The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-09
.OEHORfTY ROASTED
TO A DARK BROWN
Rep. Wells Wades into Ac-
counting Law Fight and
Yields a Bludgeon.
palladium SpeciaD

day afternoon, there is nothing in
signs, for he was roasted TO a brown
in the house and then turned over in
order that other side might get
scorched
The only representative TO utter a
good word in Dehority's behalf was
Representative Merriman and he dealt
only in glittering generalities, and
praised Dehority by smirching the
characters of the two deputy examin-
ers The rest of the members who at
tackled the Wells bill which aimed at
a reform of the state accounting board
handled the question as they would
overly rippened eggs and Represent
alive Cravens who led the defense
gave as splendid an exhibition of
ducking, side-stepping and hugging in
the clinches as ever grabbed the gate
receipts at Reno. His defense of the
state accounting board was like a
mother hubbard-it covered every
thing and touched nothing.
On the other hand Representative
Wells whose bill was under discussion
went at the thing bare listed and used
the Hoosier vernacular as she is
spoken in the hills and dales OF Scott
county Nobody had 10 get lexicon
in order TO understand what Wells
meant He said that Dehority was us
ing his power in an autocratic man
ner. that he was using the department
Of the state board of accounts as a
medium to blackmail public officials
and others of Indiana. and that in
this he was aided by the Indianapolis
News.
Uses a Fighting Word.
He branded the Indianapolis News
as liar in charging that his bill was
drawn by interests" and he gave an
expose of the manner i'm which he al
legged Dehority mismanaSes and per
vcrts his Office. He also combed the
hair of the chief examiner the wrong
way when he said THE state board
of accounts may brand me as thief
and scoundrel, as it's head has done
but | have never been compelled to
settle an estate through fear of hav.
ing my delinquencies published in a
newspaper. ! have never withheld a
cent from anyone, and although as
bondsman for an official under suit
may have to settle the claim. | am
not trying to evade trial or be relieved
of my legal obligations"
1t was in this connection that he di
rectly charged the state board of ac
counts with trying to blackmail him
and others.
Be that as II may, after a running
| fight in which it was cut and thrust
and parry, in which blood was drawn
and both combatants pinked. the
Wells bill was finally referred back to
| the committee for further considers
ton. This action was taken after era
vens had carried his amendment to
make the state board of accounts a
one-man Office by Diminishing both
deputy examiners, whom he accused
of characterization and scandal bear
ing.
All in all it was the lovelest row
the legislature has staged up to yet
and enough dragons teeth were sowr
to raise a record breaking crop OF
trouble.
The first dash out of the box. wher
the Wells bill came up for considera
ton under special order of business
was motion by Representative Wise
to recommit it to the committee. He
gave as his reason the fact that the
house had just received senate bill
by Yarling. dealing with the state
board of accounts, and with this bill
before the committee it could take
Wells bill and out of the two report
bill that could be considered with
saving of much time. This argument
made scant appeal to the house fol
by a vote of ~ to % II decided tC
wade right into the bloody fight anC
have il over.
| To Equalize Authority.
Representative Wells started of
Thursday with an amendment which
would make the state board of &C
counts what il purports to be ant
what the people believe it is, a hi
partisan board in which the three
members have equal voice and salary
AS ii now is Dehority has complete
charge, ruling like a car over bott
of the chiefs with him. and drawing
more salary than either The Well:
amendment provided that all three o
the chiefs should receive $4,000 a veal
and all should have equal authority
II was upon this amendment that the
effect of the lash of the party whiI
was seen. Even Speaker Nenemar
was called into the fight prior TO thu
afternoons session in order to whiI
reluctant members into line in sup
port of the management of Dehority''
Office. The entire force of the ad
ministratiou was eNerted to defeat th'
Wells bill and protect Dehority no
only from losing his Office but from
too close scrutiny ana from bein.
compelled to divide responsible,
with two other members. The Demo
cratic members felt the sting of The
whip and cringed. The Wells PROPOSE
ton was defeated by the close vote o
IS TO IA.