The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-14
new REFORMS And ECONOMY
Il Claim for First Year Of
Hodges Work.
Drafts ON Contingent Funds
Are Very Small.

shows q saving OF states money as
compared with expenses Of the same
department for the closing year Of the
6tubbs administration. Not only does
the administration produce figures to
esta blish it's claims for economy. but
Il files claim to numerous reforms
which the Democrats argue will mean
q saving to the taxpayers in the fu-
ture.
The annual summary compiled by
! Grant Harrington as private secretary
to Governor Hodges, deals with the
state house departments under the con-
troll Of the Democratic governor. In
his review. Harrington contends that
every Democratic department in the
state house received a decreased ap-
preparation at the hands of the 1913
legislature and that the work of these
departments IL being conducted at less
expense than in previous years.
In the governors office, a saving OF
more than $4,000 Is claimed for 1913 as
compared to the cost Of the Stubbs adj
tministration in 1912. Harrington quotes
the Stubs expense from his contingent
fund in 1912 at N.067.2s. while Hodges
in 1913 IL charged with the expenditure
OF $2.79e.47 from his contingent fund.
Work of the Departments.
July 1, 1913, q change was made in
the grain inspection department and
Harrington's figures give the expense
OF that department in six months at
$40, 1913. as compared with an expense
of $14,556.66 for the corresponding
months Of 1912, or a saving OF A.362.52.
1t il pointed out that Jasper Kincaid.
the Democratic state accountant. has
q contingent fund Of but $500 year as
compared with a contingent fund for
the office under former rule of $500.
sKincaid's expense from his contingent
fund il quoted in the Harrington re-
port at $2O7.50 for the six months he
has been on the Job
Under the new state oil inspection
law. the 1857 deputy inspectors were
dispensed with and the work is now
done by seven men. The change in the
law was made by the 1918 legislature
the refineries instead of at points Of
destination. Frank Comiskey. state oil
inspector, has been en- the job nine
months. The Harrington figures show
that in that time, Comiskey has turned
over to the state $53.254.2s in fees as
compared with revenue of $50. Ss4.s7
from the department. for the same
One Of the new rules under the
Hodges administration was the con-
solidation, Of contract lettings by the
various state boards. Now the board
of control end penal boards meet
twice each year in joint session to
purchase supplies for the several state
penal and charitable institutions.
While no figures are given, it is
claimed that the consolidation Of con-
tracts has resulted in the state secur-
ing cheaper prices for food stuffs.
clothing and supplies for the institu-
lions under state control.
Defends Educational Board.
Harrington reviews at length the
work Of the new educational admins
tration board and declares 1t will inn
prove the standard Of educational
work in the state and result in a saw
ing in the expense of management of
the state schools. The new board has
been the victim OF much criticism, but
the governors secretary is hopeful Of
the future.
IF nothing more were done than
to check the duplication and resulting
expense, 1t would more than justify
the establishment Of the board" says
Harrington. in his discussing the
work Of the board in checking -dupli-
cation of school work. Substantial
progress has been made in cO-Ordinat-
ing the work of the schools and in re-
ducing the expense OF maintenance.
The board found there was an inn
mense amount of energy and money
wasted in small classes of from one to
five students. so an order was issued
fixing q minimum number of pupils
to be required before organizing a
class. This has resulted in a saving
in the teaching forces without in the
least decreasing the efficiency Of the
schools"
Arc Is New State Banks.
In the bank commissioners depart
ment, the Democrats claim q saving
and quote figures. They show in their
nrst annual report that 23 new banks
have been organized under the adj
ministration Of Charles M. Sawyer
and that the work Of the department
since Sawyer's appointment has been
$1,700 less than during the same per-
iod of 1912. In the matter OF the
'.blue sky department. surplus Of
31,400 Is shown instead Of an expense
70 the state before Sawyer went on
the job. HarringtOn's report also
dwells at some length on Sawyer's
new plan of taking the bank receiver
ships out of politics by placing deputy
examiners in charge of the affairs of
embarrassed banks until the institu-
tons can be reorganized or placed on
their feet.
The public utilities commission, the
Democrats claim, will show a saving
to the state in the two years of $780,
900 over the expense of the depart
ment in 1911-12. 1t is shown that this
department received at the hands Of
the 1919 legislature an appropriation
Of $4,000, as compared with an ap-
preparation of $10s,0O0 in 1911. Since
the beginning of the Hodges adminis-
tration. Jan. IL, 1913, the commission
has handled 172 formal and 277 IN
formal complaints, while las cases
have been finally disposed of and &C.
ton taken on 112 cases affecting the
regulation Of public service, corpora
tion :r4tea Eighteen cases ara shown
to have gone before the Interstate
have 10 far been decided In favor Of
the Kansas commission.