The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-21

Total 80, o,U0o-4
The state auditor is hereby author
lied to draw his warrant on the treas
ure for payment of the above and
acceptance of said warrant shall con-
stitute payment of all articles men
toned above.
On motion of the chairman this bill
was advanced to second and thlrd
reading for debate and final passage
under an emergency clause, and zoo
copies of the bill printed. Considera-
tion of this bill will be special order
of the house for consideration as com
mittee of the whole at 2 80 tomorrow
afternoon.
The minority report of the ways and
means committee members on this Dill
for furniture was submitted and read
as follows:
I'VE, the minority members of the
ways and means committee cannot
agree to the findings of the majority IN
the subject matter in the bill, for the
following reasons:
There was no demand made for the
new furniture and carpets, for which
this appropriation is made by any mem
ber of the floor of this body, either by
motion or by resolution All parties on
the floor of this house were elected on
the platform of economy and reform
The legislative action of this BODY mas
been to appropriate ourselves per diem
ard mileage and $40 in postage stamps,
and now we are treated to the luxuries
of new seats.
I'VE believe that it would be unfair to
the people of Kansas and the taxpay-
ers to vote ourselves these luxuries, and
while it may seem like a small matter,
involving some $4,000, yet it is not in
keeping with our prediction promises
and the platforms of our respective par
ties.
I'VE are not satisfied with this as a
business transaction. The seats came
into this hall on Saturday afternoon
without any notice whatever to the
membership that 1t was even contem-
plated and our first information was
from the Sunday papers. We were told
that we were under no obligations to
purchase these seats, and the matter
was voluntary on the part of Crosby
Bros. in placing the furniture here and
we were under no obligations to pur-
chase the same unless we thought it
was our duty to do so. No one claims
the responsibility of the act, but We
were Informed by the secretary of state
that there was a reQuisition on file in
his office signed by the speaker of the
house for said carpet and furniture and
were also informed that it carried with
At a direct understanding that we could
accept or reject. We also find that the
purcha sing of furniture for this capitol
building has not been in keeping with
the spirit of fairness and the square
deal; that funds were taken which were
appropriated for a different purpose,
and paid to Crosby Bros. for other fur
1iture in strict violation of the law.
We also find upon investigation that no
other merchant in Topeka or Kansas
has been even allowed to quote prices
on furniture. We further find that we
have bids for duplicate furniture given
by responsible parties who offered to
give bond for its faithful performance
and duplicate the present furniture at
a saving of several hundred dollars to
the people of the state.
Believing first. that there was no
proper demand for new furniture for
this Representative hall. and secondly,
that the whole transaction is in no
sense a business one. and questionable
IN its character, We therefore recon-
mend that house bill No. 29S be not
passed.
Respectfully submitted.
wv. L. BROWN.
y. NJ. DAVIS.
IF. H. GROIN"