The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-13
CamOuflage Is Being Used on
State Accounts.
But War Effects Do Not Fool
Auditor Knapp.
UNCOVER STAMP BUY SCHEME
State Board of Administration
Had ECONOMY" Plan.
Buy Stamps and Charge Them
to Institutions.

Camouflage is being used on state
expense accounts. Just as the allies
have learned to make batteries Of
siege guns look like rank green
foliage. so the state administration has
learned to make dents in the stale
treasury look like Jealous, tireless
drives in the interest of economy and
efficiency. Fred w. Knapp, state
auditor. spoiled the camouflage eff
fects. tho when he found that the new
state board of administration was es-
tablishing a record for economy by
letting state institutions pay their bills
from institutional funds.
Knapp dropped a bomb on the
camouflage a few days ago when it
was shown that the new state boaro
had reuuisitioned $3.50 worth of post
age stamps for its own use and
charged the account TO the funds OF
the Topeka State hospital. Under
directions from James w. kimbal
state- business manager, the Topeka
State hospital had bought $3.50 worth
of stamps from its maintenance fund
and turned them over to the new state
board. Only a few days earlier it had
been shown that the state board was
making a wonderful record for econ
omy. having spent but Sl5 from us
own funds for stamps during July,
August and September.
Promise Great Returns.
The system Of camouflaging state
expenses promised great returns for
the new board. 1t meant that the
board could call on the state institu-
eiions to pay current sundry expenses
Of the board from their own FUNDS
Thus the board would be able to close
the fiscal year with a balance. All OF
which meant campaign glorificauoh
and Justification for the state admin
istration for creating the new board
OF course the system was little
rough on the individual institutions.
But there was nothing for institution
heads to do except obey demands OF
the board. Besides. war prices and
the high cost of living promised an
excellent alibi for drained and even
overdrawn maintenance funds.
When the expense vouchers came
from the Topeka state hospital for
September, a miscellaneous account
contained the stamp item. 1t stated
the purchase of $3.50 worth of stamps
for the new board Had the item
been allowed by the state auditor as
proposed by the board of administra-
ton the money would have been paid
from funds appropriated for the hos
pital by the legislature. The board
would also have won credit for highly
efficient and economical business
methods and much diligence in the
care and saving of gthe tax payers
money.
Knapp's Scissors.
Knapp, tho did not care to
shoulder any share of the RESPONSE
bility for a camouflaged economy
record. So he cut the item from the
state hospital bill. Now the board of
administration must draw a voucher
on its own funds and rebate $3.50 to
the hospital maintenance account.
Great opportunities for economy
records were possible under the system
devised by the new board. The form
err board of administration, with juris-
dictiOn over only state schools, was
permitted under a special act of the
legislature to draw on the schools
for current expense items. This pro-
vision was wiped out when the new
board was created.
Champions of the consolidated hoard
plan talked long and loud of the
economy of a one board system. So
the legislature gave the board an ap-
preparation of $4,000 a year, a sum
similar to that of the old board. Had
the board been able to charge eX-
pense items to institutions and live
within its appropriation, an excellent
campaign showing of economy would
have been possible. Knapp's action in
charging the stamp account back to
the board, tho, may call for re-
revision of the camouflaged methods
of handling state business