The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-03
HELD Up STATE.
No Such Legal Office as State
Architect.
Notwithstanding This Over
$4,000 Was Paid to One.

your committee are Of the opinion
that there was no legal authority for
such appointment; that there was and
is no such office as state architect; and
that the specific appropriation made
for such office was not available for,
and should not have been paid out to
Mr.. Stanton
This is the verdict of the house of
representative committee on judiciary
which has completed it's investigation
of the appointment of State Architect
John F. Stanton under the authority of
a resolution introduced by Cyrus Lee
land.
The report is a complete vindication
for Mr.. Leland who has contended for
the past two years that the Kelly-Bur-
row faction in the executive council
had no authority in law to appoint Mr.
Stanton to the position of state archl-
tect.
Attorney General Coleman is made
the scapegoat for the censure, and his
opinion giving the executive council
the right to appoint a state architect
is held to be at the root of all the trou-
BILE 1t is a hard blow for Coleman,
especially since it is administered IN
the house of his friends.
1.-THE result of the investigation is
just as 1 have known 1t should pc,
said Mr.. Leland this morning. 1t
simply shows that the executive coun-
oil wanted to get its hands on another
job to give away, and it therefore ap-
pointed state architect without any
authority.
At the last legislature, the senate
killed the bill giving the governor
authority to appoint state archltect'
because it was jealous OF the power
such a law would give to Governor
Bailey. The appropriation bill carry
ing $4,000 year as salary for the
state architect was passed, however
and became law. Then the eAecu-
elect Mr.. Stanton as architect, and he
has been drawing the $4,000 salary
ever since.
It is not likely that anything will
come of the investigation, except a
complete justification of the charges
made by Mr. Leland, and very dark
complexioned eye for the executive
council. The judiciary committee
house this morning merely ordered
that the report be placed on file, ana
printed in full in the journal to-
eether with all the exhibits attached
to the report The exhibits consist of
a letter from Attorney General Cole
man, a letter from Mr.. Stanton ana
transcript of the proceedings OF the
executive council The exhibits are
very lengthy. In addition to the ex-
hibits, the committee took a large
amount of oral testimony
The report of the committee is in
part as follows:
Relating to the investigation by
the judiciary committee of the ap-
pointnent and payment of state
architect for the past two years:
by virtue of chapter 100, laws of
1891, board of public works was
created to consist of three members
to be appointed by the governor with
the advice of the senate This board
had power to and did appoint an
known
as the state house architect
Neither Governor Stanley nor Gov
ernor Bailey appointed members OF
such board during their respective
terms. so that on and after July 1,
1903, there was no board of public
works and no state house architect,
and there was no tribunal with au-
thority to appoint an architect as con-
templated in the act of 1891
1.-THE house of representatives at the
session of 1903. passed a bill creating
the office of state architect. and fixing
his salary at $4,000 a year This bill
failed of passage in the senate. so that
the Office of state architect was never
created The legislature, however, at
the same session appropriated $4,000
for the state architect for the fiscal
wear ending June 80, 1904, and $4,000
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1905.
s.On the oath day of June, 1903. the
executive council met in regular Ses-
sion, with all the members present.
and then proceeded to, and did by
unanimous vote elect John f. Stan
ton state architect for the ensuing
year, and assigned to him a room in
the state house. which he has occupied
ever since July 1908, and where |
he has transacted business and has
been and is commonly known and
designated as state architect. Pre-
vious to the election of Mr. Stanton, |
the executive council sought the adj
vice of the attorney general as to their
power and duty in the matter, and
were advised by that officer that they |
had the authority to make the ap-
pointment which they accordingly
did, as stated
The report then reviews at consid-
cradle length the work which has
been done by Mr.. Stanton in his posi-
ton as state architect. from which it
appears that Mr.. Stanton's work was
entirely satisfactory. 1t also is shown