The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-18
House JOyOusly Votes Bigger
Salaries to Men on Bench.
Economy That Deprived Or
phans Easily Overlooked.
MEANS ABOUT $50, 900 A YEAR
Supreme Court Justices From
$4,000 to $1,000 Annually.
District Judges So a Day While
Away From Home.

After standing all session in favor
of rigid economy and the most strlc'
efficiency, house friends of the adj
ministration voted to increase the sal
aries of supreme court justices and to
add a few thousand dollars year to
the states expense for district judges.
The very men who have led the econ
omy fights in the house-Stone, Keene
and Jocelyn-all Republicans-were
more than all other members of the
house personally responsible for the
passage of the increased salary bill.
Throughout the present session of
the LEGISLATURE the house has received
daily instruction on efficiency and
economy. 1t was preached at the
opening of the morning session and
there was an economy message to
carry home when the house adjourned
at night. Always and ever it was the
same-economy and efficiency. When
Speaker Stone heard that the house
employees were drawing pay for sun
days, as in former years, he issued a
decree. That decree was to the effect
that employees must work Sundays or
draw pay for but six days a week.
And the rule stood.
When measures carrying appropria-
lions came up for consideration, they
were inspected first as to the matter
of economy and efficiency. Then they
were looked over in the matter of be-
ing burglar and fireproof and with
standing the most searching gaze of
the supreme court. If these tests
were not right. the bills were chloro-
formed either in the committee rooms
or on the floor.
Trim the Unfortunate.
The big appropriation bills which
carried the voting of funds for the
care of the states unfortunate were
given cold and most formal consider
alton at the hands of house members.
If there was no increased efficiency
in a state department, that depart
ment was due to trimming under the
economy rule. The maintenance for
the state schools were figured four
different ways and made to balance in
all instances before the house put its
o. X. on the bills. Senator Waggener
presented 169 living petitions from the
state orphans home and asked for a
new school for the little tots 1t said
the veteran Atchison man was play
ing politics and refused to bulge.
Then into the list of bills crept a
measure which had for its purpose
the increase of salaries for justices
of the supreme court and extra pay
for district court judges. All of these
bills are paid by the state. Once this
week the house virtually killed the
bill, but it crept back for considera-
ton.
Able Lawyers Supported 1t.
Under discussion on the floor, house
members were told by Chairman
mittee, of the small salaries which the
state paid its jurists. The records
showed that he was right. With
Jocelyn and Speaker Stone Keene
urged the increased pay. The argu-
ment about the state skimping in the
management of her schools and char
tiles had been presented to the ways
and means committee, but that body
had argued and beaten them down in
the name of economy. But the judi
c1ary was yet another thing. So with
the endorsement and support of the
three lawyer leaders of the house. that
body voted to give the judges more
pay.
AS passed by the house, the salaries
of supreme court justices are increased
from $4,000 to $4,000 a year. The sal
aries of district judges remain at
$4,000 a year, but the new law pro-
vides that they shall receive IS a day
in addition to their salaries while
working in any than their home coun-
ty. The Increase, it has been estimat-
ed, means an additiOnal expense of
son nnA S2n AnA