The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-07-16
KlNsLEY EDWARDS COUNTY, KANSAS. JULY 16 1897
LEGISLATIVE ECONOMY.

!! While the last legislature did not
make an entirely satisfactory record
in some respects, its record in other
respects shows that it's members had
some regard for their constituents in
terests. 1t has already been shown
that the daily expense of the session
was S542, compared with $1,000 at the
next previous session. 1t has been
shown that its work was done with 80
senate and 102 house employees, while
in 1896 the senate had 131 and the
house 2O3. 1t has been shown that the
stationary supplies cost S1.67e, while
in 1895 the cost was $3,SS8. 1t has
been shown that the engrossing cost
1926, and that the expense for the same
purpose in 1895 was 81, 1877.
Readers may wonder how the saving
could be made in such large amounts.
A comparison of the items of expense
for the house will throw some light on
the subject. The sargeant-at-arms of
the republican house did not begin
keeping a record of the stuff he bought
until February 10, which was nearly
80 days after the session began, SO
that the populist report for 1897 covers
twice the time that the 1895 report does
The first item is pocket knives. In
1895, 45 dozen, costing 1910, We're pur-
chased. In 1897 none were bought.
Tn 81 nd
employees, a total of 1923. Forty-five
dozen, or $40, knives would supply
every member leaving PIP, enough to
supply every employe with second
pocket knife and still have a few left.
Was this a-necessary expense. Did
the house of 1897 suffer any inconve-
nience from lack of sufficient sup
ply of jack knives? In 1895, 10S paper
weights were boughtA None were in
1897. Nine mirorrs were bought in
1855, but none were deemed necessary
in 1897. The fact that the 1896 legis-
lature used Is dozen towels while the
last one used only > dozen, may, it is
true, make sad showing for the pop
ulists. Five fine toilet sets were pur-
chased in 1895, but none appear in the
statement for 1897. Twelve extra-fiine
hair brushes were purchased in 1895,
but no money was spent for that pur-
pose in 1897. Exactly the same num-
ber of floor mops were used at each
session. Sargeants alarms were so
numerous in 1895 that it was necessary
to label them so that the chief sargeant
could tell who was on his force. and it
required twenty-four badges for this
purpose. No badges were necessary
III 1897, because the number of officers
had been reduced so greatly that it
occasioned no trouble TO keep tab on
them. Eight Office chairs, nine Office
desks, fourteen Office tables, two type
writer desks and 14S heavy chairs were
purchased in 1895, and notwithstand
ing the fact that there was little of this
left after the members got through
voting it to reporters and employees
stealing it themselves, the 1897 house
bought none of this class of furniture.
In the list of 1895 chamois skins, but
no similar item belongs in the 1897
list. The sargeant-at-arms reports
that he found one large water tank
bought in 1895 and that it was the only
thing on the long list of purchases
which he did find. is presumable
that it remained because it was too
heavy to carry off.
OAfter the above showing it is not
hard to understand how such a large
reduction in expenses could be made.
1t shows that there was a disposition
to handle public funds carefully, and
that in 1895 they were handled in the
most reckless manner imaginable. In
the matter Of it's own expenses, the Ad-
vocate thinks that the legislature made
a creditable record, and if there is an
extra session, it hopes to be able to
note still greater reduction all along
the line.-Advocate.