The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-02
May Be Necessary To Do With
out Some Employees.
ASKS ALLEN FOR CONFERENCE
Expresses Alarm Over Big In
crease in State Taxes.
Believes Thousands of Dollars
Can Be Saved by Plan.

SIT will be necessary to lop off
few employees here and there and cut
out some of the joy rides to Washing
ton," according to an economy mes
sage which n. A. Turner, state audi
tor, today sent to Governor Allen. The
state auditor believes the greatest
service which the state house crowd
can perform for the folks at home is
to shave junketing and extra en-
ployes' expenses a few hundred thou
sand dollars. In consequence, he has
asked the governor for a conference
of all state officials, department and
institutional heads for a showdown
| as use of the pruning knife on ex-
penses.
Turner expresses alarm concerning
the situation. The budget OF twenty
one and a half million dollars, passed
| by the last legislature for the biennium,
caused a So per cent increase in the
state tax levy this year. Turner be-
| lieves several hundred thousands OF
! dollars of the tax payers money can
! be saved if the state department heads
J will get together and agree to cut out
| the flash and blare of junketing and
the incidental propaganda publicity
| which follows.
| Too Many Joy Rides.
Too many state officials and en-
ployes are junketing to the national
capital and seat of national politics,
Turner. asserts. He declares that the
| trips are in the form of joy rides.
During one month last year six en-
| ployes of one department Travelled TO
| Washington at state expense When
the matter of extravaganza was men
toned by the auditor. the state en-
ployes severely condemned the auoleoi
for his foolish talk about economy.
Last month five state officials and
employees were in Washington at state
, expense. The frequent trips and long
stays in Washington of Clyde M Reed
chairman of the public utilities com
mission, have aroused more than state
house comment. Turner doesn't just
say SO, but his letter to the governor
seemingly has in mind some of the
| Reed travel responsibilities.
To Attend Freight Rate Case.
| During August Attorney General
/ Hopkins made a trip to Washington
and received much publicity thru
statements regarding freight rates and
suggestions to congress relative 10
amendments to the Volstead act
Chairman Reeds trip was in connec-
ton with railroad rate cases There
is report in the state house that
records show Reed has been out of the
state as of the 56 days between July 4
| and September l.
| In the last few weeks state officials
have been recipients of hundreds oI
letters protesting against the RECORD
increase IN state taxes II 10 III &c
! Spouse to the demand to whittle down
state expenses that Auditor Turner
! asked for the conference.
i IT am fully convinced he said in
his letter, that a saving every year
of many hundreds of thousands OF dol
lars can be made in Kansas thru ex-
4 ecutiye actions of those administering
state appropriations" 1t is to work
out this saving plan that he has ap-
pealed to the governor for an economy
meeting.
Letter to GovernorTAlle
/ In his letter he said:
Dear Governor: In his recent special
message to congress asking recognition OF
the budgetary plans of Mr.. Dawes, With
reference to government expenditures
President Harding urges the creates, care arc
various departments, and the elimination
Of unnecessary expenditures in al
While everyone will grant that the ques
i, ton of federal revenue overshadows slmi,
lar problems in the states, yet the facl
that we are met on all sides with increased
taxes puts it up to every official entrusted
with the expenditure of public funds tC
} aid in checking the rising tide; s,. =.
| the matter of expenditures in the different
state departments and institutions and
am fully convinced that a saving ever!
dollars can be made in Kansas thru ex
ecutive action of those administering stat'
/
by cutting out overlapping work ant
wasteful gadding about in the various
executive departments boards and com
: courses in the state educational institu
TONS all of which can be done witheu
: in any way impairing the efficiency
: the work.
1t will be necessary to lop off few
employees here and there and cut ont som
5 year during one month six employees o
: one state Institution made trip to Wash
ington and when l questioned the neces
sity for the numerous trips was criticised
for mentioning the subject The state rec
ords will show that last month august
, the state paid the travelling expenses o
E five people to Washington, d. c., and re
It should not be necessary to await Iegis
lative action in order to arouse a spiri
of economy in Kansas In fact my oh
servation has been, after short expert
ence in public life, that legislators are
after all, only human. and are actuate
in their actions by the demands of thei
friends and constituents, which demand
2 are in turn reflected in their votes on mat
4 ters of fiscal apportionment.
u Those occupying positions at the hea
I of departments and institutions were sc
lected because of the confidence repose
in them They are supposed to be homes
capable men and women, who have sir
= interests. Ny honest opinion is that NOR
1 can be accomplished thru executive tina
legislative action and 1 would therefor
= urge that conference of the executiS
officers OF the state and the heads of a
q departments and institutions be called fo
the purpose Of presenting to them the sii
uation and call to their serious considers
ton the responsibility which rests upo
! them. and obtain from them a pledge to II
a auRurate a savings reserve in all fund
which II adhered to during the preseT
and next fiscal years will be reflecte
II noticeably in the appropriat tions for I'll
e next biennium, and indirectly in the stai
n levy.
= Trusting that this may meet with yoI
z approval, l am,- with respect,
Ma TURNER.