The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-22
1T is BADLY CUT UP.
Senate Passes State Manager
BiII-After a Fashion.
Still Resembles in Some Re-
Spects Original Measure.
SELECT A PURCHASING AGENT
Consolidation of Three Boards
Under 4-Member Board.
IT Is Not What Governor Cap
per Expected OF 1t.
SELECT A PURCHASING AGENT

bleeding from half a dozen wounds,
some of which will necessitate consul
tations between senate and house sur
eeons and perhaps a few major OPP
erations. but still maintaining the
respiratory process, the state manager
bill emerged from the senate Wednes-
day evening after a five-hour combat
1t still resembles in some respects the
creature given life by the house, but
certainly is not what Governor CappeI
expected of it.
As Dassed bv the senate by a vote
of IS to II, the state manager bill
isn't "A state manager bill at all IN
stead it simply consohdates three
boards under board of four members
and empowers that board to select a
purchasing agent who will attend to
the business end of all the institutions.
The bill creates the State Board or
administration to be composed OF three
persons and appointed by the COVER
nor. The governor is made eX-offlclo
chairman of the board. The appoint
i've members are ~ receive $4,000
year. Politics is to cut no figure in
their appointment.
The board is given authority to ap-
point a business manager a man who
is an actual resident of Kansas. and
fix his salary. The bill originally pro-
vided an annual salary of $1,000 for
the business manager. but under
a
board.
This board with its purchasing
agent takes the place of the present
state board of control, the state board
of administration and the state board
of corrections. 1t takes over all the
institutions now under these three
boards-the state educational institu-
lions the state charitable institutions
and the state penal institutions. In fact
it takes in all of the state institutions
excep the state Soldiers Home and
the Mother Bickerdyke Home.
Original BiI.
The original house bill, and the one
favored by Governor Capper, provided
for a board of administration compos-
ed of five members, none of whom
Should receive salary. They were
to act in an advisory capacity to the
general manager who was to be prac-
tically the whole thing with a fat sal
airy and expense account at his dis
posal. Had the bill gone through the
committee of the whole in that shape
it would not have passed upon third
reading.
Senator Kanavel of Harvey is the
senator who changed the anatomical
construction Of the bill and made the
board of four members the head and
shoulders. instead of n mere advisory
committee to the general manager
There was a split among friends of
the measure both on and off the floor
of the senate Thursday and for a time
they threatened the life OF the meas
ure.
Senator Kanavel came to Topeka
with a draft of certain ideas he had
for the consultations of boards and
the management of the state institu-
lions under one head. He served for
years on the old board of charities
and knew something about institu-
tional management. This one bill be-
came his chief interest. He has beer
working upon it constantly and most
of the time out of harmony with the
administration. because of just one
feature.
Wanted Honorary Board
The administration favored an hon
Orary board composed OF men so bis