The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-06
JOHN SPEER'S SALARY.
Labor Commissioner Bird Needed
It For the Contingent Fund.
MR. SPRER ACCEPTED TEE CONDITIONS

When He Took the Omce-COmmfs-
Court in Detail.
All of the evidence was taken yester-
| day afternoon in the case of the state of
| Kansas against William G. Bird, state
labor commissioner, in the district court
There was but one witness for the state,
| John Speer, for three months Mr.. Birds
chief clerk, and two for the defense, Mr..
Bird himself and Miss Augusta Hayes,
who, until the middle of last August was
the commissioners stenographer.
The trial was criminal prosecution
brought by the attorney general under
the instructions of Governor Morrill,, at
least this is what the defense claims. 1t
determ ined whether the labor commits
sioner could legally take part of the sal
aries of his employees, as he claims for
the expenses of the Office. The agree
ment was made before the persons took
their Offices
The two employees who had their SAL
aries thus docked were the chief clerk.
John Speer, and the assistant
clerk. or stenographer, Miss
Augusta Hayes, of Kansas City,
Kansas. Miss Hayes did not pro-
test, but information was fled when Mr..
Speer was discharged charging Bird
with having on three different occasions
exacted parts of his salary from him
which he had to pay in order to hold his
place.
John Speer, the veteran Kansan, was
put on the stand by the state. After the
usual preliminaries he was shown three
vouchers for his salary for March, April
and May, which he identified.
"What was the amount of your check
| for March," asked Assistant Attorney
General GODDARD, who examined for the
state.
Twenty dollars and seventy
cents WAS in the Office after March
81"
"What did you do with it?"
81 got it cashed and then went back to
the Office. I called Mr.. Bird out and said
l had the money. He took So 3d. For
April and May got $50 So for each
month and gave Bird 1856 each time"
"Where were you these three time
that you paid this money to Mr.. Bird?''
'In the Office of the commissioner of
labor statistics"
am ask you to tell the jury what Mr..
Bird said the first time"
she told me to get the money and
bring it to him."
"Why did you paw him this bonusf"
81 did it because he told me l would
have to do it when 1 entered the Office"
did you get any extra pay from him
besides what the chief clerks salary isl"
mo"
"What did Mr.. Bird say when you en-
tered the Office as chief clerk?"
'He told me that he would pay me but
$6667 month. He said he would pay
and that the state had nothing to do with
If That IL n narannol he
tween u.s.
Did you know what the lew-had- aP-
propriated for that position?"
Yes"
"What, if anything. did he say in re-
gard to telling others about this arrange
ment?"
"Mr Bird began by telling me that ev-
erything he said to me on that occasion
would be considered confidential"
"Did you tell it?'
Not at that time"
The notice of Mr.. Speer's discharge
from the Office dated June g. was then
, handed to MIR. Speer and he Identified it.
"What excuse or reason did Mr.. Bird
give for dischargjng your"
"Well, had made a statement of the
facts which got into the papers; on the
same day came into the Office as Mr..
Bird was talking to Captain Fred Well
house, and heard a slurring remark. I
asked Mr.. Bird if he was referring to
me and he said Yes I said l had stated
nothing but the truth. What's the mat
ter with the trnth?' said. He told me
he would discharge me and I said holly
that he wonld have to give me an honor
| able discharge or it would take muscle to
put me out. l would not be kicked out"
"How long after that did he give you
your written discharge?"
thinlx SoPnnd davO
Mr.. Waters cross examined with his
usual fire.
Then you consented to Mr.. Birds con
ditions of but $6667 before you took the
Officer"
81 submitted to them" said Mr.. Speer,
with great accent on the second word.
"Mr. Speer, will you tell whether you
protested strongly or mott"
THAT night"
"Never mind about that night What
did you say? 4 kick?"
81 objected"
"Wasn't your arrangement with Mr.
Bird to work there three months for
S2OO?"
HE said he would employ me until
July L"
~Did he ever threaten to discharge you
if you didn't pay this money to him?"
mot at the time I received my salary
l understood that from our agreement
when l entered the Office"
After the examination was finished
Mr.. Speer said as he stood in front of
the witness chair ready to descend" I
would like to say that Mr.. Bird did not
take any of my salary for June and of.
fered to return the surplus to me which
he had taken from me the other months"
Mr.. Waters conducted the examination
standing directly in front of the witness
and close to him. Owing to Capt Wat
ers' natural soul racking way of examin-
ing, n T. Speer became greatly excited al
times ard gesticulated wildly in the
attorneys face.
Miss Augusta Hayes, of Kansas City,
Kans., was called for the defense.
She testified to the lowness