The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-11-16
FLOPPER FANNING.
His Report to the Supreme Court.

His Report to the Supreme Court.
COLUMBUS OHIo. November l0.-Mr
Richard j Tanning, Clerk of Supreme
Court, condescended to make his de.
tailed statement to that Court to-day
1t is not public property, but bv his own
confession the fees OF this office have
aggregated SO 269, which be has kept in
addition to his salary. This has made
Mr.. FanDing's office worth more than
the salaries of Judges Of the Supreme
Court. The Judges are expected to
make report tomorrow, and construe
the law.
l am Informed upon reliable authorl-
~ that Mr.. Tanning will he compelled
to pay from %. 600 to SO, 500 back into
the State Treasury. He will be given
ten days to make this payment, and If
he fails the Attorney General will he in
structed TO bring suit against Mr.. Fan.
ning's bondsmen. Mr.. John Joyce and
Mr.. Henry Miller are the administrators
OF Mr. Thomas Mi,ler's estate, who was
the first bondsmen As the heirs and
assigns of the bondsmen are liable un-
der the law and the bond, Mr. Fanning's
wife, daughter of Thomas Miller, be-
comes responsible for her husbands Of
fetal misdoings. To-nigbts Dispatch
contains the following severe comment !:
"On the street the comment upon the
matter, SO far as Mr.. Tanning is con.
cerned, is that while conscientious,
liberal. minded man would have submit
ted the question to competent authority
and had it authoritatively settled before
taking the fees, Mr.. Tanning believing
that the law would give him the money,
whether by accident or original intent,
took the money without compunctjon,
relying on the doubtful constructiont Ia
shield his integrity. This view. it will
be seen, presumes that the Clerk is pos.
sessed of an elastic conscience which
would not probably stretch sufficiently
to cover dishonest act, hut would JUS
tify him in profi.,ing by the blunder OF
mistakes of others.
"Mr Tanning has submitted bis de-
tailed report of fees received by him tc
the Court, which was expected to take
some action on 1t during the day. Ths
Judges of the Supreme Court were il
private consultation on the Clerks re
port this afternoon, and it isp expected
that they viii announce their 'opinion
on the subject Tomorrow afternoon"
In tc-night's mail I received the fol
lowing communication from a we'll
known citizen. which throws some iieh
upon one branch Of the charges ha7
made:
"CoLuMBus. OHIO, Nov. 10, 1880
ITO PlckAwAY: l am kept 80 bus
on the farm that I get into town onl
for one day in the week. Heard Of you
Tanning letters this afternoon for til
first. Joseph Trautman, Of Trautma
4 Farmer, is reliable man, and il b
will talk on the subject will probabl
tell you the truth. He told me that the
allowed Tanning to retain 10 per cen
on all the Supreme Court work then i
their Office. He said that to make Sit
fat thing. even after dividing, stheysha
bought font OF small plea type, ecu
down the pages, and double-leadei i
so that there was only about ak or Sc,
en- hundred ems on a.page. ] have'nc
seen any OF their briefs or records, sbr
you can easily secure specimens. A
this printing is charged up by Fannin
in the cost bills at 81 page. you ca
readily see that the profit that lodge
somewhere is ething nice AS onl
twenty five copies of briefs and record
are printed. the composition constitute
over one-half the expense of their prin
ing
At the price paid 70: composition
the Times Building, the cost Of seitin
up page of Supreme Court work woul
not exceed twenty cents. One day lal
; winter James H. Btebe incidentally sal
to me tha! flaming had secured SON
kind Of change in the reading of g.,
lion of the Code that would give hi,
the fees OF the Office in addition to b
salary. l Immediately went to sever
members OF the Legislature, and aske
them t, look the matter up. and receive
assurance that it would he done. / ais
spoke to several attorneys, particular
to 4. L, and H. C Taylor, and mel
toned it to Looms aud other CORE
pondents. I could not give the matt
any personal attention beyond this
that time or since. Hope you will folio
the lead you have struck energetica'l
and fearlessly. 1t is the starched-shi
thieves who are sending the country
the devil. Any information I possess
always at your command. Yours.
BLANK"
After the Supreme Cout has respol
ded / shall proceed with the next ste
Again l wish to commend the Jnig,
Of the Supreme Court for their diligent
in investigating this grave subject. The
do not need my commendation; / a
sure they do not seek il, but they ha'
+ shown themselves jealous Of the goc
, name and high character of the Supren
Court Of Ohio, and, having done the
, duty, they can not be insensibIe to Il
approval Of the humblest citizen Of Obi
PIcKAwiY.