The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-11
BIC JOLT TO STATE
New Postal Rates Will Add
$4,000 a Year Expense.
Annual Bill Will Be Raised to
100000 Soon.
SAD NEWS To THE POLITICIANS
Mailing Lists to Voters Will
Have To Be Reduced.
State Board of Administration
Sets Record for Economy.

New governmental postal rates will
hit the state of Kansas a severe jolt.
1t promises to add nearly $4,000 IA
year to present expenses and cause
the state to face an annual postage
stamp bill in excess of 100000. Not
only will state departments and insti-
tutiOns be hard hit, but the new war
measure is sad news to the politicians
with statewide mailing lists and am
hitions for success in the 1918 cam
paign.
Not only does the new postal regu-
lation mean an increased expense to
the state, but it means more trouble
for the dwindling contingent funds
and maintenance appropriations. AL
ready many of the state institutions
are running on a close margin be-
cause there are not sufficient funds to
meet actual demands War prices
have torn gaping holes in maintenance
appropriations and several of the in
stitutions closed the fiscal year with
more bills than they could pay. All
of which had a telling effect on the
state credit when contracts were let
in Topeka in September Now the
new postage regulation means sorrow
in several departments
Only for state House.
Postage bills in state house depart
ments during the three months Of the
present fiscal year-July, August and
ep.ember-totalled S16,2O3. Nor does
that bill include postage for any OF the
twenty-eight state institutions. Figur-
Ing the first three months as a basis
Tor the year. the state house postage
bill would amount to S64,S12, which
with an increase of 80 per cent would
mean an increase in the state mousse
alone of S32. 406. It is probable, tho'
that the heavy purchases of the auto
mobile department for the first three
months of the fiscal year makes the
basis too high for the remaining nine
months During the three months
ending October 1, the motor license
department bought $4,000 worth OF
postage Stamps.
The state agricultural department
will be hard hit by the new postal in
crease, as will also the state board OF
health and the public utilities com
mission. During the three months just
ended J. c. Mothers department
stamps The board of health and
marriage registration bureau bought
stamps in the amount of $453, Whlle
the public utilities commission turned
in stamp bill of $40 for three
months.
Many stamps were used for the
Hutchinson state fair, it seems. Ac-
cording to the claims presented to
Fred w. Knapp, state auditor the
stamp bill for the salt town show
during the months OF july, August
and September cost the state of Kan
sas S512 The Hutchinson fair ranks
third IN heavy postage expense of
state depa rtments.
While the state is looking ahead to
enormous increases in stamp bills, the
new state board of administration
seems t have found a new system.
Possibly it will finish the year with
a record for efficiency and economy in
the matter of buying stamps. Dur
ing the three months just ended the
new state board spent a bare SIS for
stamps altho on this modest sum it
was able to handle all mail of the de-
partment, kept two or three stenogra-
piers busy and directed affairs of all
state educational charitable and penal
institutions.
Turnout Departments.
1t is probable that on a conserva-
tive estimate the state departments
and institutions will use SIS. O0O worth
of postage stamps during a year. The
increase of from 2 to cents on first
class matter and increases in other
classifications will hit the state heav-
lily. 1t will probably mean about $685.
600 a year in addition to the present
stamp allOtments. or annual stamp
bill CT something more than 500, 900.
Based on showing for July, August
end September. the stamp bill for
some of the state departments will