The Indianapolis journal., 1885-02-17
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Senate Orders an Investigation of
the Disclosures Regarding Employees.
The Testimony Of the Records in Support Of
the Journals Statements-Yester
Legislative Proceedings.
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION.

The Irregularities of the Senate Employment
Agency, as Disclosed by the Journal.
The Journals disclosure yesterday morning of
the fact that there were many more employees
about the Senate than the statutes provided for
or the work required. together with the rather
surprising information which was given regarding
the Irregularities in the salary warrants, greatly
disturbed and discounted the officers and at
taches who were concerned. The truthfulness
of all that was stated was incentrovertl-
BILE, and the only one of the officers
who offered any explanation was Door
keeper Cope, who has the authority
of a resolution Of the Senate for the employment
of FIVE more men than the statutes provide for,
making the total number twelve, and he states
that of the thirteen who arc under him, two are
dividing the pay of one, which accounts for the
extra man who is being carried without special
authority. The division of the salary Of one
man is simply matter between the two who are
willing to share it, in which the Senate or public
have little interest, but the unnecessary employ
ment of seventeen persons, for the payment of
several of whom there Is no authority what
ever, is a matter Of public concern.
During the session of the Senate yesterday
morning Lieutenant-governor Manson inter-
rupted the regular order of business with the
remark that he desired to call the attention of
the senator's to matter which he thought de-
manded their attention, and, with the consent
of the Senate, the article in the Journal regard
ing the irregularities which exist was read. Sen
ator Foulke promptly moved the appointment of
q special committee for the purpose
oe in
to the statements in the article.
The motion was adopted, without opposition. In
briefly commenting upon the matter, the Lieu
tenant-governor stated that although he believed
an investigation necessary, the assistant secre-
tary desired that it should be said III his behalf
that the statement that he had drawn SAL
was not true, and the Lieutenant-governor added
that 'she had confidence in the young man." The
committee appointed to conduct the inyestga-
tion consists of Senators May, Willard Duncan
of Brown Campbell of st. Joseph aud Huston.
The committee will begin its work this morning.
TESTIMONY OF THE RECORDS.
In connection with the authorized statement in
behalf of Mr. Huffstetter the assistant secretary,
shat he had not drawn SAL up to Feb. (which
would be $40 in excess of the amount that would
be due him for the whole of the regular session
IL is but pertinent to state that the Journal rep
resentative obtained his information from the
warrant book in the Auditor of States Office,
and it will bear testimony to the truthfulness Of
the statement which was published. The war
rants on the State Auditor, issued by the assist
ant clerk of the House. state for what
purpose they are drawn, and it for
salary, the number of days that the amount COW
ers is stated. The warrants of Mr.. Huffstetter
are ION account of assistant secretary" and if
for any other purpose than salary Mr.. Huffstet-
ter alone can explain. When asked yesterday
-,
Evening News says that ''he was about to show
his books when Senator Willard, his champion,
called him out and whispered something to him.
When he returned he made an engagement to
see the reporter two hours later, and then ex-
plain When that time came be simply said I
decline to make any statement only before the
investigating committee
"'How does it come that you have already
drawn more than you are entitled to for the
whole session. was asked.
"I will answer that question when the proper
time comes Good morning.
None of the warrants of the assistant secre-
tary are drawn according to the customary
rules or in the form of those issued by the as
sistant clerk of the House. Mr.. Tanning, which
the Auditor of State says are proper
The further information is given that the as
Eistant secretary cannot legally draw any war
rants in his own name, for any purpose or any
thing. but his own salary, without the special
authority of resolution. The Journals state
ment that there are more persons being carried
on the payroll than there is any authority for
employing. can be substantiated by list of the
names of the employees under the different Of
fcers These names can be given if it is de-
sired or becomes necessary.
AS result of hedisclosures made by the Jour
nal yesterday morning Mr.. Huffstetter, the as
sstant secretary, dropped from the pay -rollI Max
Dembufsky, who was beng carried as clerk,
which is virtually in the nature of an admission
that there was no authority for his employment.
An examination Of the warrant books. and a
thorough investigation in relation to the number
of men who are being carried on the pay-rols
will probably disclose some very interesting
things.
MENTION