The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-29
NOTE OF SADNESS.
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workmen began to remove the old
school house. Lincoln College" that
stood on the site Of Memorial hall:
in every legislature. he watched the
progress Of the appropriation bills.
With the architects design in his
head. he could see, with the eye Of
the mind. the arrangement Of the
new home. And George Martin gave
up a good fight and died before his
dream was realized.
Case OF James Smith.
James Smith, who had spent years
! in the service OF the state, and took d
| vital interest In anything pertaining
to Civil war history, and was an ar
! dent worker r the interests OF his
comrades in arms, was stricken be-
fore he could realize one Of his dear
est wishes-that he might have the
honor of escorting the battle flags OF
| his regiment to their grand new
home. It might have been q salts
his funeral would be held on the day
set aside for special honors to tho
soldier dead, but he was robbed Of a
patriotic satisfaction that he had an
| ticipated for months Many other
old soldiers have died In the state
since the date Of dedication was set.
and undoubtedly every one of them
had planned to attend.
There are many people in Kansas who
| do not understand the origin Of Mem
orial Hall. Briefly, the monument to
Civil war soldiers was constructed with
| money due the state from the national
government on two claims, one for the
eQuipping and putting in the field of
| troops and the other for repelling in
vasions OF Confederates and suppress
ing Indian disorders. Forty years be-
fore, the government had reimbursed
Kansas for individual claims,-destruc-
ton of property and other losses, which
had been paid to the claimants in state
scrfpt-where the claimants were found.
The government money was to reclaim
this script, but it was practically con-
verted to other uses by the state, only
part Of it being used for that purpose.
! It was in 1908 that Congressman Cald-
erhead succeeded in getting through
congress the appropriations to reim-
burse the state of Kansas on the two
claimS,-eQuipment of troops, and re-
polling invaSions and indians One war
rant called for 97,466.02; that was for
equipping troops. The other was for
/. $425, 065.43, for war service within the
! state. against Indians and bushwhack-
ers,-a total of $522, 531.45. John C.
Nicholson. Of Newton, state agent, col
/ lected these sums from the government,
and later secured the cancelled war
rants and placed them In the Kansas
historical society. Mr.. Nicholson, be-
side, collecting this sum from the gov
eminent, holds the honor of first sug-
i costing that it be used to construct a
Memorial hall. He took part in writing
the first bill presented to the Kansas
legislature by Senator F. Dumont
4 Smith.
4 War Fund From Uncle Sam.
4 When the war fund" was secured
from the government in 1908. it was i'm
mediately added to the general fund
making a good showing for that admin
istration. and a portion Of it was i'm
mediately spent. Which accounts fol-
the fact that when. in 1909, the bill
|, prepared by the senate committee or
ways and means, as n substitute for the
bill offered by Senator Smith. wal
passed, the money was not in the treas
ury awaiting expenditure. 1t was part
of the general fund.- and as such
there had been no string tied to it. Il
fattened the showing Of the administra-
ton. but 1t wasn't there when arrange.
: ments had been made to spend it for 6
!. noble purpose. That is why the con.
struction of the building has been de-
layed from time to time. while thu
lconstruction awaited further piece-mea
appropriations by the legislatures. III
spent on the building. beside q coupl.
of thousand for expenses of the build
ing commission.
OF the unexpended balance of tn
: appropriation. 22,97e.65, about all
: spent now. 1t will take another ap
D preparation by the next legislature +
t provide for the finishing touches AM
!. There u not money enough to eve1