Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-02
LED TO AN UNIDENTIFIED SPECTACLE
IN THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT.
MATTER WAS NOT SETTLED.
TO BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED
BY A COMMITTEE.
Resolution Deposing Green Was Yot-
ed Down, but His Enemies ne
fused to Let 1t Go mt That
The House in Il Great
Uproar.

Jefferson City, No., March 1.-(SpeciaiJ
Certain Democrats and Populists who are
members of the house and who have Il
large sized grievance against Chief CLERK
Charles w Green because he failed TO ap-
point their relatives and friends upon MS
clerical force treated the people OIL MIS-
souri, to an undignified spectacle to-night.
In accordance with the resolution deciar-
ing his office vacant, which was mace
special order for 7:30 o'clock p. m, the
house assembled at that hour, with SPEAK
er Farris in the chair, and nearly all the
members present.
Mr.. Green appeared before the house,
which resolved itself into a court OF IN
uuiry He denied that he had been mat
tentiye to his official duties, and said that
he had never been absent two consecu-
tive days, except upon one OCCASION "heh
he attended a funeral
After Mr.. Green had fininshed his state
ment. Mr.. Bradley of Audrain county,
arose and reads a list of fifteen names OF
persons who he said had been. upon the
chief clerks pay roll, and were not now IN
the employ of the house. They had been
paid amounts ranging from $3.50 to s9i. MT.
Bradley did not say that any of these per-
sons had not performed the services for
which they were paid, but intimated as
much. He did say that young man
named John Shaffer, who was said to have
been clerk ir the employ of a man named
Carroll and Colonel "Bill' Phelps and was
engaged in copying for them bills pending
in the house was believed to be young
man of the same name who was paid $3.50
for serving as a clerk under Mr.. Green.
Mr.. Bradley went on TO say that the Sna1,
fer in the employ of Carroll Snd Pheips had
become intoxicated, gotten into nght, IN
which he was severely beaten, and sent
out of the city. He wanted to know If the
Shaffer employed by Chief Clerk Green and
the Shaffer in the employ OF Carroli ana
Phelps were the same person.
This query was not answered by Mr.
Green because several of his friends upon upon
luton bouncing him. The vote resulted IN
a victory for Mr.. Green. being Il for the
adoption of the resolution and 81 against.
1t was supposed that the end of the mat
ter had been reached and the house pro-
ceeded to transact other business. But u
who has consumed days of the time of the
house in useless discussions that might bet
ter have been devoted to the business, de
Missouri was at stake. The chief clerk of
the house had been charged with carrying
men upon ms pay pay roll Mo for na3 Whcs hS thew
were paid. He wanted Mr.. Green to come
before the house and answer the accusa-
ton made against him by Mr.. Bradley.
Instantly the house was in an uproar.
Colonel Crisp. Messrs. Rubey, Hall. Tubbs,
Rebo, Bittinger. Avery, Wade. Slate Han.
Clarke and Regan and several others We're
upon their feet gesticulating wildly at the
chair and endeavoring to be heard But
having the better lungs, Mr.. Martin. of
Barton talked all of them down and sue
ceeGed in getting resolution adopted re-
quiring Mr.. Green to appear tefore the
house for the purpose of being interro-
gated. The sergeant.at-arms was sent out
to find Mr Green, who left the chamber
just after the defeat CT the resolution de-
posing him from office.
In the course of half an hour. the SER
geant-at-arms returned with Mr.. Green,
who mounted the speakers stand and was
there questioned by Messrs. Martin and
Bradley. I'm response to their questions, he
said he had not increased his payroll by
employing more clerks than had been al
lowed him by the house. and declared that
the books of the committee on accounts
would substantiato his statements. He was
then asked concerning Shaffer, and replied
that that individual had teen member of
his force. When asked why Shaffer was
discharged he hesitated and asked the
speaker II he was compelled to answer that
question. The speaker told him he could
use his own judgment in answering ques-
tions. and the house should be the judge
of whether he should be punished or not
for his refusal.
AT this stage in the proceedings Colonel
Crisp left his seat and rushed up to near
the speakers desk. but before he could
deliver his intended speech several others
were recognized by the chair. The colonel
finally obtained recognition and said that
since the Democrats of the house were
determined TO make an unseemly specta-
Gle of themselves by forcing an investiga-
ton of their chief clerk. he wanted an
other investigation. He wanted the names
of all the applicants for positions under
the clerk who failed TO receive appoint
ments. together with the names of the
members backing them and the relation
ship existing between the applicants and
these members.
Mr.. Hall brought the seance to close
by moving to refer the matter to COM
mittee of five to be appointed by the chair.
said committee to have power to make a
complete investigation and to be instructed
to submit the evidence to the house.