The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-14
KNIFE IN SENATE
Campaign Launched for Reduc-
ton of State Taxes.
''SIice on One Million DOllarS!"
Is the Cry.
ABOLISH STATE OFFICES
Accountant Will Transfer to
Auditors Office.
Combine Other BOards-Less
Money for Schools.

/ Taking advantage of the lull before
the storm in the senate, preparations
Were inaugurated today for the cut
ting of the state appropriations. The
first slice from the pruning knife. ac-
cOrding to the advance plans, will be
| the combining of the state horticul-
tural and agricultural boards. making
/ the combination board elective. The
second step will be the absorption of
the free employment bureau by the
state labor commissioner making the
| head elective. Another touch of the
| relentless hand will be the abolish
ment of the state accountant. When
the entire line of appropriations have
been pushed through the guillotine,
the Democratic senators promise to
shave 100000 from the state taxes.
Senator Howe from Dickinson coun-
ty has been spending his entire time
going through the last list of state ex
pense accounts. His efforts have been
augmented by other members of the
upper house. They have come to one
! harmonious concluSion-Seven million
dollars is too much money for state
| maintenance. And they are willing
that six millions be allowed for the
next two years.
Cut Down State Offices.
The first action will be to go
through the state house and extract
officers here and there, cut down tray
cling expenses, combine office forces
and reduce the cost of living in the
capitol.
For instance. in the office of attor
ney general, $4,000 was appropriated
last legislative session for incidental
and travelling expenses, contingent
fund, law books and for the purpose
of enforcing the antitrust law in the
state. This will be cut to $4,000. The
Democrats realize the spirit of the
law-but they talk of the cost of
maintaining this good will. 1t cost
$4,000 the last two years to uphold
the legal end of the state houSe-this
must be reduced, say the senators.
Then the senatorial forces will de-
of health. TOO many inspectors"
growls the lieutenant. Let some of
these inspectors combine their work
it will not injure their health" More
than $4,000 for the board Of health in
1872 and 1913. A material chunk will
be Clipped from this budget.
The bank commissioners office ALSO
will receive a blow.
The state accountant will be no
more, if the representations are car
ried out. This work will be added to
the duties of the state auditor. Sew
eral thousand dollars can be saved
here, is the plea.
One Board of Regents.
The regents of the Kansas State Ag-
ricultural college and Kansas univer-
sity will be thrown into one board |
The members of this board will be
given a large enough salary TO war
rant their time in connection with both
institutions.
The schools themselves will not re- |
ceive as large appropriations as they !
did from the last legislature, say the /
senators. Despite the fact that bands .
and rooters and verbal entertainment !
was sent from the universities-in the /
face of the frequent visits of students
from the schools who carried messages +
from the chancellors and the presi- |
dents-the Democratic senators will |
pull tighter the state purse strings and |
reduce the university and agricultural |
college taxes.
If the senate keeps up the prelimi- |
nary threats, the enemies of the adj |
ministration may have a hard row to |
hoe with the farmers in the campaign |
next year. 1t will be a difficult mat |
ter to tell the farmers that Kansas |
needs a new administration when their |
taxes have been reduced.
Cut one million dollars from the ap- |
preparations" is the cry already taken
nm nv the senate