The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-12

This Will BE Done by Leglsla-
ture Next Week.
Then He viii Be Placed ON q
Salary.
STATE TO BUYA PLANT
Practically Certain That This
Will Be Done.
Differences of Opinion on Ques-
tiOn of Salary.
ATE TO BUY PLANT

%AVAA gA Oa@AanA
Next Tuesday the legislature will
elect a state printer. Kansas laws
fx the third Tuesday in January as
the election day. There are three
candidates: Conner Davies of Con-
cordia, T. A. McNeal of Topeka and
]. E. Junkin of Sterling.
Things indicate now that Junkin is
the man. McNeal has q job which
pays nearly as much as the state
printer job is likely to pay under
state ownership. Conner Davies. it is
said, is to be led to the slaughter be-
cause he is not as acceptable to the
type
There is, apparently, an overwhelm-
ing sentiment in favor of the purchase
of printing plant, and the placing
of the old state printing graft on a
state ownership basis. 1t is a PROPOSE
ton which goes hand in hand with
the election of state printer by the
people. There is no opposition, of
course, to placing the state printer on
a salary. The only questions are,
how much will the salary be. and
whether the work shall be done by
contract or under state ownership?
Some legislators are afraid of the
contract system because they think
the topeka concerns combine to force
up the prices.
State Printer Geo. Clark is slated
70 walk the plank, and there really is
small snow for him. When it comes
y A tne showdown, the combination
claims, 1T will be too strong for Clark
TO go up against He may stand on
his legal rights" they say but the
fact remains that he has a $25,OO0
10 nj IL
Will be almost a total loss unless he
can turn 1T over to the state The
administration is certain to push
through some sort of a state owner
snip Dill, and having the power to do
this, 1t will not hesitate to bring
Clark to his knees, and force him to
give up the Office without a struggle.
When Mr.. Clark was asked today to
make statement concerning the, state
printer bills which were introduced
at Wednesdays session, he said:
nave not read the bills and have
nothing to say I suppose the legis-
iaIure VIII pass some sort of a law on
the subject
OF the three printer bills now be-
fore the house, one provides a salary
Of $2,5o0. one of $4,000 and one of
Mead's bill is a contract bill. but
the one by Stone appropriates 100000
and the one by Davidson $4,000 for
the purchase OF site, building and
be looked upon with the most favor,
and IS likely to be pushed through to
passage as speedily as possible.
Governor Hoch has thrown his in
huence to the side of state ownership
OF the plant and this will serve to
pull all the boss buster members into
line He has also put his O. K on
the plan to go ahead with the election
of new state printer, and declare
war on George Clark. This is what
his message says on the subject:
There is some doubt as to the
time when this amendment will be-
come operative. MY opinion is that
the tenure of office of the present
state printer will expire at the ex-
piration of the term for which he was
volve the election of a state printer
1 believe it would be good policy for
the state to purchase a printing plant
and put manager over it upon a
of such a plant could be saved to the
state in a short time"
Ed Howe, in the Atchison Globe.
has this to say about the governors
reception:
Everybody was invited to the re-
ception at the state house rendered to !
Governor Hoch Everybody. Abso-
lutely everybody. The rich and poor. |
The political clans, and those who
didn't know a ballot box from a !
trash can. Everybody was invited
and everybody went. When everybody
got there, they found that only a Sc
lect, few wearing dress suits, low
necked gowns, silk hats, etc, were al
lowed to pass the guards on the steps.
The Few went in, but the plain people
stayed outside. The people are roar |
ing, but as a matter of fact they
didn't miss much. Those who got in |
had to stand till their corns ached. |
and were pushed and Jostled and
crowded and all they got was a hand
shake from a very plain looking man.
They will have a better chance to see
the governor and his family at /
church, for at church alone is the |
blessed opportunity given of staring
without rUdeness. Indeed, one has to /
stare at something to keep awake"
It is rather a peculiar fact that some |
Of the pet reforms advocated by Cover |
nor Hoeh are being introduced before !
the legislature in the form Of bills by
those who are supposed to be identified |
with the machine faction.
Cyrus Leland introduced the bill for |
the consolidation of the charitable and |
boards, and ex-Speaker