Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-17
LEEDY'S ATTEMPT TO HELP wHAR-
TON OUT FALLS FLAT.
DID NOT CATCH Mr.. MORRIS.
AUDITOR HAS COMPLIED STRICTLY
WITH THE LAW.
All Elective Officers Excepting MIR.
Stryker Have Been Filing the
Required Monthly Reports
-Other Kansas News
and Gossip.

Topeka, kas., Dec. 16.--(Special) Govern
or Leedy's little scheme to help out his
friend, State Coal Oil Inspector Il. V.
Wharton, for failure to make monthly re-
ports has fallen fiat. Auditor Morris took
the wind out of the governors sails. For
some reason, surrounding which Is consid-
cradle suspicion, the governor is sticking
right to Wharton. When Auditor Norris
began making it pretty warm for Wharton,
the latter went to Leedy with his troubles.
Wharton seems to have a call on the gov-
ernor, and he has not failed to work it.
Leedy presented the matter to Ed Little,
and told him to think up some kind of a
scheme that would let Wharton down easy.
Ed though while and finally reached the
conclusion that the way to do it would be
for the governor to make grand stand
play and bring in all of the other state Of
ticers. Ed wrote letter and had the gov
ernor sign it, asking Boyle for an opinion,
which was given the other day. In his
effort to shield Wharton Leedy overreached
himself and placed himself in ridiculous
light. He imagined that he could compel
other elective state officers to file reports.
If they were not doing so already. He
can't get it intoshis head that although he
Is the supreme executive power Of the
state" other elective officers have some
though he has absolutely no authority over
the other officers elected at the time he
was. he proceeded to communicate with
them to the effect that monthly reports
would be required of them. 1t seems that
the other elective officers have been COM
plying with the law to the letter by filing
reports long before Leedy or Little thought
of it. State Auditor Morris, whom the gov
ernor thought he ruled, and who it was
suspected had not filed his report with
himself was asked to give a list of officers
who had failed to report. This was done
for no other purpose than with the hopes
Of catching the auditor himself. But the
scheme didn't work. In his reply sent to
the governor to-day Auditor Morris says:
Dear Sir:-In answer to your communi-
cation, inquiring What public officers. who
receive and disburse money, make month
ly reports to you? How many reports has
each made and what reports, if any. were
made to your predecessors, and by whom?'
l take pleasure in saying: 1t has been the
custom during this administration. also
former administrations, for the secretary
of state. auditor of state and warden of
the penitentiary to make reports. accord
spector has reported every month since he
took Office. NJ. c. Kelley, state oil inspec-
tor under the former administration. re-
to November. 1896, inclusive. but made no
further reports although notified and re-
quested to do so.
I'VE receive from the state treasurer
duplicate receipts for moneys paid in by
several other officers, but have not re-
ceived reports signed and sworn to. ac-
cording to law, as interpreted by l.. c..
Boyle, attorney general. These officers are:
Treasurer of the state board of charities,
superintendent of public instruction, clerk
of the supreme court, state librarian, bank
commissioner and superintendent of insur-
ance.
M. c. Kelley. state oil inspector. de-
posted money with the state treasurer once
since his last report. but no report ac-
state ', coal oil inspector. deposited In money t
three times with the state treasurer, but
no report has been received from him."
The state bank commissioner and insur-
ance superintendent are not required to
report monthly. as they are acting under
special laws. So it is seen that the gov
ernor failed to implicate either Morris or
Breidenthal. who has been backing Morris
in his efforts to get Wharton to make
monthly reports.