The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-14

at the United States prison 81 men
care for 1,210 prisoners.
He might explain also why it
costs $50 more a year for each prison
er under his administration than it
did under that of Governor Hoch.
After my first statement on this
subject the governor telegraphed the
prison officers to reduce their force to
the minimum. Being such a superior
business man, and as he claims, so
thoroughly familiar with the affairs of
the state, why was it necessary for
him to send this message? While it is
perhaps no part of the present contro-
versy, / may be pardoned for again
suggesting that the governor should
ask the legislature for authority to
use idle prisoners in the building of
roads.
Saved to the People.
ut is true that 1 referred to the fact
that the governor claimed his admin
1strat1on had saved the people mill
lions of dollars in freight and passeu-
ger rates and that I pointed out the
fact that the two cent passenger rate
is due to an order made by the board
of railroad commissioners during the
previous administration and that this
board was nominated and elected two
years before the governor was.
The saving in freight rates was
made partly by the legislature of 1907
which the governor has been pleased
to designate Curtis legislature and
partly by the legislature of 1909 en-
acting the maximum freight bill re-
commended by the aforesaid board of
railroad commissioners and not by
Governor Stubs, who opposed it. He,
having as I am reliably Informed in
an interview given out by him about
the time the bill passed, said: L had
an expert rate man go over it. He
reported that it would not affect more
than five per cent of the traffic. A
a ~ n a 1x
per cent of the traffic certainly cannot
furnish a very great measure of re-
lief
1.-THE legislature, however, preferred
to act on the recommendation of the
railroad board.
1.-THE governor says I have misrepre-
sented him in that he did not claim
credit to himself for this saving. If 1
misunderstood him it must have been
due to his own carelesSness of state
ment, for many others understood it
just as did. If the governor now wish
es to be understood as giving credit to
the Republican party which was in
power during both oe these sessions
of the legislature then 1 accept his
apology and am glad to join with him
in honorirS the party, whose unfailing
loyalty and devotion to the interests
of the people has ever been my pride
and joy.
incidentally, nearly all the legisla-
ton for the benefit of the people for
which credit is claimed by the COVER
Tor, or his friends. was either enacted
what the governor designates the Cur
It's legislature
The Payroll.
AS have alrea y said I have been
informed repeatedly that the governor
claims he had reduced the pay roll of
the state, and again. ask If that is
true, how it happens that there are now
134 more people on the pay roll than
there were last year under Governor
Hoch? If any one doubts that this is
the fact the state auditor may furnish
O. list for publication.
Government Funds.
1.-THE governor dilated upon the fact
that $500,000 was received from the Uni
ted States through the efforts of Mr..
Nicholson and the Kansas delegation
previous administration. The fact is
that about $4,000 was received during
he administration Of Governor Hoch
and about 100000 since Stubs became
governor.
The 1908 Legislature.
: TN the governors contribution to |
he papers last Sunday he goes back
C the Legislature of six years ago and |
appears to want to hold me responsible |
'or that legislature also. I am sorry |
he governor has such a short memory. |
At that session he and I were work. |
Eg together, and, as many people will |
,ecall, have some unpleasant memoir |
es about that legislature myself
In conclusion I desire to express |
ny regret in being compelled to go /
nto these matters at such length but |
he controversy is not Of my choos- |
ng.
1.-THE people are entitled to know the
acts in relation to this increase in |
axes and it is up to the governor to
Explain it fully and without equivoca-
ion. If his explanation is satisfactory
o the people there is nothing more to
,e said. 1 have never said no explana-
ion could be made. Increases in APP
,ropriations from time to time may be
but the present increase is
% enormous as to certainly seem alb
ormal and to demand the fullest and
rankest explanation. have simply
,iven official figures as to the increase. |
The facts are beyond question, can we
.ope the explanation may be equally
lear?