The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-02

At o'clock they met behind locked
doors and considered the report.
Make Report a Mystery.
1t was o'clock when the State Jour
nal called Mr.. ONeil over the tele-
phone and asked for the totals against
the several officials. He stated that he
could not give them and that no news
concerning the report would go to any
of the papers until Monday. Less than
three hours later a reporter for the
morning paper was permitted to take
the report. At noon tOday-1S hours
after the morning paper had received
the accountants findings-R. L. Thorn
as, clerk of the court, had not been
provided with a copy of the report.
Again the State Journal asked for the
| report. This morning the demand was
made on Samuel G. Zimmerman, in
whose possession the papers are kept
He refused to furnish this paper with
the report.
There are many strange things sur
rounding the auditors report and the
motives that prompted the supposed
investigation. Perhaps all of these will
| not reach the public.
Strange questions have been asked
today as to why Koning was appointed
at $3.50 a day as against well known
| local accountants. Again it is said
that Koning in his operations was dis
courteous and a times vicious in hts
treatment of officials. It is also re-
! ported that he persistently endeaVOred
to intimidate Thomas while engaged in
the audit of his books. At one time
he told Thomas that he would be COM
PEELED to resign after the report was
filed. On several occasions young lady
clerks in the court house made COM
plant against Koning's personal con-
duct. From some source, also, came
many wild reports as to what the Of
ficial report would show. These were
circulated by other officials and be-
came common gossip at the court
house.
May Drop the Audit.
Then came the action of the board
discharging Ksnir g and caEcellinG his
contract If the audit is continued
which is very question: ble-sOIn cone
but Koning will probably do the work.
At the time the audit was ordered
it was said that the records of all Of
fees in the court house would be can
vassed. This decision was welcomed by
taxpayers and by officials who were
willing that their record be put square
ly before the public. Just why the board
should neglect an audit of the county
treasury. the county clerks Office, regis
ter of deeds, county attorney and even
their own affairs, is a matter that has
not been fully explained
The contract which Koning held with
the board called for $3.50 an eight hour
day n addition to 81 a day expense
money! ard the expense money in
elu led Sundays when Koning was
doubtless on a vacation. The audit so
far has cost the county $497-73 OF this
amount, SAP has already been allowed
by the boal d. Two bills filed with the
report called for $455.75 On one of the
bills was an item for $19s.02, which was
assigned to Frank G. Drenning, at
torney for the accountant" This figure
is just Sc cents short of an even 40 per
cent of Koning's aggregate fee II
was Dreaming who was largely respon-
sible for Kcning's appointment and the
two men conducted the audit.
Since the filing of the auditors re-
port, there has been a general scam
per of county officials to protect their
oficial records. Larimer is grieved
and admits it. IN a statement today
he takes the wrapper from the special
accountant and fires a few hot shots
at the county board as body. He
says he is proud of his record and in
vites the public to inspect the same.
On the other hand the county COM
missioners have few remarks which
they hope will clear the public mind
regarding their official conduct. Just
where and when the war among the
factions in the court house Will stop,
is a matter on which anyone may ven
ture a guess. But that there is real
war. there is no denial. The result Will
probably be that both factions will
issue a few conflicting statements re-
garding records that may save the
necessity of further use of special
accountant.
Larimer Issues Statement
Larimer this afternoon issued the
following declaration of principles and
defense of his record:
''I have been county auditor of Shawnee
county since August 1, 1903, succeeding
Ralph H. Cav, who was a very competent
and capable man. The audit OF this spec
ial accountant covers a period from jan
uary /, 1911 I understand it. So far
am concerned the report OF this spec
ial auditor has not been submitted to me
by either of county commissioners OF this
auditor. therefore I can form nor express
opinion During my term OF Office
have not allowed one dollar to any per
son CR officer which was not, in my judg-
ment, legal and just claim; nor have 1
refused or declined to allow single dol
lar which was just and legally owing by
the county I have disallowed claims
which were presented that aggregate, I
should say off handed. s15, 10000
In three single instances I disailowed
claims amounting to S11135-00 which we're
allowed by the county commissioners and
which they insisted that 1 should allow,
F,1r rr17f oh have allowed namely.