The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-21
The Democratic Legislature
Exceeded All Records.
Appropriated $S5O,S26 More
Than Republicans.
THE FEES TOTAL S312, ,758
State Auditors Figures Show
the Real Facts.
And the Democrats Pledged Re-
ductiOns in Clarion Tones.

of State Auditor w. E. Davis, show that
the 1913 legislature not only spent $685.
06S.11 more in direct appropriations
than did the 1911 session, but that 1t
also reappropriated fees and unexpend-
ed balances aggregating 1912, 75S 40,
bringing the total appropriation for
1913 to So 246, ,670.57, as compared with
appropriations of SIS, 395, ,S84.01 by the
legislature of two years ago. In other
words the appropriations by the Demo-
cratic egislature-pledged to tax reduc-
tion-exceeded those of the Republican
legislature by $3.50. S26.56.
BY letting down the bars on fees and
rea appropriated balances, the Democratic
legislature permitted the use by state
institutions of thousands of dollars
which ordinarily go into the general
revenue fund or the fee funds of the
various state departments and insti-
tutions. While these items are in no
way charged as direct appropriations,
the money is used by the departments
and institutions benefited and thus be-
come part of the appropriation
items of the legislature.
Now it seems probable that these
special funds will assume alarming
proportions before the close of the
first two years of Democratic rule.
And the Democrats were pledged to
tax reduction and a reduction in the
appropriation item These unexpend-
ed balances reach total of $312,-
75S.45, including sS,451.15 in the
per-itentiary revolving fund, s4S,-
Agricultural college; s37,192.99 in the
Osawatomie hospital fund and $33,-
1926 in the Topeka hospital fee fund,
besides many smaller items.
But that isn't ALL 1t is figured that
during the present year there will be
at least 100000 additional fees avail
able for the state institutions and de-
partments Then, there is an item of
ir1o o011 ir1C q fIIr c
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1913, which with the $312,75S.45,
brings the total special fees and un-
expended balances to $1,135,3 35S.45 to
O6s.11 in direct legislative appropria--
tions, or amounts specifically named
in the appropriation Dills
With these fees and balances taken
from the general revenue fund of the
state, Kansas must next year look to
direct taxes to meet the shortage in
the general revenue fund. And al
ready there is a shortage of funds in
the state treasury. Only last week the
state auditor and treasurer drew on
the county treasurer for 10 per cent.
of the 1912 taxes collected for this
years use. That draft for 10 per
cent. amounted to $4,000.
Even should every dollar of the
1912 taxes be collected at this time
and in the hands of the county treas
urers, there would be but S156,0 600 on
hand with which to meet the states
current expenses for November and
December. But there is not that
amount of money available. Conse-
quently, it will be a close squeeze to
prevent the stamping of state war
rants mot paid for want of funds"
during the closing weeks of the pres
ent year.
Not until December 20 can drafts
be made on the 1913 taxes. So the
state must face a probable shortage
in finance until the first of the year.
The tabulated report of the state
auditor covering uneXpended balances
and reappropriated fees at the hands
of the 1913 legislature is as follows:
Agricultural College feeS.. S4S, $50 "a
Agri College interest fund. S,423 %
Agri. College fertilizer fees. 71577
Agri. College sick benefit fund 1872
Agri. College feeding stuffs
fund 315.O7
Agri College L. S. Registry
Board fees NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 643.39
branch fees ...... 6,416.O7
Agri. College. Garden City
station fees ...-............ .42
Agri. College. Dodge City
station fees ........-....... 108.29
Bank Commissioner Invest
ment Companies (Blue
Sky) fees .......--.......... 4S4.C0
Board of Education, normal
training fees .-........ 1,246.6s
Board of Health, marriage
registration fees ...... S06. Sc
Fire marshal fees .......... II, ,95S.3S
Fish and game warden fees. 19,203. "A
Grain inspection revolving
fund ................ 5,o4s.s5
Industrial School for Boys
fees Observation-Disclosures. 3,eoo7s
Industrial School for Girls
fees Observation-Disclosures. 3,s4O77
Normal School interest fund. $50 81
Normal School, Fort Hays
branch, land rental ...... 1856. So
Osawatomie Hospital fees. 37,192.99
Penitentiary revolving fund. S245115
Pittsburg Manual Training
School fees ... s313
School for Blind fees. 1927. 06
School for Deaf fees. 1888 25
State Home for Feeble
Minded fees ...-.--... 9,454.07
State Hospital for Epileptics
fees NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 24,s5s67
State Orphans Home fees. 71.07
Topeka Hospital fees. SO, ,155. 26
University interest fund.-. IA
Total 1912, ,75s As
Increase in direct appropria-
tions 53s. .O6S II
Total increase appropria-
tlons .------------- ------ $3.50. .S26. SO
Frisco Receivers Need Money.
st. Paul, Oct. 21.-T H. West W. C.
Dixon and W. C. Biddle, receivers of the
-. Louis & San Francisco railroad. were
expected to petition Federal Judge San
born today for orders to pay the general
running expenses of that road. 1t was un-
derstood that s1,5oo,o0o would be asked 10
steel cars. and to pay the accumulated
interest on the holdings of the railroad.