The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-08
Steward, E. L. Shaffer, is Sum-
marily Dismissed.
Charged That He Has Neglected
His Duties.
GIVEN NO HEARING.
Ex-Steward is Now Nursing a
Broken Leg.
Authority Has Been Curtailed
For Some Time.

There is another scandal at thesasy-
ium, about which the authorities talk
mysteriously, look wise and refuse to
furnish information. The istuation was
sufficiently grave for the state board. of
charities to officially declare the position
of steward vacant, after which L. r.
Wiley was placed in temporary charge
of the work.
E. L. Shaffer of Council Grove, who is
protege of Lieutenant Governor Rich
ter, has been steward since the present
Republican administration was inaugu-
rated, but nevertheless he was removed
without hearing and without warning.
Shaffer is at Salina nursing a broken Z
leg, fractured by wild ball striking him
on the ankle while he was umpiring {
game of baseball at the asylum some
weeks ago Shaffer's opinion of the
transaction is therefore not available. 4
The state board of charities, SO it is
said, has attempted to suppress the factz
that Shaffer has been removed, to gives
Shaffer, If he so desires, opportunity
for hearing and defense.
Under the old tenure of office act de-
cision 1t is impossible for the board to
remove the steward of the asylum with
out first conducting an investigation and
hearing whatever charges are to be :
made against the officer. This decision
was rendered by the supreme court in
some of the cases involving the Superin-
tendent and steward Of the state asy-
lumS in the goold old days Wheh legfs-
lative and other kinds of Investigation
were held every few weeks in order to
get men out of Office for the benefit Of
some other partisan worker.
This is the third time the board OF
charities have taken issue with Shaf-
fer's business methods Twice before his
official head was ready for the basket
but the board thought to avoid a scan
dal and so continued him in office. The
general charge was that he neglected
his business.
When the Populist administration
under Leedy made places for political
strikers by appointing clerks for the
stewards the Republican politicians
was deemed worthy of imitation by the
present board and only a few months
ago was the service of these clerks to
the stewards dispensed with. L. r.
Wiley was Shaffer's clerk He was de-
posed.
1t is charged that during the incum-
bency of the stewards clerk the records
of the department were in fair shape
but since the clerk has been put out OF
a job 1t is claimed that Shaffer has al
most totally neglected the work
Early in the spring there were rumors
of transactions on the part of Shaffer
and Tom Hayes, the steward at Osa-
watomie, which caused the ire of the
members of the board to rise. 1t was to
the effect that these two officials had
entered into an arrangement in the pur-
chase of a large consignment of pota-
toes at Kansas CITY Dy Wnlcn tney were
to reap considerable profit at the ex-
pense of the state. The plan was to pay
so much for the potatoes, the person
selling them agreeing to pay the
stewards a neat sum for their assist
ance.
At the discovery of this incident Shat
fer's authority was curtailed. He was
permitted to make no heavy purchases
and the responsibility was assumed by
the superintendent and the members Of
the board.
This transa ction first set the opposi-
ton to Shaffer buzZing. Since that time
he has had considerable difficulty, If the
officials who presume to know about the
ins and outs of the business are to be be-
lieved, and the complications which arose
terminated in his dismissal.
Another feature of the matter is the
contention that Shaffer was not at the
time of his selection for steward accept
able to the members of the board Of
charities. 1t is claimed that he was
forced on the board. H. E. Richter, lieu
tendant governor was an earnest sup
porter of Shaffer's candidacy. but at the
time the appointment was made there
seemed to be no friction over it. Why
Shaffer's enemies assert that he was
forced on the asylum administration,
they decline to state.