The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-14
Maurice McNeiII Wanted State
To Pay for Pants Pressing.
Assistant Attorney General
Spent $S29.12 on BrOeker Trip.
HOPKINS ALSO TAKES TRIPS
One Voucher Turned In by Him
Amounted to S55.13.
In June Attorney Generals
Office Spent S769.7O on Case.

When an official or an employe
goes on trip for the state of Kansas,
he must keep his own trousers pressed.
That is the information which has
been impaired to Maurice Mcneil. a
special assistant attorney general. by
Fred w. Knapp, state auditor. Nc
Ne1u presented an expense account of
$329.12 for ten days trip to New
York in the Felix Broeker case
McNeill's expense account revealed
several things which may be of inter-
est to persons who are planning a
down east vacation. In the first place,
a few days in MOO Yawk' certainly
does whet fellows appetite. Second,
this beastly hot. sticky weather surely
don't-cher-know. And another thing,
old top. Mcneil found on a second
trip which took him to Kansas City
that a fellow can't be too cautious
these days. So MCNEIL played safe
and hired detective for a couple of
hours-at state expense.
$3.50 for Pressing Trousers.
While on Broadway Mcneil spent
$3.50 for keeping the creases in his
trousers. He charged the item on his
expense account-$3.SO one day and
$3.50 on another occasion. Knapp
was inclined to be reasonable about
McNeill's grocery bill, but he didn't
believe the dear tax payers were suf-
ficiently interested in the personal ap-
pearance of state employees to pay
their clothes pressing bills. So the
item was reduced from the bill.
While on his trip MCNEIL found
that the profiteers were after the din
ing car patrons. But New York is
their real rendezvous.
One evening when McNeill went
back to the diner for little nourish-
ment, his check was $2.S5 for the din
ner. Maybe it was because Mcneil
was from Kansas and the heartless
steward thought this state didn't care
for expense so long as it had a bumper
wheat crop prospect. Maybe MCNEIL
was just that hungry. Anyway, travel
ling certainly does work on some peo-
pies appetite and Auditor Knapp was
willing to take a broad and generous
view of the matter.
Worse in New York.
In New York it got worse-both the
expense and McNeilPs growing appe-
tite. The expense vouchers show that
on June 81 Mcneil ate $40 worth
of groceries. 1t was a hot, sultry day
in Topeka and most Kansans were
eating lightly and hunting the shade
But the sea breezes on Broadway
seemed to have a reverse effect on the
assistant attorney general. McNeill
ate $1.40 breakfast, a $1.90 lunch
and a $4 dinner.
June 80, McNeill got up hungry
His expense account shows he ate two
breakfasts that cost S1.60 each. a mod
est $1.75 lunch and 50 dinner-$6.95
worth of food for the day.
The exact purpose of McNeilFs trip
was not quite clear. Broker had been
arrested in Kansas City, Mo, and it
was stated that the assistant attorney
general went to New York to look up
some securities. He left Topeka June
, 22 and return July l.
A trip which Mcneil made to Kan
sas City-July 1919 cost the state
s45.23. trip to Salina June 1915
cost $69.53 and a Kansas City trip
June 91O cost s12.46. On one of his
Kansas City trips, Mcneil hired a de-
of hours. He got bargain counter
rate of $6.
Other Broeker Expenses.
r. ]. Hopkins, attorney general also
made couple of trips in the Broeker
f., case. One of his expense vouchers
was for S55.13. Another was for
1928.
The state of Kansas has also re-
tained special counsel in prosecuting
the Broeker case in Missouri. Broeker
has never been arrested on a Kansas
warrant in connection with the Kan
sas State bank case at Salina, altho he
has been in the state two or three
weeks
Following the employment of a spe-
cial counsel to assist the attorney gen.
eral and his various regular assistants.
the state has already paid retainer's
fee to the Missouri counsel of $3.50.
The amount of the final fee has not
been announced.
Expense charges of the attorney
Broker case during June amounted to
$769.70.