Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-17
ATTEMPT TO BE MADE TO GUST THE
KANSAS OIL INSPECTOR.
SCANDAL BECOMING BLACKER.
POPS FEAR THAT 1T WILL HELP
WRECK THE ADMINISTRA ALTON.
Movement ON Foot to Unload 1t by
Dropping Wharton While There
Is Still Time-State Officers
Discuss the Sit
uatiOn.

Topeka. kas.. Nov. 16.-tspecial) 1t
leaked out to-day that Il general demand
would soon be made On Governor Leedy
for the removal of State Coal Oil Inspec-
tor e. V. Wharton. The Populsts over
the state are considerably worked up over
the manner in which the oil inspection
department is being conducted and it is
a question if the governor can withstand
the influence to be brought to bear on him
to make change.
The movement has been given impetus
by the story in circulation that the dep
uty inspectors have been shut off in OBJ
tanning information from the branch oil
houses in the state concerning the receipts
of oils. Formerly the managers of the
branch houses would produce the records
In their offices to the deputies when they
appeared there The deputies then could
ascertain how many tanks of oil had been
received and would have something to
work on. But not long ago the branch
houses received notice not to show any
more records to the deputy inspectors
Produce them only for the chief inspec-
tor was the Injunction. This order took
effect soon after The Journal exposed the
deal wherein the deputies had been notified
to quit inspecting. When that story was
published, the deputies went back to work.
About ten days later one of them ap-
peared at branch house to do some in
specting. He called for a statement of oil
receipts. The manager refused to give
him one. The inspector demanded an ex-
PLANTATION, when the manager produced the
letter notifying him to give out no infor-
nation to any deputy inspector. The dep
uty was amazed. He made another de-
mand for the information but it was fiat
denied 10 left Gin
it is said that practically no inspections
have been made in certain districts in
the state. Every effort has been made to
keep these facts from the public. but in
some way the story got out and reached
The Journal to-day.
When the first trouble arose. large fac
tion of the Populist party in the state,
through their leaders, mildly protested to
the governor against the way things were
going, but the last report has enraged them
and they declare the only way that the
matter can be settled now is to cause the
removal of the chief inspector. 1t is said
that the members of the executive council
will be appealed to to demand the removal
of Wharton by the governor
State Auditor Morris will no doubt lead
the fight. Secretary of State Bush and
Attorney General Boyle will also join in.
The auditor is not satisfied with Whar-
tons actions. The auditor wanted him to
report monthly under general law which
says that all state officers who collect fees
OF any kind shall report to the state audi
tor before the 18th of each month.
Wharton claimed that under the law Gre
ating the office of state coal oil inspector
and defining his duties. provision is made
for the making of a report to the govern
or once each year. and that he is not re-
quired to file monthly reports with the
auditor. He absolutely refuses to do so,
although the demand has been made on
him twice by the auditor. Auditor Morris
claims that the annual report required to
be filed with the governor only contem-
plates that the Oil inspector shall tell the
governor once a year about the state of
his health and whether or not he is hap
py, but that he doesn't have to nile a
financial report with the governor at all.
as the only place to file reports of that
character is with the auditor of state. He
says that there is absolutely no question
but what the general law requiring month";
1y statements to be filed with the auditor
applies to the coal oil inspector as well as
to other state officers.
Another state officer who has enlisted in
the movement to have Wharton deposed
SAID to-day: 1T was about all We could
stand when the first story about the man
ner in which the oil inspection department
has broken the canel's back. and big
pressure will be brought to bear on the
governor to remove Wharton. His lavng
off of deputies and refusal to comply with
u request of the auditor to file a monthly
statement looked strange. In the first place
he only had three deputies. where his pred
ecessor employed five. and il is reasonable
to suppose that there was work for three
to do. Then when a state official refuses
TO make monthly statement of the finan-
cial transactions of his department it looks
bad. An official who is running things
openly and above board would delight in
complying with such request of the audi
tor, no matter whether the law required it
or not: The oil inspection scandal of the
Lewelling administration contributed n
great deal towards the downfall of that
and il will have the same
result with the present one. An effort will
be made to avert it by some of us If we
fail to accomplish what we believe il
our duty to do then Governor Leedy can't
blame us if he lands just where Lewelling
did. The Popust masses of Kansas he
lieve in honesty in the administration of
state affairs. If they get it into their
heads that there is any boodling being done
the official who does it. as well as those
who permit it to be done, will suffer a
most humiliating defeat
Burlington. kas., Nov. I6-(Special) The
fact that a fight is TO be made to have
State Coal Oil Inspector Wharton re-
moved developed here to-day. A letter
which DR.. Wharton wrote to a relative
here last fall is to be used against tho in
spector. The relative showed it TO a large
number of Popuists here. and it is said
TO have contained some matter that will ,
be very damaging to the Doctors side