The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-30
IS IT PADDED?
Claimed That Senate Journal
Was Stuffed by Sheldon.
Charged That the Tax Bill Was
Inserted
TO INCREASE FEES.
Bulky Copy Added at So Much
Per Folio.
Commission Ordered That 1t Be
Not Printed.
FEES.

George B. Munson, who was clerk of
the state tax commission. and who also
served as clerk for the senate committee
on revision of the journal, claims that
Charles Sheldon, secretary of the senate,
padded" the senate journal by the in
sertion of the tax bill surreptitiously,
after the journal revision committee
had ordered that the bill be omitted.
The revision committee Of the senate
Journal was composed of Senators
Wright, Morehouse and Sponable.
'aThe committee on revision of the
Journal" says Mr.. Munson, cut out all
the matter pertaining to the i'll fated
tax bill, save only to show the action of
the senate fully in the premises, and
Sheldon published the report of the tax
commission as an appendix to the jour
nal, furnishing a printed copy of the
report to the printer and drawing pay
for it as printers copy. The senate
committee on revision of the journal
was Wright Sponable and Morehouse,
and it was understood that the journal
was to be published as revised by the
committee, but Sheldon did not stand
hitched after the session adjourned"
Munson says that all the printers
copy as well as the Original journal
was prepared by the senate journal
force without the attention or supervis-
ion of Sheldon.
THE senate journal" says Munson,
was proof read and revised day by day
by the clerk of the senate committee on
revision of journal, which position L
held, and the corrected copy returned TO
the printer who then printed the sig
natures for the journal to be published
at the close of the session, and when
the session ended, Chere only remained
three or four days copy to be printed
The rest was all ready for the binder
The engrossed copy for preservation
with the secretary of state, Whlch net
ted Sheldon a large sum OF money was
made by copying these printed sigma
lures and save for the index, Sheldoh
never edited or compiled page OF the
whole work except the matter pertain
ing TO the closing days after the work
was over"
In explanation of the technical term
signature" used by Mr.. Munson. II
may be stated that signature is q
certain number of pages OF book
printed at one time.
There is said to have been some diff
fculty between Mr.. Sheldon and Mr.
Munson, which perhaps accounts lor
the readiness with which Mr.. Munson
tells the story of the alleged padding
of the senate. journal.
Sheldon claims that the tax bill had
to be published in the journal of both
houses to comply with the provisions of
the act which created the tax commits
sion This provision is as follows:
1T shall be the duty of such auditor
OF state (who was member of the
commission ex-Ofhcio) to make his
written report, submitting and present
ing to the next session of the leg.sla-
ture the records and bills of said board
for the consideration and action of such
legisla ture."
The tax bill which was printed in the
journals of the two branches of the leg
islature was the one which was report
ed by Mr. Cole, then state auditor. Mr.
Sheldon claims that as the act crea ting
the tax commission required the com
mission to report a bill to the legisla-
ture it would necessarily follow that q
copy of that bill be included in the
journals.
Sheldon's fees for the session amount.
ed to $3.50.