The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-25
WHY NOT PAY 5?
Salaries Withheld From Agri-
cultural College Professors.
Have to Bring Suits to Get
Their Money.
MORE PARTISANSHIP.
People Made to Suffer Because
of Prejudice.
About $4,000 Due on Various
Accounts.
MORE PARTISANSHIP.

When Governor Stanley suspended
the officers of the board of regents of
the state agricultural college for an in
vestigation, the payrolls were tied up
and a number of the professors and
teachers did not receive their salaries
There is now due and unpaid on these
accounts the sum of $4,000. An addi-
+, tional $4,000 is outstanding on smaller
bills and is due to people not connected
with the institution.
An effort has been made to settle up
these accounts but the board of regents
holds that there is no money available
and that the creditors will be required
to wait until the legislature makes a
deficiency appropriation for that pur-
pose.
This will cause additional litigation
concerning the indebtedness as proceed
ings are to be commenced in the su-
preme court on behalf of the creditors
for the purpose of collecting the money
justly due them.
The Republican officials claim that
the salaries have not been paid because
the POpuliStS under the direction of
Thomas E. Will spent more money
than the appropriation allowed and vir-
tualLy consumed the sums which should
have been held in reserve to pay the
accounts over which there promises to
be a law suit. The Republicans claim
there is no money at the command of
the board of regents to pay these sums.
The creditors claim the college has
plenty of money and insist upon an i'm
mediate settlement.
The board of regents last week agreed
to pay the bills and the claimants de-
parted from the meeting in better spir-
its. A delay followed and then came an
announcement from the treasurer of the
board w. T. Yoe that there is no money
at hand to close up the accounts.
In 1890 the national congress appro-
priated $4,000 for the state agricultural
frAlIn Wit ft7.1
be added each year until the amount of
the government aid to the college should
amount to $25, 600.
The appropriation bill provided that
the money should be paid out prior to
the close of the government fiscal year,
June 30 The following August the first
payment was made. The creditors of
the college claim that this money has
no -'.string to it, and that the apprO-
priation never lapses. The money is re-
ceived by the institution and not a sin
gle penny of it reVertS to the govern
ment. In the experimental station ap-
to the national treasury if they are not
fully expended. In the aid appropria
tions there is no provision for a return
of uneXpended balances.
The treasurer Of the board of regents
claims that the money received in De-
cember, S25 600 is for the fiscal year end
ing June 80 last year and can not be
expended except for purposes necessary
during that year.
E r. Nichols president or acting
president of the college, came to Tope-
ka yesterday and urged that payment
of the back salaries could not be made
from these funds. Mr.. Nichols has $500
in salary tied up, but he would rather
do without his share of the money than
! to allow ex-President Will and other
Populist professors to receive the mon
ey which belong to them; for which
they worked and which the state agreed
to pay.
To those who are still at work in the
college the back salary is not of so
much Importance. To those who were
Ousted and have since obtained no en-
ployment the item of $500 or S400 is i'm
portant and in some cases, it is said.
represents the total future capital of
some of the men who We're summarily
dismissed by the Republican investiga-
ton
The eX-professors and teachers have
made an effort to have a peaceabIe set
tlement of this controversy but since
! the administration seems inclined to
deal harshly with them no hesitancy
will be manifested in beginning the law
suit.