The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-09
into SAVING PLAN
State Auditor Failed to Supply
Detailed Information.
Promises Definite Information
at Later Meeting of Board.
TURNER EVADED MANY QUERIES
He CIashed With Attorney Gen
eral Several Times.
Second Conference To Be Held
in Next Ten Days.
TURNER EVADED MANY QUERIES

today'S economy meeting of the state
executive council, Norton A. Turner,
state auditor, failed to supply detailed
information regarding his plan to save
state funds. He promised definite
suggestions at a subsequent meeting
which would bring together state Of
ficials, department and institutional
heads. The second meeting is to be
called by Governor Allen.
Timid and apparently sensitive of
ruffling the feelings of his fellow cleo
tive officers, Turner evaded frequent
suggestions and demands that he point
out the departments where public
funds are not used wisely. He asserted
that he wanted to bring about economy
thru calm discussion of state needs
rather than by use of the hammer and
scissors methods.
CIashed With Attorney General.
Once or twice Turner clashed with
Attorney General Hopkins. 1t was
Hopkins who conducted most Of the
cross questioning of the auditor. Hop
kins's questioning, tho, concerned al
most entirely his own department.
Turner hesitated in making sugges-
tions. Forced to a direct statement,
the auditor said he didn't know just
where the taxpayers were getting their
returns from the Hopkins and Reed
trips to Washington.
In Justification of his trips and ex-
pense accounts the attorney general
read into the record of the hearing
thru questions and direct statements
assertions regarding rate cases, liquor
law enforcement and the Howat cases
which he said had taken him to Wash
ington. Hopkins also defended the
Reed trips and asserted that Reed was
responsible for saving to the state OF
three million dollars to the taxpayers
81 Iii in hn RATE
case.
Didn't Know About Saving.
'Didn't you know about this saw
ing" demanded Hopkins, when you
criticised trips to Washington?
mo, Dick, I really didn't know
that" replied Turner.
Didn't you know it was necessary
to have these various persons present
before the case was tried" asked the
attorney general in referring to a rate
case before the interstate commerce
commission in Washington last month
Did you know that hearing lasted
three weeks and that Judge Reed
worked from seven in the morning
until after midnight almost every
day? Didn't you think that the at
torney general should have been there
defending the state in this important
hearing"
has a highly salaried legal department
of it's own" replied Turner. Il can
hardly understand why so much legal
advice was needed. This is particu-
larIy true when Kansas has joined
with other states in the case and re-
Gently Joined in the payment of John
r. Benson as Joint councillor. Frank
ly, Dick, I don't think it was neces-
sary for Judge Reed or any other per
son to spend SO much time in Wash
ington."
Pressed for Direct Statement.
Frequently Turner was pressed for
direct statement as to his criticism
of some department. He refused, ne
said to go into details at today's meet
ing and asked not to be forced to as
sumo a position of personal criticism
But if you are not specific" said
Governor Allen, "the charges which
you make regarding extravaganza
must be borne by all of US"
Turner then said he would offer
some definite statements at the second
bably be held in the next ten days.
Members of the executive council
went into executive session before the
Turner letter was taken up. Press
representatives were barred from the
preliminary meeting.
A formal record of today's discus
sion was taken. The governor called
to the conference his conf1dentiaI
stenographer, who will transcr1oe
statements. All members of the coun-
ell except Miss Lorraine E. Wooster
superintendent of public instruction,
were present. L. J. Pettijohn, secre-
tary Of state, and E. T. Thompson.
state treasurer, were present but dld
not participate actively in conference
discussions.
Legislature Cut Allowance.
Governor Allen read into the rec
ord a statement as to the auditors S
recommendations and amounts ap-
propriated to departments and insti-
tutions by the legislature. He said
the auditor had recommended 81
3O0300 for the executive department
and that the legislature had cut the
allowance to $1,S92,170. He said rec
concentrations for penal institutions
were S1,641,40O. while the legislature
boosted the appropriation to S2.117,-
400. For patriotic institutions $456,-
200 were recommended. Appropria-
tions were S673.900. The auditor rec
commended $s5.000 for the Hutchin-
son fair and the legislature allowed
$4,000.
After detailed figures were read the
governor asked if Turner wanted to
take up the individual matters at this
time Turner said he preferred to
wait until the next conference.
State Manager Testifies.
James A. Kimball. state manager,
appeared before the council at the re-
quest of the governor. Kimban as
serted that state institutions are being
managed efficiently and economical
ly. He said expenses in a number of
institutions had increased because of
conditions which the legislature could
not anticipate.
The legislature couldn't foresee an
increase in state penitentiary popula-
ton from 500 a year ago to 1000
now" said Eimball. Neither could
the legislature anticipate a growth in
reformatory population from 235 to
500. The same is true in charitable
institutions where patients are now
sleeping on the floors because of in