The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-19
Proposition to Guard State
Against Any Loss.
Plan Announced Today by Sem
atOr j. w. Howe.
STATE HAS NO INSURANCE
Buildings Valued at Twenty
Millions Are Unprotected.
Losses at Three Institutions i'm
Last Three Years.

To guard against losses from fire and
storm and to be prepared to meet any
reasonable unexpected need on the part
of the state. Senator ]. w. Howe of
Dickinson county proposes that the
state shall create an emergency fund
which may be drawn on in a crisis.
Senator Howe will introduce a bill in
the next session of the legislature ask
ing that a fund of 800. 900 be created
for use in emergencies and destruction
of state property.
The plan of Senator Howe will prob
ably meet with a good deal of favor in
the state and there now seems to be
little question but that the 1915 legis-
lature will provide some plan for TAX
ing care of its property, which is in
constant danger of destruction. Many
of the state house officials have already
declared in favor of a law creating an
emergency fund and it is believed that
when the facts are presented to the
legislative members that they will IA
vor the bill.
State Carries No Insurance.
At the present time the state of Kan
sas owns buildings and perishable
property to the value of about twenty
million dollars. Yet on that entire in
vestment there is not one dollar of in
surance. If fire or storm destroys a
few thousand dollars worth of the
state 5 property. IIl6 neSueU repairs are
made and no one asks any questions
about it. Yet it is argued that the
state of Kansas is perfectly able to
carry her own insurance and that her
losses have been far less than the ordi-
nary fire and tornado insurance rates.
To carry insurance on the state prop
erty would cost in round figures about |
s120.0 a year. Records of the state
for the last quarter of a century show
that the annual losses of the state have |
been far below that figure and that in |
but one two instances have the |
losses equaled the amount of the insur- |
ance premiums.
Losses Heavy This Year.
This has been one of the years, |
though, when the state has lost heav
lily. The big $750,O0O fire at the state
penitentiary at Lansing was the big
gest fire loss the state has ever suf-
fered This fire followed a heavy loss
a the Winfield asylum last winter and
a third fire at the Hutchinson re-
formatory.' In these fires the states
dollars.
After these fires the state officials
realized the need of an emergency
fund. In the pententiary fire, the
state lost 100000 pounds of manu-
factured twine and all of the machin-
cry in the twine plant. The loss Of
twine left the. twine plant revolving
fund in bad shape and there was no
money available with which to re-
build the prison plant and buy new
machinery and equipment. Only
through the kindness and generosity
of Kansas bankers was sufficient
money provided to carry the state
through its financial difficulties
These bankers advanced sufficient
money to rebuild the plant and are
trusting to the 1915 legislature to re-
pay them.
In the matter of seed wheat for
westeren Kansas, there is no state
fIInd avai19 h1a m which officials
may draw for the purchase of seed |
wheat for the needy farmers in the
western counties. Last year the horse
plague confronted the state and the
fight with the disease was financed
by Governor Stubbs who drew on his
contingent fund for the money.
Wants Fund of 100000.
There is a real necessity for the
emergency fund in Kansas said |
Senator Howe, who has studied con-
ditions since becoming secretary TO
the board of control 81 think fund |
of 100000 would easily take care of
emergency and would probably pre-
vent the necessity of calling an ex-
pensive session of the legislature |
some time. With such a fund we !
or at least have taken care of the
work until the next session of the !
legislature I have talked with a |
good many of the state officials and |
me members of the legislature and there |
seems to be a strong sentiment n |
favor of creating an emergency fund |
1t is the plan of Senator Howe to |
make the emergency fund available |
not alone for use in time of destruc- |
ton of state property, but to be |
drawn on as relief fund in event of
disaster or public want and suffering. |
Similar funds have been created in
other states and Senator Howe be- |
1feves that a fund should be provided |
for by the Kansas legislature.