The weekly soliphone., 1915-03-12
UGLY CHARGES FILED
AGAINST |. |. COFFNAN
Senate Believed to Have Refused or
Postponed Confirmation of
Appointments.

Little Rock, March absolute
secrecy is being maintained concern
ing the results or proceedings of the
senate executive session held Satur-
day afternoon to confirm Governor
Hays appointments. The session
lasted all day and officials familiar
with the states history said Satur-
day night they could not recall a ses-
sion where the secrecy was so abso-
lutte. The general impression is that
the appointment of l.. L. Coffman
was either rejected or not confirmed.
His appointment as member of the
new board of control OF the state
charitable institutions. announced
Thursday, was among those submit
ted to the senate for confirmation.
| He resigned as auditor OF the state
to accept the two-year appointment
of the new board.
FIVE CHARGES ARE MADE.
O. S. Rieff, deputy auditor, pre-
scented a member of the senate with
five formal charges against Mr.. Coff-
man Saturday morning. and it is
thought that these may have entered
into the question OF confirming his
appointment.
The statement Mr.. Rieff presented
follows:
Il do not believe the senate of
the fortieth general assembly can
confirm the nomination OF l.. L. Coff-
man. At least it shall not do so
without knowing whom it confirms.
q charge that he corruptly levied
tribute upon the clerks in his office to
help his campaign expenses at the
last election.
81 charge that lie has conducted a
brokerage business in the auditors
office, in discounting outstanding
state warrants, through his son, as
agent, for personal gain.
Il charge him with subornation
of perjury in that while the Pulaski
county grand jury was Investigating
his traffic in these warrants. he sug-
gested what I should testify if call
ed before it.
Il charge that while this investi-
cation was pending he gave me his
note for the amount l spent in his
campaign, in his behalf, that
might testify that he had repaid me.
Il charge him with base ingrati-
tude for the secret manner in which
! he recently resigned the office of au-
ditor of state whereby he jeopardized
the interests of those who helped to
elect him."
EMPLOYEES ARE SUMMONED.
Several employees connected with
the auditors office are said to have
/ been summoned before the executive
session OF the senate, but were not
called upon to testify
Mr.. Coffman said Saturday night
he was of the opinion that his APP
pofntment would be confirmed Mon
day, indicating he did not believe it
was confirmed Saturday.
Members of the senate and en-
ployes who were permitted to remain
in the senate chamber during the ex-
ecutiye session refused to talk and
although many rumors were floating
about hotel corridors. none could be
confirmed. In spite of the secrecy,
rumors setting forth the vote by
which Mr.. Coffman's appointment
was rejected were afloat. One ru-
NOR said one senator who voted
against the rejection changed before
the result was announced and gave
notice that he would move to recon-
slider the vote Monday.
STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR.
In explaining Saturday as to how
it came about that Mr.. Coffman was
appointed as member OF the board
of control of the state charitable in
situations, Governor HAYS said: THE
resignation of Mr.. Coffman as audi
tor of state and his appointment as
a member of the charities board was
at his own suggestion. He came to
me and said that if appointed to