The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-26
JACKSON TO TELL
Will Give ALI Facts Concerning
Fees in His Office.
Show Just What Va Received
From Liquor Prosecutions.
ORR RESOLUTION OUT.
Adversely Reported in the
Senate Today.
Following This Ex-AttOrney
General Makes Announcement.

tee reported the Orr and Quincy reso-
lutions for slaughter this morning,
Fred S. Jackson, retiring attorney gem
eral, hit the trainers of the opposi-
ton resolution squaaely over the eye
when he announced that he would not
only furnish the legislature with every
item Of expense ineh his con ntingent fund,
but would follow it up with an item
lied account concerning fees from
1quor prosecutions, questioned in the
terms of the Orr document
Jackson went even further and stat
ed that he would not only furnish the
amounts of fees he has personally re-
celved, but would so far as possible
compel of every assistant every county
assistant prosecutor and every county
attorney an itemized statement of sim
liar fees received in the last four
years from violatorS of the liquor laws.
The retiring attorney general said he
would not only give figures, but would
try to produce the original checks re-
and signed by the clerks of the court
in the several counties in which prose-
cutions were conducted
This action on the part of Jackson
comes as direct result of statements
made against his official record in the
recent campaign and which were fol-
lowed up by a resolution by Orr of
Atchfson, which passed the house last
Friday. When this resolution, which
called for a thorough investigation of
liquor fees received by the attorney
general, was messaged to the senate,
it was attacked not only by the in
surgent members, but by the stand pat
element and several minority mem
bers. It was consigned to the judiciary
committee of the upper house and this
morning that committee reported back
to the senate that the allegations in
the resolution were vague. indefinite
and uncertain and contained not a
syllable Of direct evidence on which to
base an investigation; and that, fur
ther, no charges were made in the
document other than the babblings of
orators in a heated campaign. 1t rec
commended that the resolution be de-
feated- It reported that the Quincy
resolution should likewise be stran-
gled- The Quincy measure looked to
the selection of committee not only
to investigate the contingent funds of
N. Dolley, state bank commissioner,
of funds received by every other state
official and institutions.
Within an hour after this report
was read on the floor of the senate,
Jackson made a public statement to
the effect that he would voluntarily do
everything these resolutions asked. His
statement was sprung at a time when
the opposition was least prepared to
receive such a message. The allega-
tions of nine months had been met
only by gen era1 denials on the part of
the new congressman from the Fourth
district. When the Orr document
passed the house, he smiled and slap
ped back in a half hearted manner. It
was at the very hour when a state
ment was least expected that Jackson
spilled the beans.
In a few days Jackson's first mes
sage will go to the legislature. He
will answer the things Orr asked. He
will ask for committee from the two
branches of the legislature to assist
him. He will ask for a complete hear
ing and he will demand that the 1911
session pass on the records he files.
This trouble originated in Wyan-
dotte county, said Jackson, as he
stretched himself to his full six feet
and grinned, "but I am under the i'm
preston that 1t will end right here in
ceived from the clerk of the court in
Kansas City, Kansas. I will write to
the clerk and ask him to furnish me
with the original checks which I re-
write to the clerk of the court in
Leavenworth county in the same Ian
guage. In fact I will write to every
county where I have personally con-
Quoted liquor prosecutions.
t'Then there are the assistant attor-
neys general, acting with the county
attorneys" continued Jackson, "and
they will hear from me, too. I want
them to show up every penny that was
paid to them. Some of them may de-
cline to report, but I will ask the as
sistance of the legislature in this mat
ter and really believe we will receive
this information"
| While all of this explaining is in pro-
gress, the men who have held the Of
fee of county attorney in the los Kan
sas counties since 1907, will be asked to
contribute to the general fund of know
| ledge. Some of them. it is intimated,
have received fees from liquor prosecu-
| tions that bring the grand total to a
startling figure. In fact Jackson pro-
poses to show that many of these fat
fees which were credited to the attor-
| ney generals office, and helped build
| the home in the west end, really helped
| to increase the private bank accounts
| of the county attorneys. Mr.. Jackson
proposes that these officials and ex-offi-
Gals shall render an accounting.
"a good many of these fees have been
brought to my PERSONAL attention" !"
| said jackson, "and think the natural
| course to pursue is for everyone to
! show up.
NOW, there is that contingent fund
| which has created SO much attention.
That will be produced, also. Right at
| statement of every expenditure from
| the fund appropriated to this Office by
| the legislature. This will of course go
to the legislature in installments, as
| considerable time will be required to
| produce every Item
| Jackson expressed himself as pleased
with the opportunity afforded in max
| ing an explanation of his funds. He
said he was opposed to the Orr reso-
lllfi0n for the reason that it was uH-
fair and personal in effect and that
| with the assistance of a committee
/ from the legislature, he would produce
the figures to back his statements and
rro141uve6 IN pape HsfrhfA