The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-07
State Printer VIII Run Office
on Small Scale.
Foreman Brown Tells Why Men
Are Laid Off.
NO MONEY is in SIGHT
Legislature Forgot to- Provide
for Extra Departments.
Consequently the Funds Have
Been Exhausted.

For several weeks past there has
been a general wedding out of en-
ployes in the state printing plant who
could possibly be spared without re-
ducing the efficiency of the different
departments and this has given rise to
the report that the financial situation
is to blame. This is true in one re-
spect, but had not the recent furry
manifested itself the result would have
been the same, as the appropriation
made by the last legislature appears
to have been inadequate.
Six men in the composing room out
OF force of twenty-four, have been
released and it is more than likely that
more will follow within the next few
weeks as there is no relief in sight at
this time. For a month or more State
Printer McNeal has been sending
warnings to the various state depart
ments which have flooded the state
printing plant with orders for work
that something of this kind would
occur.
1t is evident that the protests of the
state printer were not taken seriously
by the state officials; at any rate work
poured into the state printing estab-
lfshment in a steady stream over his
protests until now halt has beeTS
called. From now until the 30th of
June, when the appropriation for 1908
Is available, only such work as is an
absolute necessity will be accepted at
I.
When the appropriation for the state
printing plant was made by the last
legislature amounting to $4,000 for
1907, the needs of several departments
created by this same body were not
taken into consideration, and as a re-
suit there will be a deficit of several
thousand dollars. One of the largest
demands made on the state printer has
come from the state tax commission
one of the creations of last winters
legislature.
Anticipating the needs of the new
departments created the legislature
appropriated $4,000 more for state
printing for next year than 1t did for
this but in some way overlooked them
entirely for the first year of their
establishment when they have needed
more in the printing line than they
are likely to any other year.
There is nothing in the action at
the plant to become alarmed over"
said T. B. Brown. foreman of the
plant, last night. 1.-THE men were let
out because there is not sufficient
money left in the fund to do all the
printing it would require to keep these
nien employed. The state departments
have been overrunning their allow
ances and in order to have enough
for the rest of the year it was neces-
sary to cut down the monthly amount
I suppose the forces in other depart
ments of the plant will be cut down
"
preparation of $4,000 which ought to
be sufficient to pay for all necessary
work. OF course if there should be a
special session of the legislature there
would be lot of extra printing to be
done and provision would be made for
1t. Over at the plant we are rather
hoping there will be a special ses-
sion"
Among the men employed about
the state printing plant, many of
whom have been there for years, the
condition is new one inasmuch as in
the past the work has been done and
the next session of the legislature re-
lied upon to take care of the deficit. |
This was especially true under the
old rule when the state printer re-
ceived fees instead of a salary for his
work and was anxious to turn out all |
the work possible.
Tt is likely that there will be a hus-
banding of supplies in many of the |
departments such has never been |
heard of in the past and that the |
waste and extravaganza of the past |
will become a thing of the past for the |
time being at least. The state tax
commission has used an immense |
amount of printing in establishing the |
office and the demands of the office |
for the immediate future are such that |
q large amount more will be required |
in transacting the business of the |
commission.