The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-25
Big Increase in Expense of
State Oil Inspection.
Business Policies" as Practiced
in This Department.
MORE JOBS ARE. HANDED OUT
Ten Inspectors Find Less Oil
Now Than Six Before.
Places Provided for Many Who
Showed Fidelity.

Business Policies" as adopted and
approved by the state administration
are expensive. Nor is the use of
business policies confined to the
state board of administration. Use of
these policies in the state oil inspec-
ton department has resulted in an
increase of more than $50 per cent in
operating expenses without boosting
Inspections
New jobs, more inspectors, increased
salaries and fatter expense accounts
did not produce the state administra-
tons promised efficiency and econ
omy' in the state oil inspectors Of
flee. In fact, the records show that
in August ten inspectors working on
$125 salaries inspected 1927 barrels
less oil and gasoline than did six in
spectors working for 500 a month
in the same month a year ago under
the Frank Cumiskey administration.
In the months of July and August
this year the business methods" as
applied to the oil inspection depart
ment cost $4,297.94 for salaries and
incidentals. The same period last year
cost $1,683.30. In July and August,
1916, the six inspectors approved
379,654 barrels of oil and gasoline
while ten inspectors working in the
same period this year managed to in
spect 3S8205 barrels. To inspect
!
| $2,614.64, or "a cents for each addi-
tional barrel of oil. The states in
spection fee is 3 cents a barrel In
| other words it cost the state eleven
times the inspection free for each bar
rel added by the inspectors during
| those two months of maximum pro-
duction.
Only Six Last Year.
! Six inspectors were used last year
! by Frank Cumiskey, a Hodges ap-
/ pointee, who retired from the job as
| state oil inspector April /, this year.
| S. Paulen of Fredonia, a Republican
| and a supporter of the Capper poll
! cies in two sessions of the state legis-
| lature.
A change in the oil inspection de-
| partment provided places for several
men who wanted jobs and had made
showings of fidelity. F. o. Stone,
twice state representative from Lyon
county, was placed on the pay roll
as deputy. So was Clarence w. Mil
Ter, chief clerk of the 1917 house of
! represaN tatives.
Away From Civil Service.
An adroit play lifted the oil in
! spection department from civil SER
vice rules. So with the bars down the
state administration was able to for
! get civil service speeches and pro-
vide places for a few of the worthy
!
| ly attached their names to the pay
roll, ten inspectors now enroll at the
cashiers desk when pay day comes.
| Inspector Paulen himself comes to
| Topeka ca ch month from his home in
Fredonia and signs the pay roll.
When the bars were let down for
! the free-for-an appointment of in
! spectors by the state inspectors-on
approval of the Observation-Disclosures
! ments were also made for more paw
In fact, with the knowledge of a
I change in the department, several
things were arranged during the
| legislative session. One of the ar
! rangements was the little item of an
| increase in the salary schedule
! Where inspectors formerly received
| 500 a month for an average indi-
/ vidual inspection of ,621 barrels OF
oil month, inspectors now receive
S125 a month for an average indi-
vidual inspection of ,410 barrels OF
oil.
By the application of business
methods in the oil department, ex-
penses have increased more than 15C
per cent month without an apparent
increase in the efficiency of the de.
partment. Records show e misceI
laneous expense of $727.53 for the de.
partment in August this year-nea rly
half of the total operating expense
for one month of the Cumiskev ad.
ministration. Nor does the S727.5;
pay a nickel of the salaries of tn,
state inspector, ten deputies and E
Stenographer and office clerk. Theil
Sa Ia rieS are S155S 20 a month