The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-06-23
Much Interest Shown in Mar
shall Selection for State
Oil Inspector.
DEAL MADE FOR oFFlcE7
IT. 10 SAID GOVERNOR PROMISED
TO APPOINT MAN FROM THE
TWELFTH DISTRICT WHEN
STEVE FLEMING INSISTED.
palladium Specially


indianapolis, June 23.-There is a
good deal of speculation as to whom
Governor Marshall will appoint as
state oil inspector to succeed Sid Con-
ger, when the time comes to make the
appointment This Is one Of the best
jobs In the gift Of the governor. be-
cause 1t carries with 1t a large amount
of patronage which the oil inspector
can distribute to suit himself-or the
governor. The inspector is allowed
to appoint as many deputies as he
pleases. He can appoint one for ev-
cry county II he chooses to do so. and
In this way he can build UP mighty
formidable machine in a political way,
II he Is disposed to do SO.
Governor Marshall has not said
whom he will appoint as inspector,
but he made the statement yesterday
that the man will come from the
Twelfth Congressional district. This
is the governors home district. and
in addition to this there has been a
good story going the rounds as to the
reason why the oil inspector shall
come from that district. According to
this story, long before the democratic
state convention was held Steve Flem-
Ing, of Fort Wayne, who carries the
Twelfth district democracy around in
his vest pocket, called on the COVER
nor. 1t is understood that Fleming
was at heart opposed to the governors
plan for the nomination by the state
op Hotn f<>v. nil nd
States senator.
Promised His Support.
It is said that when he saw the
governor he made plain his opposition,
and that he agreed to deliver the vote
OF Allen county for the governor s
plan, provided the governor would al.
low him to name the state oil inspec-
tor when the time comes to make an
appointment. Fleming. of course. is a
good friend of the governor and even
II he had been opposed to the COVER.
nor's plan he would be slow to show
the opposition.
So. according to this story, Fleming
went away with the understanding
that he was to name the state oil in.
spector This story was told a few
days after the state convention by one
of the leading democrats Of Indiana
polls, who said he knew the facts.
At any rate. the governor has an
nounced that the next state oil in.
spector will come from F1emings dis.
trict. Some of the governors friends
have denied the story for him. They
say nothing Of the kind ever happened
and that the governor Is free to make
any appointment he pleases. s.+ss
There are now only thirty oil in.
spectors in the state. There have
been as many as forty.two, but this
number was reduced by the present
inspector. Under the law the head OF
the inspection bureau is called the
supervisor Of oil inspection. The sal
ary of the office is $2.5O0 a year with
little or nothing to do but make re
ports to the state auditor every three
months. and pay the money into the
state treasury. The oil inspectorshiI
is one Of the choice plums in the state
house.
Under the law a fee Is charged fol
inspecting oil. All Of the money col
lected In this manner is divided equal
ly between the inspector and the
state. The inspector gets one half ol