The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-15
MORRILL'S MESSAGE.
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concluded from Third Page.l
paid by the state for all work performed for it,
Whatever Is paid beyond that is so much I'M
Justly taken from the taxpayers of the state.
and ought not to be tolerated The state OF
Iowa has similar law to ours The prices paid
for printing there are about One-third less than
those paid by US. For printing laws, journals.
repGr,S and circulars. the state printer of Iowa
is allowed fifty cents per one thousand "emS"
for composition, aid seventy. cents per one
thousand 'ems" for table work. Kansas pays
for printing journals. reports, laws, circulars,
e5c.. seventy-five cents per one thousand ''ems''
for stra ght matter, and Sl.1214 per one thou
sand ems for table work. For press work
the Iowa state printer receives $50 per one
thousand for 16-page forms. We pay S1.s71a per
one thousand for SPACE forms. In fact how
ever the state printer never runs an SPACE
Tor two SPACE forms, making the actual price
paid by the state 1913 per thousand impressions
against S1.50 paid by the state of Iowa.
The state OF Kansas pays fifty per cent more
Tor composition than the state of Iowa, and one
illustrations of these extrayaganr prices paid
can be multiplied, but it is not necessary.
Another very important matter in connection
with the state printing that should receive
your attention is the vOlumnouS matter pub
lished in the reports of the departments.
great deal OF matter which IS OF no import
ance whatever is embodied in these re-
ports. The executive council should be
authorized and required to limit the
size of reports, and to determine the character
and expense of binding. i he appropriation for
public printing for the years 1895 and 1886 should
not exceed $4,000, thus saving the state more
than $50, 900, The matter demands the immed-
late attention of the legislature, and thorough
revision of the prices paid for public printing
should be Immediately had.
Fees and aIaries.
Your attention is called to the abuses which
have grown up under our system OF fees and
salaries. The most practical way to reform
these abuses would be, where it is at all feasible.
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
bring them harmony the changed
business conditions OF the state.
EnrOlIinS Clerks
Your attention is called to the act of May 1.
1885, sections 3651. 1862 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 nave
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 re-
SpectiVe houses, when such bills were not in the
hands of the secretary OF state. The authority
for The employment of additional clerks rests
with the secretary of state and the enrolling
clerks. l would suggest that the law
be SO revised as to place the employ
ing clerk, and the entire control of the work,
with the secretary of state, and that the enroll
bills from their respective houses, delivering
them to the secretary of state taking his rece ipt
or engrOSsed receive them from the secretary of
stase. recelpting to him therefor. This would
define clearly the duties OF the different officers,
so that each could be held strictly account able
for the discharge of his duty.
The act referred to provides for the cOmpen-
sation of clerks at stated sum per folio. and no
authority exists for emp Dying assistant engrosS-
ing or enrolling clerks by the day. The disre-
gard of this law by the legislature has cost the
state thousands of dollars biennialiy, and has
caused an unseemly scramble for places. in
many instances by persons utterly dlSqualIled
to discharge the duties of enrolling clerks.
state Boards.
Several propositions have been discussed look
ing to a change of The powers ana duties of the
state boards, but doubt the wisdom of making
any radical changes in this respect Some
amendments might be made when would in
crease the EMERGENCY of these boards, and it
would be we'll for you to consider the proprety
of abolishing entirely some of them. 1t would
seem that either the board of public works or
the Office of state architect might be dispensed
with, The Office of silk commissioner can be
abolished without any detrlment to the
state The state board of health might
be made less expensive without materially
diminishing It's efficiency The office of state
Veterinarian mighC be abolished and the oface
placed under the control of the professor of
veterinary at the agricultural college. In these
times of depression it is your duty to cut off all
expenditures not absolutely necessary. There
has never seemed to me any reason why mem
1t would be far more reasonable and sensible to
pay them their necessary travelling expenses
actually paid, and their per diem for all time
necessarily employed, and I know no good rea-
son why the per diem should be increased The
treasurer of The board OF charities handles a
large amount OF money, and gives only small
| bond 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 is not
| DONE he ought to be required to give bond
sufficiently large to cover any moneys belonging
| to the state that may come into his hands.
There seems to be no system of checks or
| counter-checks on any of these boards. The
| board of charities expend about $350.O00 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 IeeisIature 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 institu-
ffo of InqCt q n aY mart r.
! countant who should visit the institutions at
| irregular seasons :, without the slightest
] notice to the officers. He could rem
! der valuable assistance by suggesting improved
| modes of keeping accounts. The governor. as
the chief executive OF the state, is virtually
| Sponsible for the proper management of the
| state institutions. 10 enable him TO be brought
| in closer touch with their management would
| suggest that he be authorized to employ an adj
ditIonal clerk, who should be an expert account
! ant, and whose duty 1t should be TO examine
quarterly, or oftener if 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 authori-
| ty to examine the accounts of county Il eaSurerS
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 difference of al
most 100000 in these accounts emphasizes the
| importance of this last suggestion.
deem it of far more importance that these
| suggestions should be carried out than that rad
! fcal changes should be made in the numbers,
! changes in the laws make many unnecessary
complications, and it is better ito endure the ills
| we have than to fly to those we know not OFF,
Insane, and Insane Asylums.
The dictates of humanity demand that the
| tendereSt 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.
peka and OsawatOmie seem inadequate
TO provide suitably for all of this I'M
| fortunate class. The detached building at OSa-
watomie for female patients, authorized by the
! last legislature. is now nearly completed, and
when proper provisions shall have been made
| for furnishing and fitting it for occup tncy. it
| will furnish accommodations for about three
| hundred females. This viii relieve for the time
/ being the pressure VI on the two Institutions;
but additional room viii soon be required. 10
] provide for this need, the asylum at Topeka
| Should be completed by the erection of a ward
! building for women, and a center or admins
| traitor building When the institution was
! and twenty-five patients, temporary accommo-