The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-04
The Investigation of State De-
partments. $751;
Anyway, Legislative Commit
teemen Say So.
have FOUND THE EVIDENCE
They Say, but Will Not Diyulge
1t as Yet.
First Appropriation Announce
mentS Soon.

That the attitude of the legislative
Investigating committee toward the
various state departments is not g
practical joke, was indicated in the
house today when the committee asked
additional time in which to complete
its work of investigating the various
states offices together with all of the
educational charitable and penal in
situations. Already the committee has
held two important meetings and mem
bers of. the committee state that the
evidence produced at these meetings
has been sufficient to warrant full
Investigation.
Reports concerning the affairs of the
state departments will be fled first.
These report will not only go into de-
tails concerning the expenditures OF
contingent funds, the collection OF
fees and services rendered by persons
on the states pay roll, but will make
minute suggestions to the regula-
tion of these offices in the future. This
first report may not be filed until
March 1. At that time the commit
tee will probably ask additional time
in which to complete its investigation
of the affairs of the several state in
situations.
I'VE have had two meetings" said a
member of the investigating commit
tee. Evidence produced at these hear
ings has been sufficient in the minds
of members, to warrant the fullest IN
vestigation We do not wish to be
hasty and we want to be just and
fair, but are already satisfied that the
investigation will be wholesome at
fair so far as the state is concerned.
Members of the committee declined
TO discuss the nature of the evidence
secured at their meetings and declare
that none of the results of their in
vestfgation will be made public until
the report concerning the various Of
fices and departments is officially an
nounced.
Persons interested in the appropria-
ton bills pending in the ways and
means committee of the two houses of
the state legislature, are anXiously
waiting for the report of the house
committee this week concerning the all
lowances to the state charita BILE in
situations. Those are to the first ap-
propria ton bills to be reported and ].
N. Herr, chairman of the house ways
and means committee, believes that
the committee will make it's recon-
mendations before the ;clese& of the
present week. Eight of the mine char
liable institution budgets have already
been passed on.
If the house ways and means COM
mittee looks kindly on the charitable
lions and heads of the state depart
ments will take new hope. In event
the state charities are seriously
trimmed in their annual allowances,
persons interested in other appropria-
lions may well fear the worst
Two sets of appropriation bills will
be reported by the ways and means
committee of each house. The senate
committee will make reports concern
ing the joint committee recommended
g. -, a
tuition appropriations. The house COM
mittee will report recommendations for
allowances for the charitable institu-
and the several state departments.
Among members of both houses it is
generally believed that the committee
reports will be accepted by both
branches of the legislature 1t is the
plan of the administration leaders to
dispose of these matters in the COM
mittee sessions and to avoid fight on
the floor that the committees were Civ
en- ample time in which to complete
their work. If the committee trim the
appropriations to any great extent, it
is hardly probable that the legislature
as a whole will attempt to increase
the allowance recommended. On the
other hand if the committee are gen.
erous, then the legislature is hardly ex-
pected to use the scissors on the ap-
preparation bills
The Kansas house spent a busy
afternoon Monday. 1t passed 25 bills
on third reading, made Up the first
omnibus of the session and ordered
two calls of the house in the three
hours session. Gordon's bill compell-
ing gas companies to supply 90 per
cent pure gas, passed by a one sided
vote. A bill compelling school districts
to deposit their funds in bank where
it would draw two per cent interest
on daily balance: passed by a vote of
boards in counties with more than
1900 inhabitants to meet at least once
each month, passed with one vote to
spare. On final passage of the bill
the vote was Ga yeas, A nays. In the
afternoons omnibus, IL bills of local
nature were railroaded.
This will be one of the most i'm
portant weeks of the legislature so
far as the house is concerned. Four
administration measures are up for
consideration upder the special order
heading. Speaker Browns bill for a
nonpartisan judiciary is on today's
order. while the administration bill
for the abolition of the boards of
regents comes Wednesday Thursday
is the Massachusetts, ballot bill and
Friday the measure calling for the
printing of school text books bv the
state. None of these measures are
constitutional provisions and the
working majority in the lower house
is expected to adopt all of the four
important bills.
Willard E. Lyon of Lincoln coun-
ty has offered substitute for the
more radical bills abolishing the
boards of regents for educational in
situations and creating an administra-
ton board. Lyon would provide three
members, appointed by the governor,
who would receive $40 a day each
for actual services. But he would
leave intact the present boards of
regents, permitting them to carry into
execution the suggestions of the adj
ministration board. In many details