their comfort or to
furnish the best medical attendance attainable.
At present the two aSylums at Topeka and
OSawatomie seem inadequate to pro-
vide suitably for all Of this unfor-
tunate class. The detached building
at OSawatomie for female patients, author
lied by the last legislature, is now nearly
completed. snd when proper provisions shall
have been made for furnishing and fitting it |
for occupancy. it viii furnish accommodations |
for about three hundred females. This Will re-
lieve for the time being the pressure upon the |
two institutions; but additional room will |
soon be required To provide for this need |
the asylum at Topeka should be completed by |
the erection Of a ward building for women. and |
a center or administration building. When |
the institution was opened in 1873, with a ca |
pacity OF l25 patients. temporary accommoda- |
tionS for officers were provided in one end Of |
one Of the ward buildings, and they have ever I
since been occupied for that purpose. This |
greatly lessons the comfort Of the patients and |
this temporary arrangement should be abolish |