The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-28
TEAPOT TEMPEST
Report on Charges Against Del
Travis.
Attorney General Tells Cover
nor of Investigation.
WORKS MEN ON FARMS
Charged That They Were Paid
With State Money.
Mr.. Jackson Says Testimony on
This Point Is Conflicting.

Attorney General Jackson to whom
was referred the four charges made
against Dell w. Travis of Pratt. state
fish and game warden. reported his
findings OF fact to the governor today
and the matter Will rest pending Gov
ernor Stubs deliberations over the re-
port: The attorney generals report
neither condemns nor exonerates the
f1sh and game warden. Rather. Jack
son took middle ground. The only
serious ofrense charge against Travis.
namely. that of working state employees
| on his own farm at time when they
were drawing wages from the state.
was found by the attorney general to
| be clouded by conflicting testimony.
The report concluded by finding that a
criminal action would be necessary to
GUST Mr.. Travis from his office and
| that the outcome Of such an action, on
the face Of the evidence at hand, was
doubtful Travis is to be succeeded by
Col Bent Murdoch Of Ell Dorado next
July. SO it is extremely doubtful If
Governor Stubs will take any further
| action in the matter. One thing is GER
| tain and that that Mr.. Travis has done
heroic work for the game and fish in
| terests OF the state.
This matter of charges against the
| fish and game warden, who was an ap-
potntee of Governor Hoch's, did not
| originate during the Stubs admins
| tratiOn, but rather is an inheritance
! from the Hoch regime. The charges
| were filed against Travis during Hoch's
| term and the Marion man, while not
| ignoring them. turned them over to his
successor to do with as he saw fit. Gov
ernor Stubs turned over all the papers
in the case to the attorney general with
| instructions to investigate and make a
! report. This report Is now on the gov
J ernor's desk and will be carefully con-
4 sidered before any action is taken.
| Governor Stubs would not say today
I whether or not he would have GRIM
+, inal suit filed against Travis. He dis
! cussed the fact that Travis term of Of
| flee would expire next summer and that
| a suit of custer could hardly be gotten
| under way by that time. The governor
was inclined to view the attorney gen.
| erals summary of the charges as
| indiscretion and thought that state Of
| fcers could not be too careful in the
| conduct of their affairs according to the
strict letter of the law. He said he
| would hold a conference with the at
| torney general over the matter before
| making public his intentions in regard
| to the charges. The fact that the
charges were likely inspired by spite
! work did not weigh one way or the 9TH
er with the governor.
| The following are the text of four
charges made against Warden Travis:
That employees of the state under
| direction of d. w. Travis worked upon
| his farm and premises and that they
! received pay from the state for the
] time they were so employed
J That Travis used the state fish and
game car on private hunting expedi-
| lions.
That Travis procured the allowance
| of claim from the state of expenses
| incurred in transporting his car on
private hunting expedition.
That Travis shipped game in VIOLA
| ton of the game laws of this state.
| The first charge was the only seri-
| Gus one of the four as it involved
| violation of a criminal statute. The
attorney general found conflicting
| testimony regarding this charge. The
| employees declared that Travis was
| guilty while the warden explained the
| matter by stating that he had the men
| cut some alfalfa for him which was
| used to feed horses used in the service
| of the state. The use of the state car
| for private purposes was explained by
the fact that business for the state was
| transacted the same trip. The
| shipment of game was trivial matter
and concerned presents by the warden
| carried direct or sent by special mes
senger to some of his friends.
| The report read like the romance of
the tempest in the teapot, but the ad-
| rninistration could not ignore the
charges entire1y.s as they were pre-
ferred during the Hoch administration
and considered serious enough by Gov
| arnor EJoch 70 mass on TO his S11cceSSor