The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-21
IL WILL BE UNLAWFUL
For the State Militia to Spend
$4,000
FOR IN OUTING" At EMPORIA.

The LegIsIAtureApprOpr $50. 900
fer Emergency" such as Riots, Etc,
Not for a Big Expensive Picnic.
The state military board and adjutsnt
general may meet with trouble in carry
ing out their proposed scheme of holding
an encampment of the state militia at
Emporia. They expect to defray the ex-
penses of the outing from the appropri-
alton made by the last legislature for use
in case the militia should be needed for
active service during the fiscal years
ending June 80, 1896 and 1897.
The legislature, ii will be remem bered.
declined to make an appropriation at its
last session for state encampment but
it did appropriate $4,000 to be used in
case of an emergency. All of this APP
preparation was made available in the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1895, and
such portion Of it as might be left was
appropriated for use the following year.
The object Of the appropriation was to
provide fund for use in protecting the
peace and enforcing the law of the state
if it should be found that the civil
authorities in any locality were unable
to do it. 1t was evident that the Iegis-
lature never intended that any portion
of it should be used for an encamp ment
as an effort to get special appropriation
for that purpose proved a failure. AS it
was not the intention that any portion of
the emergency appropriation should be
used for encampment purposes the state
military board is evidently planning to
expend the appropriation in way that
the legislature intended it should not be
used.
1t is claimed in extenuation by the
militia board that the federal govern
ent requires annual encampments of
state militia to be held in return for the
assistance given the national guard in
me way of arms and ammunition. mas
much, however, as the state Legislature
d not see fit TO accept the condition it
is not in the power of the militia board
to do so.
The estimated cost of the proposed en-
campment is $4,000. If after the encamp-
ment a riot should break out, and the
militia should be needed for actual SER
vices there would be but $1,000 of the
appropriation left with which to defray
their expenses in the field. In the judg-
ment of the legislature the emergency
might arise where 100000 would be
necessary for this purpose, although it is
not probable that any portion of it will
be needed.
State Auditor Cole has a way of refus-
ing to audit vouchers drawn on special
appropriations for purposes other than
those specified in the appropriation bill
and it is not unlikely that he may not be
able to see his way clear to audit vouch-
ers for the state encampment expenses.
The total of the appropriations mads
for the state militia and adjutant gener-
ais department is SAP, 800. The bill pro-
vides especially how the money shall be
usad SofnR of it ia to nav the zalarv IF
the adjutant general and the employees
of his Office. An officers school is pro-
vided for as well as rent for armories
Every possible expense that the
Legislature thought proper to be entailed
is mentioned but not a word can be
found anywhere about state or other en-
campment,