The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-05
F. w. KNAPP ON FEES
Gives His Objections to Edu.
catiOnal Practices.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
Replying to an article published in
the State Journal, quoting E. w. Hoch,
with reference to my attitude toward
the extra fee allowance in the state
educational institutions. permit me to
say that l have not and shall not i'm
pugn the character nor the honesty
of the members of the board of ad-
ministration, nor of any professor con-
nected with the state university.
have not used the term, fee grab
bing' in any communication which l
have sent to the legislature.
On January Is, 1 addressed a letter
to the ways and means committee, in
which 1 said:
1t is the policy of certain of the pro-
fessors in the Agricultural college, who are
called upon by county fair associations
stock shows and kindred organizations to
act as judges, to charge those organiza-
tons not only their expenses incident to
the trip, but also per diem, which is the
personal perquisite of these professors.
To my mind; it is not right Tor these
Agricultural college withou- any deduction
for the time, out, and in addition thereto
organizations whose sole purpose is the
encouragement and development of the
state along agricultural lines
On February 20, 1 addressed an
committee. in which l recommended
that the governing board of educa-
tional institutions be required to an
nually fix the professors and employees
, in the same manner as the law gov
erning the charitable institutions has
required for twelve years, and to pro-
hibit the allowance of any extra fees
or per diems over and above those
salaries. Supporting that proposition
and in order to show the reason for
the enactment of such a law, L stated
in my letter the following ia cts:
an this c6uupctiOn | call vour tteDtiOu
to the following facts: In the January
payroIls, tbs. following professors were
fine arts department of the university, as
follows
Name Salary From fees,
Pearl Finley ........... 91.6i $50
Maude Miller ............ $3.50 ST.
+ Cora Reynolds - 4167 1915
! Il addressed letter to the board of
! administration, calling attention to. this
/ fact and herewith transmit copy of my
| letter and their reply, for your considera-
ton, with the request that the same be
! Il find in the February vouchers that
! this system is not limited to the fine arts
{ department. but that Raymond A. Schweg-
Ter received salary of S1S}.:s as a pro
! fessor in the school of education. and also
a fee of Sc for each of eleven lectures de.
! livered thruout the state, making a total
extra fee allowance of S66.
Prof. Edwin NJ Hopkins, professor OF
+ English. received a salary of S241 sc and
4
/ amounting to SIS.
Miss Sara G. Laird receives a salary OF
S91 81 as an instructor and fees amounting
to $50 for extra work done in the extension
department:
journalism, received a monthly salary OF
$133.33, and also fee allowances amounting
to $40 in this extension department
i M c. Elmer received a salary of S12-
as associate professor of sociology and s.
each for three lectures, amounting to 81
from fees.
While 1 believe that no law should be
enacted which would reduce the amount
of service these institutions should rem
der to the people. nor that the salaries Of
the professors should be inadequate to re
munerate them, yet l am firmly convinced
that the system of paying them salarie:
and allowing these fees in addition, i:
wrong in principle and dangerous in prac
tice.''
Il am told that in addition to the
states paying the extra fee and trav-
cling expenses of these professors, who
20 out and deliver these lectures, thai
the local communities also pay the
same travelling expenses and also pay
a fee. / have no method of determin
ing in this office whether the fee.
thus collected from the local com
munities are turned into the state
treasury or whether these professor:
receive their salaries from the state
the extra fee of So or Sc per lecture
from the state, their travelling expense:
from the state and also from the loca
communities and also another fe.
from the local communities. I am no
antagonistic toward the state edu
cational institutions, but an
thoroly convinced that the system
above referred to is wrong and sus
ceptible of being abused and SHOULD
be abolished. 1 have done what 1 con
slider to be my duty as the audito
of the state in calling attention t,
these matters, without the Slightest de
sire or intention of injuring anyon
oil II ha1i 11se p
ter of statewide Importance, on
which deserves the serious consider
alton of the legislature and one il
which the people of the state of Kan
sas will indorse my position. Very re
specially,