Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-06-05
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Topeka, Kans.. June l. 1914.


tinues to misrepresent and misQuctt
not only the facts representing the
administration, but the statements
made by Governor Hodges. Tom Nc
Neal, who came before the legislature
and begged the Democrats to clear VI
a deficiency Of sS.4S1.Sl. which had
occurred during his term IS state
printer, is now criticising the Cover.
nor for increased appropriations.
Neither Mr.. McNeal, nor the Repub-
hcan State Central Committee Is hon
est enough to quote the facts. When
Mr. .McNeal says that Governor
Hodges claimed there was deficien-
cy Of $4,000 in the State Printing
department, he tells an absolute fake
hood, because Governor Hodges never
made such statement. and when Mr.
McNeal gave his statement to the
press. ne had in his possession a let
ter from Governor Hodges, stating
exactly what he said in his speech.
Mr.. McNeal, like all others who want
to criticise the administration. had
taken his figures from the Capper
publications, which have never been
known to give Governor Hodges a
square deal. The truth Is, the Demo
cratic Legislature had to appropriate
50, 464.31 to meet deficiency caused
by Mr.. McNeal spending too much
money when he was State Printer.
The clerical force in the State Au-
ditor's office, together with Auditor
Davis father.inlaw, who draws
81 200 per year salary, IS still busy
trying to juggle the Appropriation fl
CURES Of the last legislature, In order
to save Mr.. Davis from further EN-;
barrassment. Net long ago. Mr.. Da'
Wis made an attack upon the Hodges
administration, claiming It cost the
people Of Kansas much more money
than 1t had ever cost before. But Mr..
Davis evidently had forgotten. that
when he sent his report to the lasI
legislature, he recommended an IN
crease of $3,013,SS6. This would hav'
increased tine expenses Of the state
a little better than $4,000 per mon b
Mr.. Davis, in his report, cortendsd
he did not know Of any place where
these appropriations could be decreas
ed, and left the impression with the
Legislature that he had gone into thu
details in his recommendations fot
the different departments and differ
emit Institutions, and was thereby mad
ing an authentic report to the legisla
tre. However, in a speech which
DIr. Davis recently made, he said b.
did not go into the details, leaving
that for the legislature. The legisl'
ture being anxious to cut out needles
appropriations, went into the reports
more Thoroughly than Ma. Davis, re
ducing his recommendations ;2,553,
25S.. However, Il they had followed
Mr.. Davis recommendations to the
last legislature, the people OF Kansas
would have been paying $4,000 more
per month to rum the state.
Tn factes are that Mr.. Davis recon
mended to the last legislature these
increased appropriations. He cut q
few items IN the recommendation
asked by the Superintendents Of dK'
fereut institutions. After passing up.
on them, as Is his duty require BY
law. he sent his report 10 Governor
Sh1bbs. Recently, IN a speech. be
denied that he had anything to Dc
with these recommendations. and
that he had not gone into detail 10
his report. Either Mr.. Davis 10 MOI
familiar with his duties as State An
ditor. or he p attempting to dodge
his responsibility for having made
these recommendations.
The question for Mr. Davis to en-
swer IS: Did he not recommend to
tie legislature an increase Of s3,013.'
SSS. and did not the Democratic legs
lature decrease Mr.. Davis recommen
dations S;.m3,253? The people d
kansas would like to know what am
swer Mr.. LAWS VII make to thii
question. And WI he also publish
the specific places where, in biz
Recommendations, the legislature
could decrease these appropriations.
There is no longer any question bu
that Governor Hodges administration
Is the best the state has ever mad
with one or two exceptions. practical
ly every institution was run dowr