The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-20
REED ANSWERS KNAPP
Says He Occupied Executive Mansion
at Request of Committee.


at Request of Committee.
Judge Clyde NJ. Reed of the court of
industrial relations today declared that
he occupied the executive mansion at
the request of a legislative committee.
In reply to statement by Fred w.
Knapp, state auditor, Judge Reed said
he offered to turn the property over
to Emmett George, the governors
present private secretary, when he was
named as the Industrial court judges
successor.
Ready to Turn Property Over to State.
Judge Reed indicated today that he
was ready to turn the property over
to the state whenever the state was
ready to receive it. He went to the
home at Eighth avenue and Buchanan
street while he was the governors
private secretary. He declared that
when his successor declined to take
the responsibility of the place that he
continued to live in the former execu-
tive mansion.
Reeds Statement.
| In a statement today he said:
1.-THE governors mansion at Eighth and
buchanan streets was unoccupied during
the four-year term of Governor Capper,
| during which time it fell into considerable
decay. The state architect submitted an es-
| innate to the legislature showing that
| about $4,000 or $4,000 would be required
| to put it in proper condition for occupancy
as q governors residence. The legislature
was unable to agree upon poiicy regerd-
ing this property. A number. of plans were
discussed. One was to make the necessary
| repairs so that the governor could occupy
| il. Another plan was to sell the property
and apply the price on the purchase of an
| other. Another plan was TO build new
mansion and still another suggestion was
| to trade this property in on another. When
| it became apparent that the legislature
would be unable to reach an agreement q
| Legislative committee called on Governor
|
] one to occupy the premises as n care takef
/ to prevent further deterioration of the
property until the legislature should meet
.1At that time Governor Allen called me
| into conference between himself and the
/ legislative committee. was reluctant to
| assume such responsibility and so ex-
pressed myself / said that no man IN
| ordinary circumstances, such as l. could
/ afford to live in that house because of Its
size and the extent of the premises, which
consist of half block, Of ground. The
fuel bill alone, In the winter months
! average sized house for an entire year
The committee said it realized these things
and would make m appropriation suffi-
| cient to take care of the maintenance OF
the place.
All Expense Is Itemized.
! every dollar of expenditure under this
appropriation has been itemized and is rep
| resented by vouchers in the state auditors
| office. Before a single dollar was spent
n conference was had with State Auditor
Knapp as TO the proper Interpretation ol
! the expenditures under this act and the
| policy followed was the one outlined al
| that time. Nothing was said at the time
! about my responsibility as care taker FOL
| the state property being contingent upon
my tenure as secretary to the governor
| However, when / was succeeded in that po-
! sition by Mr.. Emmett George, the present
| Incumbent, 1 explained to him the arrange
ment and the responsibility which 1 had
undertaken and offered TO turn it over tC
! him. He did not desire to assume this re-
sponsibility and therefore l am continuing
my residence there until the legisla turt
| stewardship or until 1 can be otherwise
| relieved Of it
If State Auditor Knapp could find II
/ possible to spend more than two days pei
month IN his office in Topeka, free from ths
cares OF running his SaliBa bank. the es
sential facts in this case would probably
appear different than as stated in bis news
! paper interview"