The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-21
STATE EXPENSE.
Proposed to Save $1O3,562 in
Departments.
Knife Falls Heavily in Many
Places.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Contingent Fund Abolished
Entirely.
Ways and Means Committee
Report In.

Kansas will in 1914-15 save $103, ,562. Al
in the running expenses of the state
executive and judiciary departments if
recommendations which will probably
be made by the house ways and means
committee are adopted by the Demo-
cratic legislature. The probable appro-
priationS for the state executive and
judiciary, not including district judges,
will be for 1852, ,505.67, as compared with
appropriations of 1856, ,068.08 for the
same departments at the hands of the
1911 legislature.
The knife fell heavily on many state
departments. The supreme court the
attorney generals office, the utilities
commission, the board of health, the
governors office, the state superintend-
ents official fell under the axe in
the effort of the committee to reduce
expenses and redeem a platform pledge
written by Kansas Democrats one sui
try afternoon in August 1912-and at
a time when the Kansas Democrats
were far from the public crib.
One of the worst jolts was to the
board of health. There the ways and
means committee recommended that
the contingent fund be abolished and
declined to urge an appropriation to
cover the 1914-15 salary of Secretary
S. J. Crumbine, who has been drawing
a salary of 1000 a year as dean of the
Kansas University medical school. He
must draw his salary from K. U. or
not at all.
Down Go Contingent Funds.
All contingent funds have been
whitfield ythe house committee and
will find their pay checks reduced at
the hands of the Democratic legisla-
ture which is striving to establish a
record for economy. Even Governor
Jn6 6crcae hac- a n y
ductionS and by his own suggestions,
the expenses of his office for the years
1914-15 will be reduced $15,O5O over
the expenses of the last two years un-
der Governor Stubbs.
Under the recommendations of the
house committee, total of $36,9O0
will be allowed the governors office
for two years, as compared with an
allowance of $51,95O at the hands OF
the 1911 legislature. One of the big
items of reduction is the saving of
$4,000 in the Hodges contingent fund
he having asked for but $4,000 a year
as against $4,000 year allowed un-
der previous administrations.
Increase Few Departments.
The secretary of states office will
in reality cost more money than un-
der the two years Just closed. The
1911 session appropriated $26,9OO for
the office, while the ways and means
committee recommends an appropria-
ton of $27,100 at the hands of this
session, or an increase of 5000.
An appropriation of 500 year for
the lieutenant governor is to be al
lowed. That is the amount of his sal
ary and the appropriation is provided
by statute.
Another increase will be made in
the appropriations to handle the work
in the state treaSurer'S office. Two
years ago the legislature appropriated
$4,000 for the office. This year the
committee finds that sS5. 5.112.13 will
be necessary to conduct the work in
1914-15 and to cover a deficit of ST.
91214 to be met this year.
In the attorney generals Office. the
committee plans to save S15,0610S in
the coming two years. When the leg
islature met two years ago. it appro-
torney General Dawson's office. This
year the legislature will probably make
an appropriation of but $50, 400 to han
die the work until the close of the
year 1915.
1t will cost the state Sass o6 more to
handle the business in the state audi
tors Office in 1914-15 than the same
work cost in 1912-13 The committee
recommends that $27,11S06 be appro
priated this year as against $26, $50 two
years ago.
State superintendent Hit, Too.
If the committee report is adopted,
the state will in two years save $11,-
tendent of public instruction. That Of
flee received $32, 100 at the hands of the
1911 legislature, but the new Demo-
cratic administration is making re-
trenchments and playing no favoriteS.
So the sum of $40, 800 will be appropria-
ted for the state superintendent Of
fee this season
After using the pruning knife on ev-
cry possible department, however, the
ways and means committee was un-
able to make reductions in the eX-
penses of the executive council for
the next two years. In fact the COM
mittee has recommended an increased
of $2,066. Two years ago
the executive council received $4,000
This year the committee finds that
Ss9.926 will be needed to meet eX-
penses in 1914-15.
One of the places where the axe
will fall hard is in the adjutant gen.
erals office. There a saving of S15,-
600 is recommended. Two years ago
the legislature appropriated to the
adjutant generals department a total
ment in 1912-13. This winter the leg
isIature will probably reduce the
amount to s113,S00, thus saving the
state S155O0 in that department for
the coming two years.
Added to the other items of saving,
the ways and means committee has
recommended that there be reduc-
ton of $3.50 in the next two years
in the state tax commission. Their
of S40,5 of two years
ago. has this year been reduced to
S33.S50.
Two years ago. the state architects
office received $1,000. But this time
there will be d saving of 1900 in the
and the appropriation will
be reduced TO S15,600.