The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-15
IS IT A CRAFT?
Board of Control Thinks One
Has Been Found.
Emergency Purchases Over
worked in State Institutions.
WILL TRY TO STOP IT.
Superintendents Told to Render
Strict Accounting.
Telegraph and Telephone Bills
to Be Audited.

1t is evident that the system of Spa
tronage for home institutions has
been overworked by the superintend-
ents of some of the state hospitals and
reformatories, and the state board of
control is today sending out instruc-
tions which will have a tendency to
shut off an alleged graft which has
existed in the past.
In the buying of supplies. it is
claimed that some of the state institu-
t1ons have deliberately curtailed their
acquisitions to be filled at the contract
rates for such supplies, and have
bought heavily under the s'emergency''
provisions of the law from mercantile
houses located in their own towns OF
course 1t is suspected that there was
some good reason why the superin-
tendents should prefer to buy their
supplies in the town where the insti-
tuition is situated.
1t has been possible to cover UP
such transactions in a web of monthly
reports SO that it was almost impos-
sible for the board to find out what
had been going on.
Today instructions were sent out by
the board to each superintendent re-
curing new system of accounting for
supplies purchased. EVERYTHING
bought under the state contracts shall
be listed together, and the same with
the emergency" purchases. The new
order says:
''The law intends that practically
everything for each institution shall be
purchased at the lettings. All vouch-
ers for goods contracted for at the
lettings should be first listed on the
abstract under the title, Contracted
supplies We can then tell at a
glance what part is contracted. After
getting through with the contract
vouchers, then put another heading,
Fresh fruits, vegetables and minor
purchases, and under this heading put
the other purchases. We can then tell
at glance what was purchased un-
der that section of the law. Then put
down the words Contingent fund and
under this put the superintendent
cash voucher
In order to still further untangle the
old systems of reports. the board of
control has further instructed the su-
perintendents as follows:
In addition to the statement of ap-
preparations expended and unexpended
furnished for the state auditor we
wish a statement each month showing
the annual appropriations for the diff
ferent kinds of employees, and for the
different kinds of funds. and the unex-
pended balance on the first of each
month, also the amount expended dur
ing the month and the unexpended ball
ance then on hand
This rule is to prevent the eXpendi-
ture of too much money. The ex-
pectation is that the superintendents
shall expend one-twelfth of the total
appropriation in the various funds
each month. Sometimes they have
overrun this limit. and been short at
the end of the year.
Must Explain kilograms.
In order to be sure that the state is
not paying for any private kilograms
and telephone messages, the board has
ordered the superintendents to file
copies of all kilograms sent, together
with the reason for each use of the
telephone toll lines. Heretofore. the
bills of the telephone and telegraph
assuming that all the items were state
business. The board of control wants
to be Shown
Freight rate methods are also to be
overhauled- The superintendents are
instructed to accept no contract goods
sent unless the freight thereon is pre-
paid. The state contracts are let on
the basis of the delivery of the goods
at the various institutions prepaid. 1t
has been the custom for the state to
pay the freight bills, and then deduct
the amount from the voucher of the
concern furnishing the goods. The
new rule requires that all goods must
be prepaid. The board members say
that it is almost impossible to check
over all the items and find out VIII ether
the proper deductions for freight have
been made, and that the only safe way
to handle the business is to insist that
the freight be prepaid.