The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-23
SchOch Wants Commission to
Employ Legislative Help.
Only Clerical Positions To Be
Left to the Officers.
BRIDGE and CULVERT BILL
Barr Introduces Bill Providing
for All Constructions.
Structures Costing More Than
$4,000 Must Be Voted Upon.


most trying matter the members OF
the legislature have to face every BIZ
ennium is that of legislative employ
ment, and Senator Schoch, of Shaw
nee, has a plan to shift that RESPONSE
bility from the shoulders CT individual
members.
He has prepared a bill which Gre
ates an employment commission made
up of legislative members, which will
meet a. day in advance of the opening
| of the session and employ most of
| those who will serve during the ses-
sion.
The bill does not touch the clerk of
the house and the secretary of the
senate, nor the nt-at-armS, the
reading clerks and postmasters. 1t
leaves the appointment of senatorial
clerks to the individual senators. 1t
permits the secretary of the senate
and the chief clerk of the house to
select their more important clerical
help, but all others would be selected
in advance of the opening of the ses-
sion.
Naming of Commission.
Senator Schoch's plan is to have the
secretary of state select by lot or by
some other method, soon after the
| election, a list of senators-elect and
representatives elect as the employ
ment committee. The names of the
members are to be made public and
all applications for positions, exclusive
of those exempted by the bill, must be
filed with each member of the COM
mittee
When the committee comes to To-
peka day or two before the session
opens, the bill provides that each
member shall vote for his choice for
the different positions, and majority
vote will control in each instance.
The bill would cover such employees
as doorkeepers. watchmen, stenog-
| ra piers, typistS, some clerks, assist
ants of various kinds and janitors.
1T is my opinion" said Senator
tSchoch, that the clerical forces of
the secretary of the senate and the
! chief clerk of the house are of suffi-
| gent Importance to require that they
! Big appointed by the chiefs. The sec
rotary and the chief clerk are held
directly responsible for the bookkeep-
| ing of the legislature. 1t is an extreme
| ly important matter and I believe the
responsible head should be permitted
| to select his own immediate assist
ants. However, I wish to talk that
matter over with others before fixing
the limits"
New Bridge Bill.
One of the big bridge and culvert
| bills of the session will be introduced
! in the senate late this afternoon by
| Senator Barr, of Bourbon. 1t pro-
| vides new machinery for the construc-
| ton of bridges and culvertS in Kansas.
| Under the terms of the bill boards
| of county commissioners are require ed
| to determine in June each year what
| the needs of the county are to be for
the year, including new bridges, new
| culvertS and repairs to both bridges
and culverts. 1t is also required to
determine the location, kind of bridge
n ma 70 ja to he
| In July the entire list goes to the
| county engineer. He visits all the diff
| ferent locations, makes his plans and
| turns his estimates back to the COM
missioners Upon the basis of these
estimates the commissioners are auth
orized to determine upon a tax levy
up to three mills, including 20 per
| cent for bridge and culvert repairs-a
sort of contingent fund.
Before the levy becomes operative
a public meeting must be held. a no.
| tice of which must be published in the
| official county paper for two weeks
| previous to the date of the hearing.
| At the meeting all taxpayers are to be
! given an opportunity to make protest
against contemplated bridges and Gull
| verts.
Townships Pay Costs.
In the construction of culverts the
township boards are required to pay
the entire cost up to 5000. Over that
amount and under $4,000 the town
snip board may pay as much as 25
per cent of the cost but in anv event
the culvert or bridge becomes a county
structure and the county must main.
tain it thereafter.
Bridge repairs for which the esti-
mate cost exceeds $4,000 must be
| submitted to vote unless the total
appropriation for bridge purposes can
be held to two mills or less Even with
a vote more than 100000 can not be
spent for repairs on a bridge.
| When the estimated cost of a bridge
is more than $1,000 the plans must be
submitted to the state engineer for his
approval. Up to that amount the
county engineers approval is suffi-
| cient
The Barr bill applies to all bridge
and culvert structures outside of the
corporate limits of all cities of the