The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-24
Would Put It on a Basis Like
Other Business.
PLAN FOR CHECKING.
Auditor and Treasurer's Office
Placed i'm Harmony.
Obsolete and Antiquated Meth
Ods May Have to 60.

DDS May Have to 90.
Eight new bills, providing for COM
plete reconstruction of the systems OF
state accounting now in use, were in
troduced in the house late Wednesday
afternoon by Parks Helmick, reprcsen-
tative from Neosho county. The bills
have been prepared under the super
vision of j. E. Cation, an expert ac-
countant. assisted by State Auditor
James Nation, and State Accountant
J. c. Gafford.
The general plan of the eight b1Ils Is
to revise present systems so that the
state auditor will have a check on the
cash receipts of the state treasurer ana
this is accomplished by an extension OF
the plan of drawing drafts on persons
owing the state money which was III
augurated by the state depository law
and now applies to all money going
into the state treasury from tax re-
ceipts.
The complete revision of the existing
laws is being ridiculed by certain par
ties who believe that the old system of
allowing the treasurer to do as he
pleases'' should be continued. The trou-
BILE is with Kansas that it has had too
much ''do as you please" in its finan-
ciaI and bookkeeping affairs. 1t is
about time that each office was made
to check with the others. so that fraud
and grating cannot continue.
State Treasurer Mark Tuliy is said
to be generally in accord with the pro-
posed laws, but he may oppose some
features. The old kelly crowd can or
course be counted upon to exert every
energy to defeat the laws in the legis-
lature.
The state treasurer. under the pro-
posed law. draws a draft for all money
due the state, and this draft is counter
signed by the state auditor, ana
charged against the treasurer the
treasurer then deposits the draft in one
of the state repositories and the auditor
charges the treasurer with the amount.
The principal one of the eight bills
provides the general basis OF the plan.
1t is divided into four general divisions,
as follows:
l. Payments made over the counter
of fees collected by state officers, such
as insurance commission. oil inspector,
secretary of state etc. The officer pre-
sents to the treasurer an itemized state
ment of the fees collected, and the
treasurer receipts for the fees on the
statement Then the officer takes the
statement of fees, bearing the treas
urer's receipt, to the state auditor, and
files it with him. and the auditor
charges the amount against the treas
urer
z
stitutions The institution sends one
statement of the fees collected to the
state auditor and a duplicate to the
state treasurer. The treasurer then
draws a draft for the amount. and the
auditor countersigns the draft, and
charges it against the treasurer.
8. Remittances from county officers.
The county clerk is required to make
a monthly report of all COLLECTIONS, such
as hunters licenses. school land prln-
Gtn NJ
to the auditor and state treasurer and
on receipt of the statement the treas
urer draws his draft, which is counter
signed by the auditor and charged
4 Collection of bonds and coupons. |
Such collections are made by the treas |
urer drawing his draft, as in other in
stances.
Another bill which is intended to sup |
plement the general act requires the |
treasurer each day to turn over to the
auditor all cancelled warrants, instead |
Of holding them for weeks or months |
as is done at present.
A third bill makes it the duty of the t
uditor to draw the Graft on the treas
1rer for the purchase of bonds, Which
lraft is to be Undersigned by the |
state superintendent of education.
A fourth bill requires that stenogra-
oher fees in counties be paid over to the
county clerk, and he remit to the
state treasurer, instead of the fees be-
ng remitted direct.
a fifth bill amends the present state
depository law in the following partic-
liars: Provides that the auditor shall
,harge the treasurer. with drafts when
lrawn instead of when receipts are
sent out; requires the purpose of the
lraft to be shown on the draft; pro-
7ides how interest shall be charged;
treasurer to send to the audi
or a duplicate deposit slip for monies
deposited.
Bill No 6 fixes the fees which may
10 charged by county officers for hand
ing school lands. This bill simply
makes definite and certain the existing
aw as interpreted by the attorney gem
raj.
The seventh bill requires the auditor
O draw the draft on the treasurer for |
made by the state superintendent
The eighth bill requires the state ac-
to install a uniform system
II bookkeeping in the state offices, and
euuires the treasurer to furnish the
.uditor and accountant with a daily
balance sheet.
Wichita Would Own Telephones.
The city of Wichita wants to build
IS own telephone system, or at least
,art of its citizens wish to do so and
ill has been prepared by the Munich
,aI League there and is ready for pre-
entation in the Kansas legislature
living the city this power to vote
,onds to Day for the construction of a
ocal telephone system The bill is in
he hands of Senator J. H. Stewart
nd C. L. Davidson from Sedgwick
ounty.
The bill provides that the signatures
f f1fty Der cent of the citizens are
ecessary before the mayor is required ;
o call a special election to vote the
onds under a petition. The system
ownships in Sedgwick county and
peal exchanges operated In the other