Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-09-17
THE STATE SAVES MONEY.

This being the week OF the state convention not
inappropriate to take look what the Repub
state officers have doing they took office
in January. 1903 Not all OF them could possibly be in
ciuded In summary brief this must necessarily
be. but general idea be given of the amount of
work done and the of in with previous
yearA
The
That part the governors work. which is probably
most important has already received most extensive
notice. only In the of Colorado. but all
over the United States 1t is here to refer
to his record in preserving law and order and protecting
Hfe liberty and This work however. has not
occupied the majority OF his time The is by
law member of nearly every state board. Under this
administration these boards have had frequent regular
meetings. The been and has pre-
sided at almost every of such meetings during his
term OF these the most important the Board OF
Equalization the Board OF Land Commissioners the Board
of Audit the Board of Capitol and the Board of
Charities and Corrections In connection with the latter
all the institutions have be visited and supervised
Besides the numerous board meetings there is much
routine work in connection with the Office. AS
compared with the previous biennial period this routine
work has just about doubled The has done
all in businesske way having his regular Office hours.
during which he has been accessible all with
little red all consistent with order and
decorum
Secretary Of State.
One OF the most important Offices is that Of the
OF Besides regular routine work of the
ofhce-keepng records of sors-he has charge
of the brand department, which is most important in
having large and he is also
the purchasing of the for nearly everything
printing The business of the brand department
has from year year. and is constantly beeom-
ing important and difficult 1t has been kept
strictly date and in thorough working order under
the incumbent. and Of has more than
paid expenses
In his capacity purchasing agent the present secre
tary expenses supplies and incldentas
have been practically in during his adminstra-
ton Under his predecessor the of supplies and
incdentas for the first twenty months was more than
under he he
about $4,000 The Office force has been kept low as
consistent with efficiency.
Auditor and Treasurer.
administration conducted
largely the auditor and their Offices may
be considered together AS members of the Board II
Equalization and the Auditing Board. these officers have
also supervision of raising and expenditure Of
together with the attorney general and the
secretary OF state.
a preliminary it may said in brief that the
inherited from its predecessors claims
against the aggregating S25oooo for money
advanced to keep the state institutions from closing their
DOORS OF this amount Governor Thomas had borrowed
$4,000 from the Denver clearing house and the rest
had loaned by individuals and local banks AT the
beginning the administration the Legislature
appropriated general incidental fund" OF s25l.5oo in
addition the usual appropriation for incidental expenses
which $4,000 This socalied general Incl
dental fund intended to take of the outstanding
debs and payments of 1t strictly limited in the
appropriation bill to the first four months.
Instead OF being used TO back debts intended
this fund used grab fund Large amounts OF
services" postage. Some OF it
used months after the payments out of 1t had become
Illegal pay of extra session of the Legisla
Briefly, of It used for the purpose for
which intended by the Legislature and less
than $4,000 of left when the orman administration
In other words the incidental expenses" of the
orman administration been between s275.OOo and
100000.
For the Peabody administration an appropriation for
general Incidental purposes made OF S7000o-about
onefourth actually used by the Orman
SIS 900 less than recommended by
outgoing auditor in his biennial report
The less than provided for the incidental
expenses either of the two previous administrations
those appropriations insufficient without the grab
fund.- expected that while $4,000 not
enough 1ss9 $4,000 1901 had to be supplemented
by 100000 Of the grab fund.-. $4,000 could
be enough in 1908?
strict and close supervision by the Board
Of Audit made do, and there still
left enough amply the remaining incidental
No such record for
has ever been by q Democratic administration in
Colorado.
Land once.
The register not in control OF 1t.
Q limited extent. The clerks appointed
by the land board and did not con-
slider themselves the register and acted
accordingly complete record had been kept for
receipts and disbursements. There separate
ledger accounts persons which had leased