The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-10-08
+COXOGRATIC" EXTUAVAGANCE
IS ALMOST BEYOND BELIEF
State Fire MarshaIs oce Costing the State Nearly One
HuAdred ThOusaad Dollars Annually


Columbus.-The act creating the de-
partment of state fire marshal was
passed by the legislature of April 16,
1900. The maintenance Of this depart.
ment Is derived from a tax of one-half
per cent on the gross premium re-
ceipts of all the fire insurance com.
panies doing business in Ohio.
The salary of the state fire marshal
is fixed by statute at $4,000 per year,
first deputy 1900 and the second dep.
uty at $500. The statute gives the
state fire marshal authority to employ
such clerks and assistants and incur
such expense as may be necessary in
the performance of his office. June l,
1906, D. s. Creamer (Democrat) was
appointed state fire marshal by Gov.
Pattison and operated the department
during that year with q employees.
The department was located in one
room in the state house and his pay
roll consisted of the three statutory
officials of fire marshal of $4,000, first
deputy $1,000, and second deputy ST.
500, a chief assistant at $4,000, a py-
rologist at 1880, one assistant at ST.
500, two assistants at 81 400, four as
sistants at $1,000, five assistants at
$1,000, seven assistants at 5000, one
assistant at $500, and two stenogra-
piers at $500 each, total pay roll of
$4,000.
Going UP.
June s, 1908, when Mr.. Creamer was
succeeded by Mr.. Rodgers, he had in
creased his payroll with but two addi-
tional assistants. Outside the statu-
tory salaries he had on the payroll one
chief assistant at $4,000, a pyrologist
at $1,000, one assistant at $1,000, four
assistants at $500, two assistants at
$1,40O, six assistants at $1,000, eight
assistants at $1,000, one assistant at
5000 and two stenographers at $72O
each, making total pay roll of $37,-
$40 for 20 employees.
Extravaganza Under Cox.
Under the present administration as
shown by the pay roll for September
on file in the state auditors Office and
approved by the department we find
the statutory salaried officers, a statis-
tician at $1,000, an assistant statisti-
clan at 5000, chief clerk and stenog-
rapher at $500, chief inspector at
81, 500, one electrician at $1,000, four
assistants at 1,500 each, one assist
ant at $3.50, one assistant at $1,000,
"a assistants at $1,000 each, four ste
nographers at $500 each, two ste
nographers at $500 each and messen-
ger at $72O, making total paid in
salaries of $5S,820 for 46 employees
Then there is vacancy at the present
time in the employees of chief as
sistant at salary of $4,000 and re-
cording clerk whose salary is not
given, in fact, making the total num-
ber of employees AZ and total pay roll
of over $4,000 or within $4,000 of the
total receipts of the department. The
travelling expenses and all other eX-
penses of operating the department
are over and above this pay roll and
indicate a most extravagant expendi-
ture of the money paid in by insur-
ance companies in the operation of
this office and a violation of the stat
ute creating the Office which speci-
fically states the department shall be
operated from the sum paid into the
state treasury from the tax levy on
6ro iuouronno nromiumS
In 1912 the Hon. John W. Zuber was
at the head of the department and op-
Grated it with 81 employees, showing
the record number of convictions in
the history of the department in 1911
of IS. and 72 in 1912. The highest
number of convictions under any for
mer administration was that Of Mr.
Creamer in 1907, when he succeeded
in making 72.
Spend Money as He PIeases.
As compared with Mr.. Creamer's ad
ministration, the present Cox regime
shows another department extrava
gantly squandering the money taxed
against fire insurance companies, but
in reality coming from each and every
person in the state of Ohio who holds
a fire insurance policy. The appropri
ations for this department not being
made specifically by the legislature
but the fire marshal receiving the en-
tire amount in one lump sum to be
handled by him for any purpose anG
| in any manner he may see fit, gives
| the Cox machine another splendid
place to pack with Democratic hench
| men that will be concealed from the
| public. While Mr.. Creamer operated
the department in a most economical
| and successful manner on a payroll o.
half that is being paid out today. W.
find he did it by paying salaries fol
assistants at $500 and $1,000 per year
but the pay today of the lowest is 81,
200, with several at $500, with re
suits no greater than under the for
mer's administration. Under Mr.
Creamer's administration, in 1908
$11, ,O6432 Of receipts were turned init
the general revenue fund of the stat
from receipts Of the department on I
total Of $1,000 less receipts than paiI
in 1918. But under the present fla
grant expenditure Of the. people,
money in packing departments witt
machine men at fat salaries almOs
the entire receipts goes to pay tn,
the entire receipts go to pay tn,
freight Of the faithful" who mus
keep the machine going throughOu
the state.
| Funde NIsappiied.