The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-02
Being Governor of Kansas Isn't
a "Snap."
Living in Executive Mansion Is
Expensive.
ON THE STAND.
His Expenses Are More Than
$4,000 a Year.
KeIIy's Attorneys Make Techni-
cal Objection to Vouchers.

Governor Bailey's deposition was ta-
ken today for use in the Bailey-Kelly
mandamus suit in the supreme court.
1t was taken for the purpose of show
ing that the bills which were filed with
the state auditor for payment out of
the executive residence maintenance
fund were only a small part of the ex-
pense of maintaining the executive res
idence; that the governor paid
many of the expenses in cash,
and those which were filed with
the auditor were where bills were run
and were paid at the end of the month.
The governor testified that it will
cost him his entire salary of $4,000 a
year, the $1,000 a year appropriated by
the state for the maintenance of the
executive residence, and several hun
dred dollars more from his private
funds to live in the executive residence,
pay the wages and board of the ser
wants necessary to keep up the resi-
dence, and to do the entertaining ex-
pected of the chief executive of the
state. This was largely in excess of
what it would have cost TO keep the
small family of the governor elsewhere.
Among the items of expense which
go to make up the maintenance of the
residence were enumerated the follow
ing: Lighting the big residence, the
freight and drayage of coal to heat it;
incidental repairs; servants to keep the
house and furniture in order; servants
TO launder the states linen; extra ser
wants when public functions are given;
the board of all these servants, which
amounts to more than the board of the
governors private family; decorations,
flowers and music for public recep-
tons; the expense incidental to keeping
'open house for various organizations
holding state meetings in Topeka; the
entertainment of President Roosevelt
and his party; the entertainment of
Secretary of War Taft; the entertain
ment of state military officers during
the state encampment last summer; the
entertainment of distinguished guests,
and similar items.
A large amount of the provisions
which are purchased for the residence,
the flowers for receptions, and a great
deal of the fruit and other supplies
were paid for in cash and it was i'm
possible to secure a receipted bill each
time. The amounts expended in this
way were much more than enough to
keep the governors private family. The
provisions purchased were used in the
entertainment of public guests and the
board of the servants as well as the
board of the governors family.
At Green's and Gallagher's stores
Governor Bailey simply ran monthly
bills and for the sake of convenience
these were charged UP to the state. The
appropriation made by the state would
not pay the states share of the ex-
pense, and the governor knew that he
would have to pay the balance out of
his salary and private income 1t is
necessary to file the receipted bills
when money is drawn through the audi
tors Office and state treasury, and as it
would have been impossible to get
receipted bill each time cash pur-
chase was made, these receipted bills
which came in at the end of the month
were filed.
On cross examination by the attor-
neys for Kelly an attempt was made
to show that the expense of entertain
ing President Roosevelt was paid out
OF the governors contingent fund, but
an examination of the records showed
that this was not correct
Governor Bailey also testified to
having talked with Governor Stanley
when he took possession of the resi-
dence. and that Stanley had said it
cost him a thousand dollars a year
more than his salary to live in the
executive residence, and that the legis-
1ature ought to increase the main
tenance fund $1,000. Stanley'S main
tenance was $1,000 a year instead of
$4,000, and it was brought out that he
did not use it for provisions. 1t would
not have gone very far 1t was shown
that Governor Stanley left in the
fund $1T5 for the purchase of silver
ware for the executive residence. The
Stanleys used their own silverware
and there was none for the residence.
Mrs Stanley made a list of what was
needed in this line and the new silver
ware was among the first purchases of
the Bailey administration.
1t was also brought out that when
the first bills on the maintenance
fund were made out the question of
their payment was referred by Gov
ernor Bailey to Attorney General
Coleman. who advised that they were
legally payable out of the maintenance
fund. The attorney general after
wards expressed the same opinion to
others, and has recently placed it in |
writing. Bills similar to the ones
which Treasurer Kelly refuses to pay
have been repeatedly presented by |
ever refused payment until the present |
Instances.
Kelly's attorneys attacked the form of |
the voucher filed by Governor Bailey |
and contended that the affidavit was
not properly made. Assistant Auditor
Nation was called on to testify on this
point He testified that the form of
voucher filed by Governor Bailey and
the affidavit made was the same as that
on which every other executive and ju- |
dicial officer of the state draws his sal |
airy. Mr.. Nation also testified that the !
appropriations for the maintenance of
all the states charitable Institutions are
made just as is the one for the main
tenance of the governors residence, and |
that it has always been customary to |
pay the living expenses of the inmates, |
the employees. and of the officers and /
their salaries out of the maintenance !
appropriation.
Another contention of KeIly's attor-
news was that Governor Bailey's |
voucher was not properly itemized. In |
this connection some of Mr.. Kelly's |
vouchers were introduced in evidence. |
One was where Kelly had filed
voucher for expenses in connection
% railroad assessment which l