The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-30
If 1t is Sincere Let lie Begin
Right Now.
And Let It Include Persons OF
Influence.
WHY DATE AHEAD.
why Include Mere Employees
of State.
Protecting Crafts Of Higher
Officials.

Here is something square 10 the POAhe
from the Ottawa Herald:
Some days ago the Herald said that
a reform that was good enough to be-
gin at all was worth beginning at once
The information comes from Topeka
that the state depositary law which it
is proposed to pass at this session wll
not disturb the private graft Of MI
Kelly but will become effective Wheh
his successor goes into office.
1.-The private graft which the state
treasurer enjoys by reason Of loaning
state money on his own private ac-
count in violation of the law amounts
to not less than $12,0 900 a year, ana Is
probably a good deal more STATE
Treasurer Kelly has two years more YET
to serve, after having drawn not less
than $24, COO of the states money Illegal
ly in this manner, in addition 10 MS
salary.
THE present legislature is specifically
pledged to pass a depositary law when
will give the interest on the state s
money to the public instead OF max
ing it a graft for the state treasurer
to fatten on. When the s~earchll9ht
was being turned on the state treasury
at the time of the state convention
Mr.. Kelly-who killed the depository
law in the senate two years ago
came out with a stirring endorsement
Of the law and demanded that the leg
islature pass it this year..
&Ine legislature has OeCh AAA1CA GO
ed in cutting off CRAFTS. 1t is credited
with having saved several thousand
dollars by refusing to hire men VINO
were not needed about the legislature
These men, it will be noted, were men
of small influence. They were labor
erS, for the most part, who had Small
political recommendation. ana the leg
islature has had no hesitation IN saw
ing money by refusing to hire them
So far the record has been good Inc
other day the fact leaked out that the
ITopeka Capital had laid down the law
to the legislature about pupllsnlns
laws in the statute books instead OF
the official state paper The SAYING
was considerable to the state, and III
the case of most laws the results We're
uite as good, but it is tha'
hereafter there will be no more OF II
1.-THE question of whether a depoSl-
tarv law goes into effect now OF II
two years from now IS a question 81
whether Mr.. Kelly's friends IN the
legislature are willing to cut not only
the small graft where the sacr1nce OF
no political influence is involved, ana
to go on allowing Mr. Kelly TO gain
er in a good many thousands a year
1T is a question whether the pledge
of reform is a sincere pledge or IS 2
promise to be carried out according az
political ~expediency directs. 1t is no.
= matter which involves the persona
interests of Mr.. Kelly, but it IS a mat
ter that must be explained when tht
party is measured in two years IRON
now. And it may as well be under
stood that a reform in Mr.. Kelly's of
6ca that is -venie dated ahead
where it will not touch Mr. Kelly vii
he set down in the public mind as {
piece of legislative graft, just as
reform in Mr.. Kelly's office which be
comes effective at once by agreemen
that there shall be no systematic in
v~estigation of the past record Of tn
office will be set down as a piece o
legislative graft.
1.-THE road to reform is a plain road
and it ought to be as definitely marke'
in Mr.. Kelly's case or the Topeka
CapitaI's case as in the case of tn
small hanger-on who wants a three
t d~olIar-a-day job, or the enemy who i
} marked for slaughter"