The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-21
OPENS HIS HEART
State Auditor Davis Suggests
Big Appropriations.
Change in Views Previous to
His Retirement Soon.

Recommending appropriations OF
more than ten and a half million dol
lars, w. E. Davis, state auditor
reached the high water mark in his
six years administration AM politely
passed the buck to Fred Knapp, his
successor. The Davis recommenda-
ton calls for an increase of more
than a million dollars. State appro-
priations for the biennial ending June
80 1919 will be $40, 0,597, ,401.4O If the
legislature approve the Davis report.
After six long, lean, languid years,
the Davis report asks Kansas TO keep
abreast with other states. Always
during former session of the leg1sla-
ture, Davis has urged that the state
look for some 1oophole where plan
for economy would keep down appro-
priations and prevent the state ticket
facing a tax levy increase in the en-
suing campaign. But next month
Davis retires to private life after ten
years in the state auditors office. In
1918 it will be Fred Knapp of Beloit,
who may worry about tax levy in
creaSeS.
Appropriation recommendations by
the state auditor call for the expend-
iture of S1O,597,401.40 by the state.
These appropriations are $1,066, 1856
in excess of 1915, when Democrat
senate bore the 1915 campaign indict-
ment of playing pork barrel politics
and shouldering unnecessary expenses
on the GEAR TAX payers
Appropriation in 1915.
In 1915 the state legislature dead
locked for two weeks concerning ap-
propriations for state schools at Hays
and Emporia. In a final compromise
the appropriation bills were passed.
Governor Capper vetoed appropria-
tions in the amount of $229,000. The
tions by $4,000. Previous to the
governors vetoeS, the increase in ap-
propriations through the socalled wild
and riotous manipulationS by the pork
barrel senate, was just $942, 900. The
recommended increase over the record
appropriations of 1915 is exactly ST.
066,756,66.
Details of the Davis report have oc-
casioned much gossip in state political
circles. In state departments where
the knife of the auditors office has
been keenly felt in previous years
there is today a distinct evidence of
Christmas cheer and good fellowship.
Recommendation for new buildings
total S1,071,133. A portion of the
fund would be used to repair some of
the more ancient state structures. Not
including the Pittsburg normal build
Ing-destroyed by fire-the recon-
Inendations for new buildings exceed
the new building appropriations of
1915 by more than $S00,000.
Big Building Program.
New buildings recommended in the
auditors report include:
Agricultural college, new wing for
physics and electrical engineering
department S so, 900
State university. new buildings to '''
replace old North college, to be
used for music school and audi
torium --.-.--........... 10000
administration building .......... 10000
household arts building .......... 10000
Mother Bickerdyke home new bar
racks ..................... $4,000
TubeIcular sanatOrium at Norton,
five new pavilions ............ $1,000
Administration building ......... %, 800
Orphans home at Atchison, hospital
and equipment ........., ......... 1900
ments .......... 1900
Larned hospital, new cottage. -. $4,000
Canning factory Observation-Disclosures. 5000
Kitchen for congregate dining
room SOU
cottage .......s.......'..... 10000
School building ........ 1900
Power tunnels Observation-Disclosures. Il, 500
Winfield School for Feeble Mind
new barn and equipment, remodel
ing ,' -.. ~ ~ - $4,000
houses .................. 10000
Hutchinson reformatory, completion
cell houses, new barn, dining
cottage .......f........ 10000
pairs and improvements, -. 1850
improvements i' 10000
Topeka hospital, enlarging cottage. 10000
to boys dormitories. ............ 10000
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