The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-05
Who's Afraid3

For obvious reasons the Republi-
can bosses are striving to prevent
any additional authority being given
Governor Harmon to investigate
state offices and institutions.
To that end Chairman Williams OF
the state Republican committee is
quoted by a Republican paper at Co
lumbus, as advising that "the Re-
publicans should unite on plan of
action" " They are also trying to con-
fuse the public mind by mixing up
the Woods bill with discussion of the
various probe resolutions pending
before the legislature.
Under existing laws the Governor
is authorized to cause an examina-
tion to be made of the state auditors
office and state treasury, but no APP
preparation has ever been made
therefor. when the senate's COM
mitee was probing these offices
year ago Governor Harris asked for
an appropriation to cause such eX
animation as the statutes authorize,
but as 1t was we'll understood at the
time that the purpose was to thwart
the sena,es investigation the APP
rropriatlon was not granted. This
was followed by another special
message in which Governor Harris
asked for authority to appoint a
special commission to examine these
offices, which was rejected for the
same reason.
The Woods bill simply proposes to
broaden the scope of the governors |
authority SO as to include all state |
offices, departments and institutions |
instead of such authority being con-
fined to the state auditors office and
state treasury.
This is set forth in the very first
sentence of the bill, which reads:
"In addition to all of the authority
and powers heretofore conferred upon
the governor of the state of Ohio by
law. that the governor be- hereby
and empowered to proceed
at his discretion to investigate the
financial management, receipts, eX-
Denses, business operations, methods,
practices and statements of accounts
kept by each state officer, board, In
or department"
The bill further provides that such
shall be public, gives
he governor the necessary judicial
)Owor TO summon witnesses and rec
,rds, authorizes the employment of
a.
Ints, and makes maximum arpro- ]
,riation of $4,000 for succh pur- !
'Ose. As these expenses are to be
aid on warrants issued by the gov {
rnOr, the governor will be respon- j
ible If the appropriation Is squan- c
cred or improperly applied. j
SO what is wrong about It? Who's q
fraid? !
That the governor should have the
anne surveillance over all state de- l
artments and institutions he now !
as over the auditor and treasurer
indisputable. He shou!d have II
there were separate resolutions Z
loptod to probe every state depart
ent and institution The purpose Is
ut to make an inquisltor of the
'venor but to perfect his execu-
We authority.
Who is afraid Of being investigated
lat the Republicans should unite
a plan of action" as Chairman
liliams proposes?
This is a matter which concerns ~
OF the people of Ohio. If It 80 ~ ~
epiy concerns the Republican az,
sses then 1t concerns the people all in
e more This is what the people ;p
can't by uniting on a plan of action
.st fall, when they gave 552, $50
les to make Judson Harmon Gov err
nor of Ohio, and retired to prl- mi
te life the candidate whose cam Sii
ign was conducted by Chairman ta
illiams. II