The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-29
WASTE AND THEFT
Shown by Accountant Challinor's
Report Today
At THE ASYLUM AND PBNITENTIARY.

Almost Equal to Actual SteaIing-A
Bad Record Indeed.
Mr.. John England Challinor the state
accountant, has made a report to Gov
ernOr Morrill, of his findings in investi-
eating the affairs of the state peniten-
tiary and the Topeka insane asylum.
These reports reflect on the present man
agement of the penitentiary and the late
management of the asylum. In his re-
port on the penitentiary Mr. Challinor
says he has investigated thoroughly
everything in connection with the insti-
tuition.
In regard to the charges that coal had
been actually stolen by the officials he
says: "All these charges are untrue and
not founded on facts"
He says the records prove that every
coal contractor is given credit for short
age, but no one ever pays anything back
for over weight. The wei Oh clerk is in
attentive and does not keep the scales in
working order.
The interesting part of Mr.. Challinor's
report is in regard to the management of
the storekeeper's department. He says:
"This department has been run in the
loosest manner possible, the storekeeper
being one OF the most incompetent en-
ployes OF the institution, both as pur
chasing agent and as a keeper of &C
counts. All the records of the depart
ment require remodeling. The accounts
are kept by two convicts, who, under the
storekeeDers direction, force balances in
order to make stock agree with inven-
tory"
1t proof of his statement Mr.. Challi-
nor shows that on February 2, 1890, 100
pounds of rice was reported on the books
as issued, but which had either been lost
or stolen as it was not shown on any
requisition of that date. All stores dis
covered short are treated in like manner.
The employees of the institution sell
goods to the state. March 10 $50 was
paid to the arm~superintendent for a
disc harrow and April 10 $40 was paid to
the storekeeper for button machine.
In the beef department Mr.. Challinor
gives several pages of figures to show
irregularities, and in explaining them
says: "The chicanery practiced in this de-
partment leaves it an open question as to
the distribution of any and all stores. In
the matter of beef and bacon have good
reason to know that the warden was &C
quainted with the facts as he was heard
to say: oil, the accountant must not
catch on to the beef"
In his report from the Topeka Insane
asylum Mr. Challinor says. "a more
critical examination of the books and &C
counts of this institution demonstrates
the fact that the board of charities in
conjunction with the superintendent and
steward under the Populist administra-
| ton, have expended the funds of the
asylum in a reckless and unbusinesslike
manner, and to such an extent that the
integrity of the board and others is
! open to grave doubt and
places the parties concerned in
very suspicious position. At this
| date it would be impossible to attach the
oGium to any particular person or con-
! Wet anybody or person of what is plain
~ demonstrated by this report O., out
rageous plumber.
tendent, is exonerated, the increase in
expenditure having occurred during the
regime of DR.. McCasey."
| Mr.. Challinor scores Steward James
Butler, and says: "The period of Steward
| Buffers tenure has been characterized
by gross incompetency and neglect in
| both purchasing and accounting
branches, and from general observation
he has been the puppet of the board of
| charities and uperintendent."
After making some comparison of
to run the asylum under Dr. McCasey
than under DR.. Eastman, and giving
some examples of Stewards book keep
ing, he gives a letter showing how the
| steward, he alleges, added to his income.
This letter was addressed to the Armour
Packing company, Feb. 10, 1894, and
read: "Dear Sirs,-I mailed you check
| for amount due as per voucher today,
| and l expect to receive by return mail
the usual discount to jobbers. Hoping
to hear from you promptly, am frater-
nally yours, James Butler, Steward"
Mr.. Challinor's statement shows that
the asylum steward paid about % cents a
| hundred moro than the market price for
ali the corn meal and graham flour used
during the last half of 1894
He also shows that during the years of
1898, 1894 and part of 1895, $4,472. 80
more was expended for beef, pork and
chickens than during the same period of
the years 1891, 1892 and 1898
First published May 90, 1895, in the