The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-26

appropriation of 100000 to erect
Memorial building for the veterans of
the Civil war should not have been
made? Or that the necessary provi-
sion for fuel at the charitable institu-
lions should have been withheld? Or
that teachers should not have been
provided and new buildings erected for
more than eight hundred additional
students in the state educational in
situations? Or that normal courses in
one hundred high schools throughout
the state should not have been pro-
vided for?
my advice and recommendations to
the chairman of the ways and means
committees of both the house and SEN
ate was to take care of the actual re-
quirements and necessities of all state
institutions in a decent and respectable
way, but to cut the appropriations as
low as it was possible without impair
ing the efficiency of the institutions.
1t required weeks of the most arduous
labor, both by day and by night, on
the part of the ways and means COM
nittees of the house and senate to de-
termine what the needs of the great
institutions of our state are The re-
quests, as 1 remember. from the vari-
Gus institutions and departments were
cut down nearly three million dollars
by these committees. 1t was my
opinion at the time and have no rea-
son to change that opinion, from what
information l had, that the general ap-
preparations of the legislature, taken
as a whole. were conservative and in
tended honestly to be economical. The
amount of the appropriations made
for the state penitentiary state uni
versity, state agricultural college and
all institutions and departments were
made from estimates recommended
and urged by the heads of the various
institutions and departments of the
state who had been appointed by my
predecessor who is one of the most
cons picuous prophets in your move
m 91d n iOfnf
means committee of tia legislature
necessarily looked for accurate infor-
nation.
1.-The heads of the institutions and
departments were called before the
joint committees on ways and means
night after night for weeks during the
legislative session. Their estimates
were scrutinized and explanations of
enormous reduction amounting to
nearly three million dollars of the esti-
mates asked and urgently recommend
ed by those outgoing heads of these |
institutions. 1 have not criticised and
do not expect to criticise the appro-
priations of the last legislature. for I
believe they were honestly and earn
estly made and practically every ma
chine man and Democrat in the Iegis-
lature voted for them.
THE legislature had written state
ment from the state auditor which
showed nearly a million dollar deficit
them in the face.
Il have before me a letter signed by
James NJ Nation. state auditor, who
is one of your mcst trustw orthy friends
in which he stated on December 1. 1908.
about one month before I was Inaugu-
rated that there were two months OF
the last administration bills yet to be
paid aggregating 100000 and only $10,-
900 from all sources with which to pay
them.
IF you gentlemen, or any citizen of
Kansas, know of any extravaganza or
waste n any department of our state
for which l am responsible, 1 would
be glad for you to state specifically and
publicly the institution or department
where such waste and extravaganza
prevails. If you know of one solitary
employee of any institution or depart
ment of this state that is unnecessary,
unworthy or disqualified fo- any rea-
son for the place which he holds,
shall be pleased indeed to have you
name the person and state the facts
specifically. This is Il great common
wealth. 1 do not pretend to know per-
sonally everyone of our employees on
the state payrolls. but shall be pleas
which may be in your possession that
would enable me to give more efficient
service, reduce the expenses and i'm
prove the public service.
1.-THE very best evidence that there
have been no very serious errors made
during my administration is the fact
that you have been compelled to choose
as your principal issue matter over
which the legislature under the con-
siitution has entire jurisdiction and
over which have no final control
It trust you gentlemen whose names
1 have mentioned in this article will
rardon me for addressing you person.
ally. l have done so because 1 recog-
l,ize in you the leading spirits and mas
ter minds of the opposition to my ad-
11inistrati0n. 1 feel that I am fully
justified therefore in addressing you
rather than dealing with your feuten-
ants. w. r. STUBBS'
Half the Cotton Killed