The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-25
State House Is Crowded Wi
3 Growing Departments.
Scramble Soon for Increased
{ Office Facilities.
may OVERHAUL ENTIRE FLOOR
Fifth Is Badly in Need of Re-
pair, Say Officials.
Legislature Did Not Provide
Funds for improvements.

When the various boards and COM
Emissions under the present admins
stration are reorganized. a scramble
will be made for increased office ia
Scilities in the state house. half doz-
zen growing state departments are now
demanding extra office facilities and
sthe situation before the executive
Tcounci1 is a matter of real concern to
Fheads of state departments
At the present time none of the de-
spartment heads is willing to permit
reduction in the office space. In fact.
NEARLY all of the departments are de-
manding increased office facilities.
The situation before the executive
Council will be worked out this spring
and it is probable that the new allot-
-ment will mean a general shake up
of some of the important offices in the
state house.
Last summer when the historical
society and the department command
er's headquarters were moved to the
new Memorial hall, it was believed
that enough additional office room
would be provided to meet the de-
mandS of the growing state depart
ments. Now, it seems, all the extra
offices are am xed and there is a de-
mand for more space. Under present
Conditions, office conditions in several
departments are poorly arranged. Yet
there is apparently no relief in sight
and some of the departments will be
compelled to move to different floors.
Utilities Commission.
One of the big shakeups will doubt
utilities commission. 1t is probable
that this department will be moved
from the first or basement floor to
the fifth floor of the building. At
present the commission is occupying
a suite of rooms in the east wing of
the building, while the legal depart
ment is crowded in offices in the
north wing.
0f
cupies the entire northeast wing on
the first floor. Yet the office facili-
ties are inadequate and the automobile
and legislative enrolling departments
are relegated to the basement.
Z Cramped and crowded conditions
exist in the bank commissioners de-
partment and in the office of the. state
superintendent of public instruction.
Yet there is no relief in sight for
either partment. Just at present the
executive council is trying to rear
range the north and west wings on the
first floor of the building to provide
extra quarters for the attorney gen
eral and state treasurer. This situa-
tion may mean that the state superin-.
tendent of insurance will be forced to
move to another floor. s =
81 Trouble Ahead.
Under plan being considered by
the council, the attorney generals Of
flee may be given a portion of the
off1ce space now occupied by the
state treasurer his CnanSe would
mean that the treasurer's office would
be extended to take over the rooms
now occupied by the superintendent
of insurance.
All of which means more trouble.
The insurance department is growing
in proportion to other departments
and has protested to the executive
council as to the need of larger office
facilities. So the insurance depart
nent may be forced to another floor.
With these changes, the state may be
forced to make room for the board of
corrections, the new wage commission
and increased office room for the state
board of health.
= Contemplated changes will not only
mean possible general shakeup in
the state house, but will probably oc-
casion considerable expense in re-
arrangement of offices. At present
the fifth floor of the state house is
badly in need of repairs and improve
mentS. Yet all of these offices will !
doubtless be in use before the end of
the summer and the state will be
forced to virtually overhaul the en-
tire floor and provide extra office
equipment. e-+..1--. I'll
And the legislature provided no
money for such wild and wanton ex-
traXa gance.'' - =