The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-06
MOVE MORE
BIG OFFICES
TO TOPEKA
Purchasing Department OF
State Schools to City.
viii Occupy Half Of Basement
in North Wing.
AUDITING And BOOKKEEPING
Departments of the Big Col
Ieges Also Consolidated Here.
Will Handle a Business OF
S2,OOO,OOO Annually.
viii Occupy Half of Basement
in North Wing.
AUDITING and BOOKKEEPING
Departments of the Big Col
Ieges Also Consolidated Here.
VIII Handle n Business OF
S2,OOO,O0O Annually.

Purchasing. accounting and book
keeping departments of all state
schools are to be consolidated in To
peka this month and win share quar-
ters with the state board of admins
tration The entire northwest wing of
the state house basement is to be
turned over to the school heads. IN
der orders issued today, James T.
I.ardner will be moved TO Topeka from
Manhattan and the purchasing depart
ment with a dozen employees will be
located in the state mouse.
The consolidation OF the school ac-
counting departments means that all
school business will be handled from
Topeka Permanent headquarters are
to be established in the state house
and the number Of state employees
here will be materially increased.
Lardner is now purchasing agent for
the schools. He VIII look after the
buying for the eight big state schools
and the books and records of the
educational institutions viii be kept
here Until the order was made by
the board of administration, these
records were kept at the State Agrl-
cultural college, Manhattan
Lardner and his torce of office en-
plovees will come to Topeka about
January 25. New quarters are low
being prepared for their accofnmodA-
tion. with the state board OF admin
istration. Lardner and his assistants
will occupy an entire half of a base
lnent wis, of the state house
business of S125.OOO a Month.
Accounts amounting to more than
$4,000 a month will be handled by
the new auditing and bookkeeping
departments In addition to the pay
ment and checking Of these thousands
of accounts from the state schools
purchase of all supplies viii be made
from Topeka. Every dollar spent for
a state school must be approved by the
new Departments here and the new
officials will direct the spending of
nearly two million dollars a year.
More than one-half of all the taxes
levied for state purposes will be spent
by the new purchasing department
and all accounts will be audited here,
said Lee Harrison, secretary to the
state board of administration. The
new offices viii adjoin those of the
board of administration and the
change will greatly facilitate the han
ding of the state school work. Much
useless correspondence Will be dis
Densed with and many unnecessary
delays will be overcome through the
establishment of the offices in To-
peka"
With the removal of the new offices
to Topeka, plans were today an
nOunced for a com binatiOn contract
for all paints to be used this year by
the state institutions. The board of
administration will join with the board
of control and the state penal board
in the purchase of the years paint
supply.
"A consolidation of these contracts
will doubtless result in a big saving
to the state" Harrison declared. Paint
prices have scared recently, owing to
the advance in oil prices and the state
will seek a low rate through the letting
of bulk contract.