Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-02
Amendment Filed in Connec,
ton With Fergus Suit
Shows Irregularities.
$4,000 Is OBTAINED
According to Allegations the
Dummies Were Used in
Securing Funds.

Springfield, Ill, Dec. New charg-
es relating 10 legislative committee
expense funds we're contained in an
amended bill of complaint filed today
in the sangamon county circuit court
by Fayeite s Munro, as attorney for
J b Fergus. the tax payer whose pre-
vious injunction suits were RESPONSE
bic for the calling on an extra session
OF 'be legislature, The bill filed to-
day contains new charges against
Lieutenant Governor Barratt O'Hara
End members Of the legislature assert
that Andrew Russell, state treasurer,
and James J. Brady, state auditor,
knew that irregular payments were
made and asked that these latter OFF,
ciais be made personally liable for the
reminding of the money to the state
Is Well Defined Scheme.
The bill charged that there was
well defined scheme and plan by which
various persons sought to deplete the
state treasury and that the auditor
and state treasurer not only failed to
prevent the contamination of this al
legged scheme. but knowingly and will
fully allowed various persons to re-
Eeiye certain sums OF money"
Get Money by Trick.
Charges against Lieutenant Cover
nor 0'Hara include the following;
That the lieutenant governor failed
In an attempt to obtain an appropria-
ton of $4,000 for the expenses of his
white slavery investigation commit
tee
That thereafter he planned "a trick
and device whereby the treasury was
10 be depleted Of the sum of $4,000"
That nine vouchers in the names of
Charles F. Trick, Claiborne s. Close,
Ralph Pope and F. H. O'Hara for pre-
tended services were signed by the
lieutenant governor, and that with one
exception all were delivered to one
person who obtained the money.
That the nine vouchers for various
odd amounts totaled exactly $4,000
Summary Of Claims.
Copies of the vouchers referred to
In the allegations of the bill are sum
married as follows
Voucher 1886, June IS, 1915, F. H.
OHara. $500.
Voucher 1855. June Is, 1915, C, F.
Trick $685..
Voucher 1887, June %, 1915, C. F.
Trick s99625.
Voucher 77,SSS. June %, 1915, c. s.
Close. s96270.
Voucher 1889. June %, 1915, Ralph
Pope S64l60
Voucher 1880, June %, 1915, C. F.
Trick, $3.50
Voucher 1881, June IS. 1915, Ralph
Pope 1926
Voucher 1882, June 25, 1915, C. F.
Trick, $37150.
Voucher 1882, June %, 1915, Ralph
Pope. $375.
Total $4,000.
That senate bill No. II, shown by the
journal OF the senate to nave been IN
troduced by Senator f. c. Curtis on
June &c. was a fake and was inserted
IN tie Journal without ever having
been presented to the senate or given
consideration.
That under this resolution, which
provided for the maintenance of Chi
cago Office for the lieutenant governor
and senators, bilIs for expenses total
ing 445 were paid on vouchers signed
by the Lieutenant governor.
The bill charged also that Illegal
payments we're made to Joseph
Strauss. Thomas Byrne. P. j. Bald
win and Henry W. Austin, who con-
tested two senate seats. It was charg-
ed that the expenses thus incurred
were personal and not proper charge
sgalnst the state treasury.
Paid for Visits.
The bill took up also the expenses
paid by the state for the committees