The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-19

and normal schools increased more
than eight hundred students in 1909
as compared with the same date in
1907? How would you provide addi-
tional buildings in which TO take care
of these new students and additional
teaching force in these great educa-
tioual institutions without increasing
the cost Of maintenance Do you
know that the cost of maintaining our
university agricultural college and
normal schools is among the very low
est cost per capita Of institutions in
their class in the United States?
Are you aware that We have several
hundred more persons in the charit-
able institutions for whom TO purchase
food mad clothing and provide new
buildings than We had when the legls-
Iature was in session in 1907?
During twenty-five years large
part of my time was devoted TO a
business where the care and main
teuance of employees was large fac
tor in the business, and I am willing
70 stake my reputation as a business
man and my honor as a citizen on the
statement that our charitable and
penal Institutions are being manged
in a busiuesslike, economical way and
that the food supply and the labor
does not cost any more, and in my
Judgment not as much. as il would
cost a private citizen to maintain such
institutions of the same standard For
instance, at the state penitentiary
where the prisoners are engaged in
hard work every day the actual cost
Of the meals is less than four and one
half cents each. exclusive of the cost
Of service, and this in the face of the
highest food prices known for many
years Can you tell me of any private
business man who would be willing to
furnish good substantial food of the
same character at a less price?
About the Contingent Fund.
You are making grave charges
against the extravagant use OF my
contingent fund. 1t is your duty as a
man to specify the items that have
been wasted in this fund The books
are all open for your inspection AMI
if you are as loyal a Republican as you
claim to be you will bring these general
charges which you are making over the
state down TO specific items. You will
also be more fair and have better re
specr among the voters If you will give
me credit with having maintained the
state fish and game department out Of
this contingent fund, which last year
cost the state over $40, 600. and also with
using a large amount of this contingent
fun for the enforcement of the laws
of this state in counties where the laws
have not been enforced for many years.
This was all done on a total expendi-
ture of less than SO. 600 The saving in
the fish and game department alone
amounted TO more than s15. 900 as COM
L
management of the department has
been very much improved even with
the sCant funds We have had to use
Now. Mr.. Wagstaf. for almost a year
the men who are promoting your cam
paign. including Senator Curtis, who
opened this controversy. have been
: aking grave charges Of extravaganza
and wastefuIness against my admins
tratiOu- I have repeatedly asked them
and now I demand Of you that you
abandon the policy Of glittering gener-
alities in your statements and that you
come down TO practical business state
-uts and show what payments have
actually been made for either material
or labor or supplies that were not
necessary and useful to this state The
books of every department and inStitu-
ton Of this state are open TO your in
spectfon- Unless you can show spe-
CificaIly where extravagauceS and
wastefuluess prevail in some Institution
or department your general charges
are unworthy OF further consideration
or reply from me ". r. STUBBS.