The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-02

power in Kansas the university Will be
taken care of. and what is more. the
crease in all probability, because the
Kansas people are proud as we'll as
rich. They want their university to be
as good as any university in the United
States, and they are going to have it
I that way, no matter what it costs.
Then there is large increase in
the cost of maintaining the State Agri-
cultural college. The expenses of that
school will increase, no matter what
administration may be in. power, be-
cause the people are just coming to
realize what an important thing an
agricultural college and an agricul-
tural education is.
1.-The institutions at Emporia, at
Pittsburg and Hays City are all grow
ing and requiring more money. A big
share of the increase in state expenses
tions. 1t is possible that those instf-
tutions could be managed more eco
nomically and keep Up their standard.
If so. that is what ought to be done.
As we get more people we will have
more and more inmates in our state
charity hospitals and the expense of
management will increase.
THE question is not, has there been
an increase. but has the increase been
justified. Are we getting the worth Of
our money? The people of the state of
Kansas were never as able to pay their
taxes, perhaps, as they are this year.
necessary taxes On them.
1T may be that the motive for start
ing this talk about increased expendit-
ures was the hope Of injuring the politi-
cal prospects of the governor and that
of itself is not q very high purpose, but
no matter what the object may be, 1
insist that it is a good thing to have
the inquir-- started. The people of the
state of Kansas have perfect right to
know just how their money is being
CT "a & mo iG 8
to know. The more interest the people
take in the affairs of the state and To-
cal government, the better it is for
them and the -overnment.
II have not all the facts concerning
the expenses of the state institutions in
shape to present them as they ought to-
be presented, but hope to have them
little later on L want to find out for
myself, for instance, if it is costing the
people of the great state of Kansas
more to educate a student in one of the
state institutions than it used to cost,
and If So why.
IT want to know for my own salts
faction whether it is costing more or
less per capita to care for the unfor-
tunate citizens who are in our char
liable institutions. If the cost per
head is greater, I want to know the
reason why, and so do the taxpayers
of the state. They are entitled to the
facts regardless of what the effect
may be on the political fortunes of any
individuals. II the facts seem to
show extravagant management the
people ought to know it, and on the
other hand, if no money has been
wasted; if the institutions have been
as we'll and as economically managed
as they could well be, then the people
ought to know that, and 1 believe that
they will be just in their findings on
the facts.
THE higher levy for state purposes
is caused, as the governor states, by
the fact that an error was made in
the tax levy too low last year,
so that it failed to raise sufficient rev.
enue to pay state expenses. OF course.
if the levy was insufficient last year,
there was no other alternative than
to make the levy this year high
enough to make up for the shortage
of last year.
In short, it would appear from the
governors statement that We are real |
ly spending no more money in run
ming the state government and the |
state institutions than was spent dur |
ing the last biennial period, notwith-
standing the fact that the attendance |
at the state educational institutions |
has largely increased and that the |
number of inmates in the state char |
liable institutions has also largely in |
which seems like a very sat- |
isfactory sort of showing