The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-14
Senator Curtis Last Statement
to Governor
Bristles With KnOtty Problems
and Hard Questions.
SPRINGS A NEW MINE
Cost of Executive Departments
Show Increase OF $500, 900.
Contingent Fund and Peniten.
tiary Expenses Referred To.

Senator Curtis dumped a bushel of
hardshell hickory nuts in front of Gov
ernor Stubbs' door today in the high
tax controversy. In contrast with the
governors tendency to indulge in gen
eralities, the senator clung close to his
point with bulldog tenacity and never
once wandered from the vital points of
the controversy.
He hammered the administration
hard and often in a vulnerable point
by demanding information about the
million dollar additional taxes, con-
tlngent fund, the state pay roll, the
pen1tentiary extravaganza, the oil in
spector's padded payroll and the gov
ernor's claim for reforms that he
opposed.
The senator sprung a mine when he
suggested that the additional 100000
for executive departments might ac-
+ count for part of the increase in taxes.
He held the governors contingent
fund up to high heaven as a twentieth
century repetition of the miracle of
the loayes and fishes used to feed the
multitude. This additional fund has
been explained already by the COVER
nor as needed for repairs for state
house, aid for fish and game warden
fund, aid for fight for prohibition. aid
Ior hght against infantile paralysis
and aid for fight against the green bug.
The last Stubbs statement referred
to the 1908 legislature and it's iniuui-
ties under the guiding hand of Curtis.
Now the senator shoots this argument
full OF holes by declaring that he and
Stubs were working together then
and that 1903 legislature defeated Cur
tls for senator AS for the 1907 Iegis-
by the governor that organization en-
acted the bulk of the reform laws on
the statute books today
The senator's statement is as fol-
lows:
Newspapers Started 1t.
Governor Stubbs persists in holding
me responsible for statements made
in many of the principal newspapers
OF the state, few of which, some time
after their publication, / repeated in
public. I diselaim all responsibilitv
for starting this controversy about the
increase in taxes this year over last |
AS SO frequently happens, that credit |
is due TO our alert, enterprising news
paper men. However, as the governor
seems determined to have a contro-
versy with me on this subject I will
try to accommodate him. He will find
that eXtraVagant statements will not
answer the clear facts in regard to this |
increase in state taxes; an increase so !
startling as to attract the attention of |
the entire state. |
No false statements, no misrepre- |
sentations have been made by me. nor |
nave l at any time attempted to avoid |
the main point in the controversy into |
WHICH ne SO unnecessarily dra mo |
and / regret that he did not promptly
and fully explain the situation as such |
superior business man so thoroughIy
familiar with all the affairs of the |
state as he claims to be, should have
been able to do at once
said in my last communication
that the discussion was closed so far
as was concerned and I assure the
people that would not again have ad-
dressed them on this subject but for
the direct challenge of the governor
Are State Taxes $685., ,529.23 More This
Year Than Last?
THE trouble with the governor is
that he continues to avoid the fssue
The charge made by the newspapers
and 1ate rf1eated ts ED py aoo me T., was that the
more than for 1908. The governor
knows this is a true statement and
has not denied it. I again submit
that the people are entitled to know
why this great increase is needed.
This the governor should explain even
though one of his appointees is
quoted in the papers as saying The
people who keep close tab on state
affairs know full well where the
money goes but dare not tell for the ,
peculiar conditions that exist II,
hope that it will turn out that this ]
because there can be no conditions !
which should prevent the people i
knowing for what their money is be-
ing used.
''The governor attempted to avoid .
an explanation by claiming that the I
appropriations made by the legfsla-
,ure of 1909 were practically the same :
is those of the legislature of 1907.
This failed because the governor was
mistaken about the facts. for the
statement given out by State Auditor
Nation shows that the legislature of !
1909 appropriated $651, ,65O.49 more :
han did the legislature of 1907. From !
made by members of the I
appropriation committee 1 infer that ,
.hese increases were recommended by !
he governor.
ct hope those who have received I
he printed circular issued by the
governors private secretary will note '
his fact.
.Some of the governors friends in I
of the increase have l
ngs, including the memorial build
ng The fact that the legislature of I
-907 appropriated more money for i
needed public buildings than the
legislature of 1909 including the =
memorial building, disposes of this ex-
,Ianation. Please understand, though, 7
hat neither I nor any one else is
of the appropriation for =
he memorial building and, personally, =
regret that the legislature did not Z
he general government to the erec- y
ion and equipment of this building. /.
Here Is New Question. $
ST have made no attempt to explain
his increase in state taxes as that is
10 part of my duty, and shall lot at ]
empt to do so. but would the fact {
hat the appropriations in 1909 for I
he executive departments. which in /
dude commissions. boards and
/