The sun., 1904-08-29
TO FILL ODELL'S DOUGH BAG.
ASSESSMENTS on STATE EN-
PLOYEES NEARLY DOlBLED.
Some Reiurnable on Sept. I AMI All Must
he Paid by Oct. Five Pr Cent. on
Salarie AEgreSatins S3, ,5sl 200 VIII
Raise q Fund of About SlJS, 900.

ALBANY Aug. 2s.--Gov Odsll's dough
bag soon will be filled with more than
enough money to pay the legitimate ex-
penses Of the campaign in this State up to
within two weeks of election. Il is learned
that some days ago word was received in
Albany from Gov. Odell's rninions in the
Republican State committee that the cam
paign assessment this year must be paid
earlier than usual and that on account OF
the financial exigencies of the situation the
assessment this year was TO be about
doubled. The assessment has been f1ed
at per cent, and its increase was made
necessary because of Gov Odell's inability
to secure funds from outside sources which
usually contribute toward the expenses of
Republican campaign in this State, espe-
cially in Presidential years.
After Gov. Odel's trips through Wall
Street and his unsuccessful hunt for other
peoples campaign contributions, he had
frequent conferences with thu members
of his political band Of grafters on the
subject OF ways and means of the campaign,
and the members of this band, who are in
politics for their pockets rather than to
subserve the interests Of the party at large,
hit upon the scheme Of increasing the as
sessment on State salaries, arguing that
enough money could be thus raised TO pay
the expenses Of the State campaign up
to the time when Gov. Odel's plea of
financial assistance will be answered from
elsewhere-by tho Republican national
committee.
There are about 10000 employees on
the State payroll and their salaries ag-
gregate over 5000 900. OF this amount,
salaries aggregating $3,S2l,2 are as
sessable, so II will be seen that Gov. Odell's
State committee will get campaign fund
from this source of about $4,000. Ample
notice has been given OF the increased
assessment 20 that State employees can
have no excuse for non-paynent. Some
Of these assessments are returnable on
Sept. 1, and the Others must be paid by
Oct. 1. For instance State employee
who gets a salary of 81 900 must pay an
assessment of $3.50. And as some Of them
live right UP to their income, this will be
quite drain upon their resources, so II was
thought wise to give ample notice OF the
assessment.
Probably in no part Of the State is Gov
Odell more unpopular than In Albany. and
especially among the State employ ees
They have studied him and his ways. and
are on to him. They We're disheartened
when they learned that Elihn Root would
not stand for the Republican nomination
for Governor. AZ reports from their home
counties indicated to them that the Repub-
lican State ticket was doomed to defeat this
fall II Odellism should have any connection
with the nomination Of the ticket. Conse-
quently when they learned that the assess-
ment has been increased. their worst fears
regarding the continuance Of the Repuh-
licans In power at Albany Under an 0dell
dictatorship seemed to be realized.
An employee Of the State Senate con-
nected with the State committee collects
these assessments upon State employees, de-
spite the fact that the State civil service Law
declares such an act to he a misdemeanor
and punishable by fine or imprisonment
in State prison, OF both. These assess
ments, as stated. will be collected by Oct
I. and after that it is expected that the
State Civil Service Commission, rs ,isual
will warn all State and county employees
that they need not pay any political assess-
ment Gov Odelrs State Civil Service
Commission in 1902 did not send out this
warning until Oct. 27 Of that year. or until
several weeks after the campaign assess
ments had been collected from State em-
ployees