The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-15

lives at the same place and votes at
every election. If he moves or fails
to vote at every election he is forced
to register again in order to hold his
suffrage. With this law in force the
position of commissioner is indeed
one which the car of all the Russias
would envy most nightly. The job
of commissioner of elections is all Of
velvet and elder down, even in the
natural course of past legislation, but
when the omnipotent legislature steps
in and still further cuts down the
duties of that officer by limiting the
necessary registration. the onerous la
borS connected with that office can
only be met with eloquent silence
Furthermore the commissioner of
elections under the statutes of Kansas
mize the dangers of taking on too
much work. The salary of the
deputies is not fixed but the board of
supervisors are given the power to al
low a sum of not exceeding $500 for
this purpose.
Ordinarily the board of supervisors
fixes the salary to be paid. All in ex-
cess of this amount is utilized for clerk
hire during the rush of registration
about election time.
The commissioner of elections is ap-
pointed by the governor of the state
for a term of four years and draws
a salary of $1,000 a year. With this
new registration law in effect, which
will be as soon as it is published off,
cially in the state paper, the work of
the commissioner of elections office
will be cut down approximately so
per cent. The commissioner of cleo
lions, therefore, together with the aid
of additional clerk hire during the
rush periods around about election
time, could easily conduct the office
This would mean a saving to the city
Of close to $500 per year; the 5000
should take care Of additional help
necessary. In all reality there is no
r. H.
which attends the taking care of the
city's free employment bureau, until
the 1st of January next, when the
posting up of the names of the voters
in the registration books commences.
To concentrate StrenuoSity. the city
council, at the suggestion Of the pres
ent commissioner, Sherm. Williams,
placed the work of the free employ
ment bureau with that Office. Under
the statutes of the state the city is
obligated to take care of this character
of bureau, but in case no provision is
made by the city council for taking
care of the bureau the work devolves
upon the Office of the city clerk. There
is not much work connected with the
bureau except around harvest time,
when crews are shipped out west from
here, and the additional clerical work
could be handled without much diff
Guilty at the office of the city clerk.
This treatment would Obviate any ex-
cuse that deputy commissioner
should be appointed to the election
commissioner. To tell the truth, there
is very little excuse for the existence
of an election commissioner at all. and
why the legislature did not do away
with the office is a question. The
work could be handled from the city
clerks office with some additional
clerk hire at a great deal less expense.
Deputy Commissioner John Alex
ander, who was mentioned as prob
able deputy under Captain Titus. said
this morning. mo, there is really no
reason why a deputy should be ap-
pointed Under the new law there is
really not enough work for two men.
It really takes on the appearance of
a graft I don't believe a deputy
should be appointed."