The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-02
He ACTS The Gar.
County Clerk Zimmerman Attempts
10 suppress Records.

County Clerk Samuel c. thinner
man this week esta blished a record
which is probably without parallel in
Kansas when he refused to permit
state Journal reporter to examine
certain public documents on file IN his
office. And i'll the face Of thinner
mans attitude in protecting the rec
ords OF his Office. is his recent speech
before the Taxpayers league, when
he courted the deepest investigation OF
his record.
1t has for years been customary for
newspapers both in Topeka and other
cities to examine closely all public
documents These records have been
published for the benfit of thousands
of taxpayers and citizens who could
not themselves take the time to hunt
for these papers, but were anxious to
know their contents. Public officials
from road overseer to president. have
welcomed this friendly review of pub
lie records and invited their publica-
ton.
often the records thus published hava
shown a high standard of efficiency
among office holders. Som etimeS the
newspapers have brought to light ques-
tionable dealings on the part of men in
whom the public vested their conf
dence by election to public office.
Among the higher class of newspapers
the facts just as found have been
printed without regard to who was
favored or who was hit. Publishers of
such papers looked on these records as
every day matters of news for which
the public paid and which it was en-
titled to receive.
This week a State Journal reporter
learned there were certain documents
in possession of the county clerk, a re-
view of which might prove of interest
to the thousands of readers of the pa
per. In a courteous manner, a repre-
sentative of the paper called on Mr.
Zimmerman and asked to see these
documents He was told by the county
clerk that he was too busy to furnish
the information. So the reporter called
again This time he was told that the
State Journal was unfriendly to his adj
m1nlStration-which was not true-and
was frankly told that the papers could
not be seen by the reporter. He was
told that the court house reporter mis-
quoted the records. This statement
also was untrue
Compared with Mr. Zinrnerman's at
titude, was that of other county Off
Gals. In the offices of the clerk of the
court, probate judge, register of deeds
and other offices, every record asked
for has always been furnished. Records
which were not always favorable have
been printed concerning the offices of
county attorney and sheriff. Yet none
of these officials charged the records
were misguided. They are on file and
can be seen at any time.
Recently Mr.. Zimmerman went before
the Taxpayers League. He upheld the
virtues of the special audit Inaugural
ted by the county.
The audit is a good, wholesome
thing" Mr.. Zimmerman said in the
course of one of his speeches, land the
people are entitled to know what their
servants are doing. No honest official
can complain of an examination of his
record. The books in my Office are
open to the public at all times and
you will never find me too busy to show
you where every dollar that has come
into the clerks office has gone.''
A certain communication was re-
ceived from county official which is
said to have revealed the countys f.
nancial affairs In a manner perhaps
not familiar to the majority of tax
readers paid for and should receive
Zimm erman and members of the board
that the document then desired was
a privileged communication.
This record, it is said, was not officially |
filed until some weeks after the request |
of the State Journal. 1t contained in |
formation which would repudiate the !
statements made by Mr.. Zimmerman and |
members Of the board in explanation of |
the heavy increase in county taxes and |
facts probably known by but few men in !
the county. This paper has never been |
furnished a copy of that report by the |
county board or county clerk from whom |
1t was requested.
Mr.. Zimmerman may think that by |
acting the car and suppressing official |
records he can keep the facts from the |
public but he is mistaken.
EHANN HRWH RRWR ~AHRA~A