The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-27

the best steel bridges. My estimate for
the next year of expense for bridges is
placing of the Kansas river bridges, as
with the possible exception of the
Granville bridge, that would be met
by special levy and would not come out
of the general revenue.
Court House.
The increase here of $1468.69 is al
most all accounted for under repairs
and improvements. $1,401.50 was spent
in painting and repairing the building
last year as against $SS18 for the pre-
ceding year.
Court of Topeka
The expenditure here is about the
average. being only $4.37 more than
| for last year.
A controversy has arisen between
this office and the sheriffs office as TO
allowance for fees for the sheriff for
serving papers in this court.
This court was established by CHI.
| 1z9 laws of 1899 for the purpose of
removing the justice court from the
this county over $1,000 as against
| $3,096.59. the net cost of the city
court last year.
marshal and deputy shall be paid a
salary and they shall receive no fees
| for services. Section Is of said act
further provides that:
'fThe county shall not pay or be
except the fees of jurors and of wit
nesses for the state.'
The sheriff has claimed the right to
serve processes of this court in crimi-
nal cases and receive fees therefor.
This office has ruled that under the
statute as set out above he is not en-
titled to such fees. No reason is seen
why if the sheriff is entitled to fees
in any criminal case in said court, he
would not be entitled to serve the
processes and collect fees in all GRIM
inal cases in said court. This would
add about $4,000 to the sherin's fees
and a corresponding expense to the
county, while the county is at the same
time paying a salary to the marshal
and deputy for doing this work.
District Court.
1t costs $12,O14.74 to run this court
for last year. This is $1,620.70 more
than the cost for the previous year.
The largest item of expense is So
1870 for jurors. This increase is on
account of the larger number of cases
disposed of and on account of the in
creased compensation of the sheriff
for serving subpoenas and processes
of the court.
Fugitives From Justice.
The cost under this head was ST.
$3.50, which is $S61.36 more than
the previous year and $1,412.62 more
due to two reasons. Cd The increased
number of acquisitions. Cd The in
crease by the special act of 1908 OF
compensation to the sheriff for this
work. The sheriff of this county re-
ceives 10 cents per mile each way ana
actual expenses of the prisoner. "A
state agent receives IS per day ana
actual expenses for the same work.
Jail.
The increase here is $1,604.87. The
sheriff's compensation for boarding
prisoners and attending Jail was So
$50, which is $2,002.3O more than the
previous year. This increase is due
to the large number of prisoners, but
mainly to the increase of compensa-
ton to the sheriff. The special act of
1903 gives the sheriff slightly over 6O
cents per day per man for boarding
prisoners and attending Jail, exclusive
Of light, heat, fuel, water. supplies for
pisoners not including food, and resi-
dence for sheriff, which are furnished
by the county. Before this act the
sheriff's compensation was slightly
over 40 cents per day per man. Re
pairs and improvements cost $2O7.O7
less than for last year.
Probate Court.
This court cost $4,739.90, an in
crease of $938.S3 over. the previous
wear. This increase is due to the larg-
er number of insane and reform school
cases and to the increased compensa-
ton of the sheriff for serving papers,
etc, occasioned by the special act of
1908 heretofore referred to. The sher-
ifs fees in this court paid by the coun-
ty were $1,531.S1, as against $957.11,
due to causes set out above.
Permanent Road Improvement Act
Under chapter 3SS, laws of 1901, the
board of county com misSioners are au-
thorizeu to make a levy in addition to
the general levy, of not more than two
mills for the permanent improvement
of county roads. No levy was made
under this act last year, but at the pc
ginning of the last fiscal year the coun-
ty had on hand in this fund a balance
from the previous levy of eight-tenths
of a mill, and of this amount $7,S31.21
has been expended in constructing the
macadam roads on West Sixth street
and the road north of North Topeka
known as the Rochester road, and for
machinery necessary for crushing rock
used. There is now a balance in said
fund of $3,276.35.
The assessed valuation of all tax
able property of Shawnee county for
1904 is s17,633,76S. A mill levy on
this valuation would raise $8S,1S3. |
From the best sources of information |
I can obtain have made the estimate |
for general expenses, including the
support of the poor, for the coming
year which is found on page OF TINS
report and which amounts to $92, 068. |
This estimate of expenses exceeds the |
a 5 mill levy will raise, but
with the balance in the general reVe- |
nue. fund now hand and the |
that will be paid into this |
other sources than the levy, a levy of /
mills will be more than ample to |
meet all of the general expenses of the |
county.
| therefore recommend that the levy |
for general revenue and for the sup
port of the poor for the year ending
June 80, 1905, be made at the rate of
5 mills on the dollar on the total as
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. WEIGH,