The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-11
TO SAVE 100000
Gov. Hodges Plan for Buying
Supplies.
Would Have Penal and Char
liable Boards Combine.
BUY Them ALL AT ONCE
Thus Saving 8 to 10 Per Cent
ON Purchase.
HOlbroOk Would Recognize
Progressive Party.

11OQSoS IOQey lSSu00 Oil VI
der concerning the letting of grocery
| and dry goods contracts by the state
board of control and the penal boards
| which he believes will result in a saw
ing to the state of 100000 year. Un-
der his new order the board of con-
troll and members of the penal board
will meet in Topeka twice in month
and let contracts for supplies BY
making contracts Jointly, Governor
Hodges believes that the state will save
from eight to ten per cent on the prices
formerly paid for supplies.
Under the old rules the board of con-
troll bought supplies for the nine char
liable institutions twice each year.
Then the penal board held a separate
meeting and let contracts for supplies
for the inmates of the two big penal
inStitutions-the Lansing state peniten-
tiary and the state reformatory at
Hutchinson. Because of the fact that
the contracts were let separately. the
state paid much higher price for sup
/ les, it is clGimed, than would have
been necessary had the contracts been
punched and let for larger semi-annual
orders.
Before making his order, Governor
Hodges talked with members of the
state boards and with representatives
of wholesale houses which have COM
peted for the state business. One rep
resentative of a wholesale house which
has enjoyed much of the states busi-
ness, declared today that the letting of
| joint contracts by the state would re-
suit in saving of from $4O,0 900 to $780,
900 at each letting. He based his fig
| ures, he declared, on actual purchases
by the state in former years.
Spends $1,OOO,OOO Annually.
At the present time the state is pay
81
plies for the state charities and penal
institutions. In addition to these pur-
chases, the supplies for the Mother
Bickerdyke Home at Ellsworth and the
Soldiers Home at Fort Dodge were let
by separate contract. These smaller
contracts have cost the state heavily
Two years ago there was a scandal
because of the exorbitant prices paid
for plumbing and for supplies at the
soldiers home. Now Governor Hodges
proposes to put the Ellsworth and
Fort Dodge institutions under the
board OF control. Thus their
| supplies will be bought for the
| same price for which the state pays for
supplies at other institutions. At the
same time these purchases are made.
t new c lucational board will be or
dered to meet and let contracts for
supplies for the Olathe school for the
deaf and the Kansas City school for
the blind, now placed under the board
L
ment-
If, Hodges argues, the state is able
to save eight per cent on its purchase
price of supplies by letting all con-
tracts Jointly, it will mean a saving
of $780, 600 a year, based on the net pur-
chase price of 81, 900, 900 annually for all
state institutions. Should the state be
able to save ten per cent which Gov
ernor Hodges believes is probable the
state will save 800, 600 a year.
new ruling be able to purchase it's sup
plies much cheaper than in TO- -ner
years, but the system of contract let
ting will be much easier and more sat
isfactory to all institutions, it is ar
gued The new ruling which was made
from the governors office today, will
go into effect at once and will affect
the spring contract letting of all state
institutions.
Holbrook. of Wyandotte county TODAY
offered a bill in the house recognizing
the existence in Kansas of the New
National Progressive Party. His bill
provides that the new Third party shall
have recognition in all affairs concern
| ing state or local politics and fixes a
basis for representation and for the
securing of petitions for primary nom
| ination.
| Under the Holbrook bill, the percent
/ age of petitioners required by any
person SeehlIlS HUMILIATION as a can
| didate on the Progressive TICKET shall
/ be based on the vote cast for Henry J.
Allen as Progressive candida te Ior
presidential elector in the recent cleo
| ton. The new bill will be --wded as
an emergency to affect local municipal
elections and following its passage
would become a law when published in
/ the State Journal, the official state pa
per.
( Rv roto Of r TO "A he ho11So fodau
passed on third reading the Carroll bill
providing that the votes of inmates of
the soldiers home at Fort Leavenworth
shall be counted only in the counties
| of which the inmate is an actual and
| bona fide resident. That eliminates the
| soldier vote from affecting local af-
fairs in Leavenworth county. Two
years ago the bill passed the use, but
was beaten in the senate. This year
the ADMINISTRATION is behind the meas
! ure I'D will try to secure It's passage
| in both branches of the state legisla-
l ture
Bailey, of Brown county. was the
| only Democratic member to seriously
! oppose the bill When the measure
was under consideration in the commit
! tee of the whole. Bailey made two
/ speeches against the bill. Ga the roll
call today. Bailey was the only DEM
ocrat to vote against the final passage
! of the bill.
little regard for the prohibitory law
i as it is now in operation in Kansas,
/ and admits it. today introduced bill
far more stringent than any yet Of
| fered His bill makes it a misd demean-