The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-12-22
THE COFFIN CASE.


Now that it has been settled by the Supreme Court and
comment thereon IS no longer lese majestic of the Idaho
Court. the Coffin fee case is open for the fullest discussion.
It seems that Coffin was employed as an assistant to the
Attorney General. lie was given charge of the prosecu-
ton OF the suit to collect from the bondsmen of Allen and
Coleman, the defaulting officials in the state treasurer's Of
flee. lie did much of this work while drawing his agreed
salary, and with his office in the state house. Before the
case was concluded he resigned, but was allowed to carry on
the prosecution. The bonding company finally agreed to
pay the full amount. Coffin filed a claim for something
over $4,000 for his services. AS he had done most of the
work while a regular employee of the state, the board of ex-
aminers refused to pay the claim, so it was taken into the
courts.
The district court decided against him., and on it's appeal
to the Supreme Court, he also lost. Judges Bulge and Nor
gan finding against him and Judge Sullivan for him.
Not even the Allen defalcation had as great an. effect on
the campaign just closed as did this Coffin case. Allen and
Coleman were honest highwaymen, taking a fair chance of
punishment II they were caught, and they were, and are now
paying. That ISM honesty, but it is at least bravery--to
take a sporting chance. The Coffin suit aimed at the same
money that Allen and Coleman carried off, was safe, safe as
hitting the pipe IN your own room. 1t wasn't brave; it
WASH fair, and the judgment of the people was that it had
not a spark OF honor anywhere in its composition. The
Coffin resignation seemed to be timed just so that such a
auit could be filed. That was not the only Coffin case,
either. There was a series of suits to be started in the state
land department, to collect loans that were in arrears. COT
fin had these well under way when he resigned and without
definite agreement he was allowed to finish them after he
lelJV ne state service. he tled claims for about $1,000 tees
for these, which claims the board refused to pay. In the
end the land board paid him a salary and the same as he had
received while openly in the state service. Maybe that did
not pay for the two Kinds of service--the bond arrangement
and the land foreclosures, but it was the same rate as he had
received, and he started the work and did most of it underI
the old agreement, and in honor he should have been bound
to carry it thru at least at a fair rate.
Perhaps no one foresaw in his first employment what he
would do in a matter like this where professional and official
honor were concerned. But it alienated thousands of votes
from the Republican ticket. With a good show of reason
the voters said, Here's Allen and Coleman stealing our
money openly; here's Coffin demanding it under cover OIL
'fees'-weH clean them out for good. And that's GER
tainly what they did. They cleaned out the Republican
party.
If the Republican party hopes to renstate itself in the state, it will have
to renovate itself morally. 1t isn't enough to charge all these troubles to the
primary law Go matterw what W re think of the law under which SO many say
that the crook or the Incompetent can slip into office. What is needed Is all
cleaner, higher standard of morals. III
The result of the last election does not even prove that conditions have
been bettered; man for man, the Democratic officers elect do not stand higher, !
cleaner or stronger than the Republicans they defeated But they got tin be-
cause Of the justifable revolt and they have only to be fairly decent ito hold
their ground until the Republicans show that they ave cleaned house and de-
serve to win oncem more. "a Il N.
The day of plug-ugIy in Republican politics has passed in Idaho. The
change wa voted by Republican voters who have become sick of the old
regime, and only a moral renovation can ever bring back Republican success N
this state II.