The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-02-08
PROBERS' WORK
BRINGS Result
alleged Shortage Found In &C.
counts Of Slater.
WIRES INABILITY TO ATTEND

Columbus Junk Dealer, However, Is
on Hand and Shows That He Paid
Former State Printer $500 More
For sweepines From Ilndery Than
Latter Turned over to State Treas.
urer-karb Explains Sale Of Gold
Leaf Books.
Columbus, O., Feb. 5.-The Beatty
probe committee was the only active
department in the state legislature
the senate holding no session and the
house adjourning few minutes after
convening owing to lack of quorum.
The probers held the first public
meeting Ia connection with their in
yestigation into the administration Of
Mark Slater in the Office of the state
printer.
Records from the Office of the state
treasurer were produced showing
that Slater, in the summer of 1906,
fve days after he had gone out of
office, turned into the state treasury
81 ,550.05 as the total amount he had
received during his administration
from the sale of paper shavings,
scrap iron, etc, at the state hindery.
However, Joseph Schontnal, a local
scrap dealer, produced his books and
testified that from June, 1901, to May,
1906, he had paid Slater total OF
S2,042.94 for scraps from the bindery.
averaging in amounts from about $50.
Schonthal's purchases did not include
gold leaf sweepings.
George ]. Karb testified that he
simply used the name of the National
Chemical company when he was deal
ing with Slater. There really wasn't
any such company Incorporated, and
he represented Oscar Schultz of New
York a gold leaf dealer. He sold
Slater in 1903 200 packs of gold leaf
at 1925. He had bought them at
$S.25. He denied emphatically that
he had given Slater any commission.
but was unable to produce his books.
he said, because they were destroyed
In 1908.
Committee axes Recess.
The committee adjourned until
Monday morning, and In the interim
will endeavor to get In touch again
with Slater and have him present to
explain the discrepancy as well as
others which, the committee says,
have been found,
Mark Slater sent his regrets to the
Beatty committee, which Is making
an investigation OF his Office. A tel
egram from Slater at Dowasiac.
Mich, told the committee that Slater
had received Its subpoena, but that It
would be impossible for him to attend
the hearing at present. 1t did not say
when he would be able to come. The
committee prepared to go ahead with
the inquiry into his administration
anyway.
The advance guard of tho county
officers lobby has arrived and is
busily engaged in trying out members
Of the legislature as to the best
method to secure legislation in the
interests Of county officials.
They are still restless under the re.
strictlons of the county salary act,
under which swollen official compen-
sation Is no longer possible, Since
Jan /, when the temporary provision
by which officers got their compensa-
slon whether they collected enough In
fees to 90 II or not, expired. they are
feeling the limitation more keenly.
It is said that they will probably
decide to ask the legislature TO enact
law providing that the proceeds of
the fees in all the fee collection of.
fees shall be placed in one common
fund, and from it the expenses of all
the county Offices, including the sal.
aries Of the officers, paid. Their at
tenton is attracted to this because Of
the fact that number Of the Offices
are collecting more than they use,
while others, notably the sheriff and
clerk, do not collect as much as they
require.