The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-23
HALT ON
APPROPRIATIONS

ArrhUr MA IJUVO
= CONTINUED from Pare one.1
refuses to raise its committee recon-
mendations one dollar. Just preced-
ing the reading or the governors
economy message. Speaker Stone out
lined the position of the house with
out definitely stating that adjourn
ment might be had without passing
the appropriations measures.
House VIII Not Bulge.
I'm view of the general stringent
times, the house has allowed all 1t
feels that the state should spend Tor
state management" said Stone. More
money could we'll be spent. No doubt
the senate is sincere in its stand. The
money it wants to spend could well e
used. But it should not be spent at
this time. After talking the situation
over with a number of members. am
convinced that the house will not con-
sent to a dollars raise in appropria-
TONS"
Shouse Won't Promise.
Senator Shouse would not admit to-
day that the senate would make ma
terial concessions. While he admit
ted that a compromise on few items
might be probable, he did not feel
that the upper house would approve a
retrenchment that would in any man
ner impair or cripple state institu-
tons.
.-The senate has not been obstinate"
said the chairman of the senate ways
and means committee. Rather 1t
has tried to be fair. I believe the
people of Kansas want the legislature
and that means members OF ootn
houses-to be fair. Gripping the ef-
ficiency of a state institution or de-
partment is not fairness. I do not
doubt but that the senate may agree
on a reasonable compromise. but not
on cut that will cripple the efficiency
in the past has been that administra-
tons have sought to play politics by
cutting off needed improvements. 1t
has been passed over from one ses-
sion to another until something must
be done. Appropriations actually
needed at this time are appropriations
that should have been scattered over
a period of several years and were
lodged by former administrations"
Appeared in Person.
Governor Capper went to represen-
tatiye hall with his message at IL
o'clock. 1t was the first time a Kan
sas governor had read message to
the legislature. since 1907. when Gov
ernor Hoch read his primary election
message His action followed an all
night call of the house and a deadlock
between the house and senate. Even
the message failed to bulge the house
members from their stand. although
Hoch urged the passage OF the senate
compromise bill. The legislature ad-
iourned without passing a primary
law. was called together in special
session in 1908 and enacted the house
bill.
The governors message follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Governors Office
Topeka, Kan, Feb. %, 1915.
To the Members of the Legislature:
We have plain duty before us. one
we must not shirk, one not to be
avoided nor evaded. 1t cOmpels me to
direct your attention to matter in
stantly important and press.ngly
will of the people of Kansas we are to
do our duty as public servants and
Keep, faith with those we represent
and have sworn to serve. "a
In Kansas we are facing an abso-
lutte necessity for stringent economy.
In providing for the needs Of the
various state institutions, it is a case
of doing the best we can at a time of
worldwide uncertainty and depression,
time when prudence and common
sense counsel the utmost moderation
il not the most painstaking retrench-
ment. 1t is case of cutting our gar
ment to fit our cloth.
Niggardly Policy.
A niggardly policy of dealing with
public affairs is not expected nor de-
manded Of us. To impair the useful
ness of any state institution or retard
its growth, Is not economizing. The
consequences of such a policy would
be as deplorable as to over extend our
expenditures at a time when economy
of the strictest sort is enforced on
every prudent person by the prevail
ing conditions and when the burdens
| of taxation are sufficiently heavy. II
| is for US to steer most carefully be-
tween these extremes and If we dc
not, we may expect most sharply and
! most justly to be called to account We
can justify ourselves only here and
| now.
The appropriation bills originating
in the senate and already agreed to
by the senate or it's ways and means
committee, I am informed aggregate
$7.214,6 $50. This is an increase OF
$1,521, 1O7.34 over the appropriations
made by the legislature Of 1913 fol
the same purposes. 1t is $1,O35,O70 In
| excess of the sum called for by CORE.
spending bills in the house. The ap.
preparations recommended by the
house committee are in excess of the
estimates made by the auditor Of state
after careful investigation Of the need.
of the various departments Of state
government, and I understand arr
based upon a most careful and search
ing analysis of what the ways ant
means committee Of the house ar.
convinced are amply sufficient TIL,
members of this committee have givel
full consideration to the pressing de
mands Of every institution effected
am fully convinced that the appro
priations proposed by the house com
mittee should not be increased.
Request in Good Faith.
The appropriations asked for BY
those entrusted with the conduct o.
these institutions are asked for II
good faith. In most cases they couli
be used to advantage. But we mus
not forget that the assessed valuation
of property in Kansas was decreased