The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-14
IN MANSION PROBE
LEGISLATURE Would Know About
Governors Home.
What About Valuable Linens,
SiIverware and Draperies2
CHECK UP PROPERTY LISTS
Brick Pile at Present Is Not
Worthy of HabitatiOn.
Would Take $4,000 To Make
Necessary Repairs.

Someone is quite likely to arise on
the floor of the Kansas legislature this
winter and demand that a committee
be sent out to the misnamed governors
mansion to count the napkins and
spoons and forks and measure the mop
boards and draperies. Around the
camps of the Democrats in the state
legislature there is a lurking suspicion
that there has been misdeal in ham
ding the property at Eighth and Bu-
chanan. A resolution asking for an
official checking of the property lists
may be introduced.
Not since Governor George H.
Hodges and family moved out of the
official residence four years ago has
the house been occupied by a. gov
ernor. Governor Arthur Capper had
completed his new home. at Eleventh
and Topeka avenue short time before
his election to the governorship. So
he preferred his new home to the en-
vironment of leaky roofs, sQueaky
porches and rat-infested rooms in the
governors mansion" During the
last several years the property has
been occupied at times by students,
who acted as caretakers.
A story to the effect that there are
thousands of dollars worth of valuable
linens, draperies, paintings and furni-
ture in the home, however. is making
the rounds of the minority member
ship of the new legislature. Lists of
this property were prepared by Gov
ernor Hodges before he returned to his
home in Olathe in 1915. In Topeka
Monday the former governor was
asked concerning these records. He
said one copy had been filed with
Charles H. Sessions. secretary of state
at the time the inventory was made.
A duplicate list is now in possession of
the former governor.
Much Valuable Equipment.
There were literally wagon loads
of valuable linens and draperies in
the home" Hodges said in response
to a question. 4 have no idea as to
the value of the property. 1t would
be enormous if the state sought to
purchase the property at this time. We
listed everything before we returned to
Olathe. In addition to the large linen
and drapery reserves. there were
loads of silverware. Many valuable
rugs-probably not to be duplicated
on the open market nowhere also
in the house, as were many pictures
and paintings" I'd
Governor Hodges WINGED when
asked concerning the possibility of
making the mansion" desirable for a
home for a Kansas governor.
1T wouldn't do for me to knock"
Hodges replied. You remember the
state turned down my request to be
permitted to stay there another two
years. At that time we thought the
place could be overhauled and made
Cost $4,000 to Remodel.
At the time the mansion was
abandoned by the retiring Democrat
governor, needed repairs of porches
and roofs could be made for about
$4,000. The state architect now esti-
mates needs at $4,000 to $4,000
One of the bits of innocent politics
which may come before the legisla-
ture, tho, may be a demand for a
probe of conditions. 1t has been re-
ported that one former governor be-
came displeased with the appearance
of a birds eye maple bedroom suite
His artistic temperament was said to
have been satisfied when the repair
men covered the valuable wood fin
ishings with gooey yellow paint. The
same demand for yellow gnawed at
the COVE until he ordered the
glazed brick walls of the mansion"
painted a shade of yellow that
matched the overhauled bedroom
suite. 1t is reported that charges may
be made that the state has in q dozen
years squandered thousands of dol
lars in the efficient and economical
management of the mansion The
property has practically been without
state attention for more than ten