The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-06
UP THEY GO.
Has Economy in Appropriations
Been Only a Bluff?
Present Bill Shows Increase of
Over $4,000.
NEW PLACES CREATED.
Another Assistant Treasurer
and Assistant Auditor.
Places Cut Out by House Com
mittee Put Back.
Grain Inspectors Have Nice
Claim for Back Pay.

An example of how the legislature
is ''economizing' in its appropriations
is shown by its action on the eXecu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill.
AS it was first introduced in the house
last week it was about the same as
the year before. One or two new
places were created. but on the whole
it followed the appropriations of the
year before very closely.
A great uproar was inaugurated be-
cause appropriations were made for
places not authorized by law, and all
such were stricken from the bill. Then
it was discovered that this wiped out
about three-fourths of the places in
the state house, including some whole
departments, and the fee and salary
committee was instructed to draw up
a bill creating the jobs that were
necessary and fixing their salaries.
This was done, leaving out some of the
could be dispensed with. and includ-
ing one or two new ones which were
necessary.
By the time this bill got through
the house and went to the senate all of
those whose jobs were wiped out had,
of course, got busy and had had their
places included in the new bill. For
instance, the committee had cut the
number of state house janitors down
from IS to 10, raising their salaries
to $720 a year. By the time the SEN
ate got through with the bill the num-
ber was put back to IA and the sal
aries were left at $720. A cOpyist that
had been taken out of the department
of the state superintendent of public
instruction was put back.
A lot of salaries had been increased
and these were, of course, left with
the increase attached. AS a result the
executive and judicial bill as it finally
got through carried an appropriation
of $26, 6,949.50 in excess of what the
house committee had originally in
tended before any agitation was COM
was first introduced in the house it
called for appropriations amounting
to $S55,S99 and the senate substi-
tute calls for SSS2, ,34S.50.
One of the items in the bill Great
ing a new place is for a special as
sistant in the state auditors Office. It
is generally conceded that the increase
of work in that department calls for
an additional high grade man, and
provision was made for one in the
original house bill. AS it comes from
the senate an assistant. is also sched-
uled for the treasurer's department
at the same salary, $1,000. As the
regular assistant treasurer is provided
for in another law the same as the
regular assistant auditor, some of the
house members are wondering if this
creates another high place in the
treasury.
through, but it is reported that they
viii probably aggregate about $780,
600 for the coming -biennium- This
viii be slightly in excess of the apprO-
priations made by the last legislature
which amounted to $5,153,792.44. The
legislature of 1901 appropriated S4,-
700.729.S5.
The present legislature has some
extraordinary expenses to meet, such
as 100000 for the state oil refinery.
S66, 900 for the state printing plant.
and some minor measures, but these
were more than offset by the $780,
600 which the legislature of 1903 had
to provide for building the Parsons
asylum and 100000 for the Worlds
fair. besides a number of buildings
for the charitable institutions.
The present legislature has kept down
the legislative expenses Thus far they
have amounted to about 10000, while
S112 900.
The tax levy will not be as high the
coming year as it was two years ago,
for the reason that there is now S99S. 900
on hand in the state treasury. The SEN
ate had formulated a measure to raise
not to exceed 81, ,3OO,O 900 for the next
fiscal year. while the limit two wears
ago was $500, 900. The limit for the
second half of the biennial period in
both instances is 81, ,000. .0OO 1t is said
that the house may reduce these limits
still more because of the large amount |
of money in the state treasury
There is an item in the senate nnisceI-
laneous appropriation bill to pay persons |
in the state grain inspection department |
balances due on salaries for March. |
April, May and June 1903. AS a matter |
OF fact there IS no balance due these |
persons, but claims have been got up |
in their name and are said to be held |
by state Treasurer Kelly's brother. Mr.. |
Kelly himself has said that he advised |
his brother to buy the claims His |
brother IS now assistant treasurer.
The legislature of 1903 made an in |
crease in the salaries of the grain in
spectlon department, to go into effect |
July l. 1903, and. appropriations were |
made to meet the increase from that |
date The bill. however, was published
during March and so claims are now
put in for balances due the grain in
spection department from the time the
law was published up to July 1. 1903. |
These claims aggregate about $780, AS
a matter of fact the legislature of 1903
did not intend the increase to become |
effective until July1, and it was so gen
orally understood. The proposition now
TO pay these balances due is a graft |