Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-02-20
THROUGH THE SENATE.
Continued From First Page.

would seriously interfere with the pro-
ceedings OF the legislature when the term
Is drawing to a close and there Is much
unfinished business on hand, and the de-
lay consequent upon the veto might seri-
ously impede the progress Of legislation
and consume time that is much needed
for the consideration of other things.
However, / wish to call your attention
to the manner of appropriating money for
this purpose and TO suggest some changes
which l think would be in the interests
of economy. For long time it has been
the custom of the legislature to appropri-
ate and place under the control Of a print
ing board. without any limit to the num-
has been thought to be sufficient check
upon the contractor and the various bu-
reaus of the state that order printing. Ex-
ed that this method has not been success
full, and. therefore. we have to face the
present condition.
1.-The legislature had appropriated O
printing fund which was supposed to be
sufficient to meet all proper demands until
July ]. 1897, but on coming into office on
January H. this adminissrasion & discoyerea
Hence, 1t became your duty to appropriate
money to supply the deficiency caused
either by the miscalculation of the pre-
vious legislature or by the Industrious ac-
tivity of our predecessors, who. perhaps,
feared that the incoming administration
might not judiciously expend this fund,
all temptation out of our way. Up to the
time of the election, the printing board had
been fairly economical in the amount OF
printing ordered, bat after the election or
ders were made which virtually required
the expenditure of the entire approprta-
ton for the fiscal year. SO that by the
time this legislature convened the appro-
withstanding the fact that the law plainly
says that the printing shall cease when
the appropriation Is exhausted, We have
been going on with this printing for more
than a month, In violation of the statute.
and large part of the money appropriated
in this bill will be used to discharge obii-
cations already accrued. as well as to pay
for the printing that will be done between
now and July I.
THE printing committee consists Of men
who have ofiiciai responsini,,ites, ,, 0l tneis nd
1t Is impossible that they should FAMILIAR
ize themselves with the details OF eacr
bureau and come 70 any very definite opin,,
ion as to what printing is really essential
for each department. 1t has occurred to
me that better way to remedy this mat
ter would be to either limit the amount
the appropriation set aside Definite
amount for each department: The print
ing committee would still be left with au-
thcrity to supervise the subject matter OF
these reports, and IL they deemed proper
would still have the right TO further re-
duee the quantity and size. Then each de-
partrnent would regulate its reports. sub
ject to revision by the printing committee.
'.As a general rule. these reports are too
bulky to be serviceable: there is so much
chaff in them that nobody will take time
to sift out the wheat and great many
of these volumes are useless. Often many
more are printed in some departments
than should be. ] hope that In the future
the legislature will find It convenient to
give each bureau and each department a
specific sum, and make IL payable upon
warrants drawn against each Individual
fund. SO that when the fund Is exhausted
there can be no deficiency. or limit the
siza of the and number of reports printed.
This, i think. will cause the exercise CT
more economy and secure better results
than the present method.
u. W. LEEDY, Governor"