The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-25
ROWETT 1T is.
Governor Bailey Decides to
Name State Accountant.
New Official Is President of Ac-
eOuntants' Association.
SALARY $4,000 A YEAR.
Will Also Have $500 for Trav-
cling Expenses.
Executive Has Been Looking for
Right Person.

Governor Bailey y%iH appoint Chas.
Rowett, of Kansas City, Kansas
as state accountant, the appointment
to take effect the first of June.
Mr.. Rowett is president of the
State Expert Accountants association,
and is highly recommended. Not only
that, but Governor Bailey has already
had him examine the accounts of
some Of the state institutions, and he
has given the best of satisfaction.
The appointment of an expert ac-
cOuntant was authorized by the last
legislature. There has been a statute
providing for one for several years,
and up to the time w. z. Stanley be-
came governor there was such an ofh-
Ger, but Governor Stanley believed an
accountant unnecessary and recon-
mended that the legislature should
make no appropriation for one, so
that during Stanley's administration
there was no state accountant
George Z. Cole, who was state au-
ditor during the Stanley administra-
ton, believed a good state accountant
would save the state his salary sew
eral times over, and he recommended
that an appropriation for the Office be
again made, and the last legislature
appropriated salary of $4,000 a year
and $500 a year for travelling and
other expenses for a state account
ait liz dPDIOpIldLLOll Was Ild4G SO
that the accountant could start in on
April l of last year, but Governor
! Bailey did not see fit to appoint an
! accountant at that time He has
/ been subjected to some criticism for
not doing so, inasmuch as the state in
stitutions had not been checked up
for four years.
81 have been looking for an ac-
cOuntant for some time,'' said Gov
ernor Bailey today. 4 wanted to get
hold of a thoroughly competent and
reliable man, and L think I have got
/ him in Mr.. ROwett He is highly rec
i commended, and have had him check
/ up some of the state institutions be
/ fore appointing him state accountant.
THE reason am making the ap-
pOintment now is because / am going
4 to be governor for some time, and I
want to know just how the finances of
4 the state institutions and the state de-
| partments have been run so far dur
1 ing my administration. If there has
/ been anything wrong in any of the in
stitutions I want to find il out myself
and rectify it and not leave it for
some future officials to uncover
The story that Governor Bailey had
appointed William Allen White as
state accountant is erroneous. 1t is
true that the governor talked with
Mr.. White by long distance telephone
about the appointment Yesterday.
Governor Bailey jOkingly alluded to a
story published recently that Mr..
White offered to do the work without
salary if the governor would appoint
him state accountant. Mr.. White de-
MED ever making the statement at the
time. Governor Bailey was away
from Topeka at the time it was pub
lished, and only heard of it a day or
two ago.
Il have never seen Mr. Whites re-
ported statement" said Governor Bail
ey today, land I called him up Mon
day He was not at his Office and
Tuesday he called me up I told him
had not seen his statement but that
was looking for good man for state
accountant. He could not hear what I
said very we'll and I had hard work
making him understand me, but finally
he said he wanted to talk to me about
it, and said he was coming up to see
me. All that passed between us was
largely Josh OF course Mr.. White
does not want to be state accountant,
and 1 did not offer him the place L ex-
pect to appoint Mr.. Rowett. 1 have not
yet issued his commission but [ have
virtually told him would appoint him
and 1 expect to do So"
The law providing for a state ac-
countant was passed in 1895. The
duties of the accountant are as fol-
lows:
1T shall be the duty of the state
accountant to visit, without previous
notice. each of the state charita BILE
institutions, and each of the state de-
partments and other public Offices, at
such times as the governor may di-
rect and carefully examine the books
and records of said institutions, de-
partments and officers.
t'It shall also be the duty OF the
state accountant to examine the books
and accounts of the county treasurer
and county clerk of all the counties
in the state of Kansas with reference
to the amount of moneys received by
said county treasurers on account of
state taxes and school land sales, and
the amount of money RENTED to the
state treasurer for credit of state
taxes and school land sales and with
reference to all other transactions oc-
curing between the several counties
and the state departments that in the
1 Judgment of the governor should be
/ examined. He shall report to the
governor in writing any irregularities
| or discrepancies, if any such are
I found and shall make such sugges-
/ tfons as to the manner of improving
4 the methods of keeping accounts and
/ records in the various counties, state
/ institutions and state departments as
D 1,a NAV deem advise h1a