The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-22
Nearly $4,000 Economy Show
ing in 6 Months 1915.
Unusual Report Made by Com
missioner Wasson.
EVEN IN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Officials Didn't Spend All
Double Platoon Allowance.
Electric Light Department a
Little "Behind Hounds"

The city of Topeka has saved $685.
Ss5.25 out of the general fund allow
ance for current expenses for the first
six months of this year. Starting with
a general fund allowance of $780,
722.S7, which included the amount left
over from the fund last year, and 9TH
er revenues amounting to a few thou
sand dollars, at the beginning of the
fiscal year-January the city has
paid all bills and expenses with S12O,-
917.36, leaving a balance of 81 49,
SO5.51 for general expenses in the .e-
naming six months of the year.
The statement of the city's general
financial condition was made public
by W. H. Wasson, finance commission
er, today. Besides showing the city
saved $2S,SS5.25 in the first six
months of this year, the statement
shows the amount spent in that period
was S14,763.73 less than in the last
six months of the fiscal year of 1915.
The amount spent in that period was
$134, ,6S1.O9.
June bills, payable out of the gen
eraI fund. for that month in 1915 were
SO, 9,991.59.
They were a few hundred dollars
higher than in the same month last
year, when they amounted to $19,-
527.53.
"Ahead of the Hounds
Nearly every department of the city
government is. to paraphrase Com
missioner Wasson, ahead of the
hounds"
There is saving shown even in the
double platoon expenses in the fire
department The allowance for the
year was $2S,495.63. After all ex-
penses and salaries had been paid July
there was a balance of $13,516.45
left. The platoon system, however, is
paid for by a special levy. The cost
of the extra platoon in June was
S1,659.
The fire department budget is
ahead. The allowance was $50, 402
June bills amounted to $5,496.25 and
after they We're paid there was a bal
ance of $3S, S,S18.79.= The police de-
partment is also a few hundred dol
lars ahead. The amount allowed was
$48. 1929. After all bills We're paid
up to July l there was a balance of
S24,518.1O
In the bridge fund, which is spe-
cial levy, the balance on July L IS re-
corded at $S1. .444.6 The tC tai allow
ance was only $3S,46O.69. However a
number of bridges now being built
have not been paid for.
Light Falls Behind.
The electric light department is a
penses during the first six months of
the year which will not occur again
are responsible. The allowance for the
department was $20,302.6O. The bal
ance July 1 was s9,8246.
The public buildings allowance was
. bout half spent. The sanitation and
health department is a very litrle be-
hind with a balance of $6,075.57 out
of an allowance of 12,71O.55. The
$500 allowed for the Burton Hill fran
chise is not quite one-third spent. The
engineers department is about $1,000
ahead. The street department has a
balance of $26,349.69 out of an allow
ance of SAB, 1873.
About one-third of the asphalt re-
pair allowance has been spent. There
are Topekans however. who, after
riding over some of the streets, believe
the money can be utilized to an ad-
vantage in filling cat-faces and chuck
holes in the asphalt pavement. The
amount allowed for the repair of as
phalt was $500 There is a balance
of $3,553l72.
A saving is also shown in the item
lied statement of expense reported in
his department by w. H. Wasson.
finance commissioner.
The expense of Mr.. Wasson's de-
partment includes salaries, city print
lug and miscellaneous expenditures
mostly. He is the only commissioner
to slice his budget request for 1917