Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-12-22
ASK FDR MUCH MONEY
KANSAS INSTITUTIONS WANT BIG
APPROPRIATIONS.
The Preliminary Estimates Largely In
Excess Of Those Of Two Years
Ago Hoeh Busy With His
n MESSAGE.

IfH aF WVoe@SSs
z Topeka, Dec. 19.-(Special. THE
educational and charitable institutions
OF the state have asked the next legis-
lature to make appropriations aggre-
eating IS ,OoO.O 900 for their benefit. The
last legislature made appropriations
for running the state for two years.
which amounted to only $4,600,OOo, and
>this appropriation included the ex'
pense. OF operating the various depart
ments Of state. Now the normal schools
and universities OF the state and the
penitentiary, the reformatory, the re-
form schools and the various asylums
are asking half million dollars more
than the entire amount APPROPRIATED
BY the legislature for operating ex'
peuses for the next two years. If all OF
these requests are granted the rexs
legislature will be the most expensive
ever held in the state. The state SIM
ply cannot afford 1t and the heads cf
the institutions know this a. well as
the average tax payer. The heads OF
the institutions are asking for large
appropriations in the belief that their.
requests will be trimmed down to
about two.thirds Of what they ask and
allowed. This will hardly be the fate
The men who will be in charge OF the
law-making this winter are inclined to
deal as liberally as possible with these
state institutions. but they believe tnat
the heads Of the departments are ask
ing for more money than the state can
AFFORD to spend. "
Kansas is an agricultural state, and
her prosperity depends upon the char
acter OF the crops raised each year.
Comparatively poor crops have been
raised in the wealthiest sections OF
the state during the last two years and
the farmers feel that they should be al
lowed to Try TO get even before their
taxes are increased for the beneht Of
institutions which apparently are do.
ing we'll enough. The schools and var
ious charitable institutions In the state
+ fas -
4aye been getting along fairly well for
the last two years and the farmers In
the river valleys In the eastern part u
the state will resent any attempt to
more than double their taxes for the
cost Of operating the institutions
The head Of every department who
has recommended an increase In ap'
propriations for the benefit Of his In.
stitution has suggested that tho teach.
ers and heads OF subordinate depart
nents have worked faithfully and need
q raise In salary. There are hundreds
Of men in the employ Of the state who
are working for smaller salaries than
men In the same positions in other
states, yet they have shown no disposi.
tion OF quitting the service because Of
the small pay. TIE farmer who has
lost two crops during the last two
years and is afraid that the money he
spends for seed next year will bs
thrown away. is not disposed to BE-
fenient with the professor Of history
who is getting 5000 y year In some
educational Institution end believes
that his services are woFtA more. The
professor can seek other employment
without doing any serious damaget to
the state, because another stands ready
to take bis place at . smaller salary.
but the state cannot afford to discour.
age the farmer la this critical time. he
mas lost great deal of money either
By aoods or bad cattle markets during
the last two years. and be 10 inclined
TO believe that be ought to be let alone
IN the matter OF taxes for q short time.
The ways and means committees Of
both branches of the legislature ars
going TO be more closely watched this
winter than ever before. The member
who shows q disposition to spead the
money Of the state rscklesSly had bet
tef be prepared to make some very
good excuses to his constituents when
be again Gomez before them for an
aaiea He viii nnd that he has been