The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-18
Knapp Warns Governor Cash
Situation Is Serious.
More Than Two and a Half
Million Already Spent.
ONLY S517,557.16 is LEFT
Penitentiary Must Run for 3
Months on 81, 1886.
Schools and Hospitals Also Are
on Narrow Margin.

Unless relief can be AFFORDED several
state institutions thru the opening of
fee. revolving and interest funds for
use in the payment of salaries, main
tenance and repair bills until June 80,
the state faces some serious financial
problems. In a report sent to Gov
ernor Capper today, Fred w. Knapp,
state auditor, shows nine months ex-
penditures of $2,569, 154.11. with but
s517.557.16 remaining in these funds
for the remaining three months of the
fiscal year. Even with the aid of re-
volving and fee funds, several state
institutions may encounter trouble.
Auditor Knapp's letter of transmit
tai warns the governor that a number
of the state institutions must play
close to the shore in order to dodge
deficiencies. Really alarming condi-
tons confront some of the institutions.
At the state Industrial school for girls,
Mrs. Lillian Mitchner, the superintend-
ent, has spent $32.4S9.47 from her
maintenance and repair fund and has
but $1.510.53 remaining in the fund
for April. May and June bills. Seri-
Gus conditions also exist at the state
penitentiary and the state tuberculo-
sis sanitarium, Norton.
Prison Running Close.
The most critical situation exists at
the state penite1tiary. Warden Cod
expenditures
the last nine months of $12S,5S354
from the maintenance fund and a
meager balance of s146646 with
which to feed prisoners and pay up
keep bills for three months Warden
Botkin's removal from the warden
ship at the hands of Governor Capper
was largely for failing to keep within
his budget and for making purchases
for which there were no funds to
make payments.
Discussing the state prison situation
in his letter to the governor, Knapp
points the way to relief thru the use
of the $30.79S.32 in the revolving
fund and $4,000 in a contingent fund
which can be used with approval of
the state executive council
While the state prison and girls
industrial school have a meagre main
tenance fund balance, the state tu-
bercular sanitarium at Norton has ex-
pended its entire fund of $4,000 The
Hays normal, Pittsburg manual train
ing school, school for the deaf, indus
trial and educational institute, West
ern university. Topeka state hospital,
Parsons hospital and school for boys
are behind in a showing of appor-
tionment of monthly expense. The
state university has spent $40S,7S5
from salaries funds and has a balance
of but s51,214. Dangers of a deficit
are overcome by a balance of $i22-
| 757 in the fee fund.
Topeka School Is Punched.
Superintendent Charles at the bows
industrial school has spent $40, 81
| for maintenance in nine months and
has a balance of but s7.4S3.79 for the
remaining three months. The Pittsburg
manual training school has sS4,513
for salaries and has a balance of but
Ss,131 in that fund, while its main
tenance expense has been $23,So1,
with a balance of only. s2,6o1.
Total expenditures for wages and
salaries in state institutions during the
nine months have amounted to ST.
| 297, 5S7.65, with a balance of $685.
| 218.39 with which to meet April. May
and June expenses. Maintenance and
repair expenses have amounted to ST.
271,566.47 for nine months. The bal
ance on hand in this fund is but $21S,-
338.77. Relief must come from the
| fee, revolving and interest fund which
shows a balance of 520,3tS.S9. Just
the extent to which this fund may be
used has not been defined and a BIZ
of trouble in using this fund would
cause the state much trouble.
Auditor Knapp's report to the gov
ernor for the nine months period
shows the following conditions in the
various state Institutions:
TABLE SHOWING EXPENDITURES Fl
| AND BALANCE