Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-14
COMBS AND HAIR
BRUSHES RUMBLE
STATE OFFICIAL
State Secretary Testifies in Munro Suit
That He Spent $1,000 for TonsOr-
ial Equipment

Springfield, Ill, July 14.-Whether
the appearance of the 49th general as
sembly of Illinois indicated that it was
in need Of combs and hair brushes and
whether the assembly as a body ever
used the combs and hair brushes fur
niShed by the state were among the
questions upon which Attorney T. 5.
Munro based his examinations Of Sec
retarv Of State Stevenson in d hearing
on one of the Fergus suits here today.
The secretary Of state, after testify
ing that he had spent $3,4O0 for combs,
brushes, pocket knives, fountain pens,
card cases, etc, all of which were pre-
scented ITO the general assembly" said
that he had not Observation-Disclosures of
combs and brushes in this particular
assembly, but had noticed that need III
preceding ones. He testified that he
did not see the general assembly as
whole use the combs and brushes be
cause he was otherwise engaged
Attorney Munro attempted to eStaD-
lish the fact, as claimed in the Fergus
petition, that the combs, brushes,
knives and pens were presented TO and
used by the members of the legislature
individually, but Secretary Stevenson
answered every question along that
line by saying the merchandise was
presented to the pOstmistress of the
house and senate for those bodies as
wholes.
During a recess in the court pro-
ceeding, Munro and the attorneys Tor
the defendants engaged in serious
discussion as to the right OF the gen
eral assembly to appropriate funds for
shaving and bathing itself and after
that IS TO how the general assembly
could shave and battle itself as a Dody.
In testifying that he had paid $1,2l9
To the Paragraph Stationery Co, Tor
fountain pens, combs, brushes, ana
other similar articles, Secretary Stew
enson stated that neither he nor any
l12m8-I Of lis family was TO any Wy
..-r.~-eC VIII TIE stationery COM
pany. His wife, Mr.. Stevenson sad,
was one of the owners OF The Panta-
graph, a newspaper which was not
connected with the stationery company
of the same name
what authority did you have for
buying the combs, brushes, etc%' Mum
TO asked.
4 was following a well established
precedent" the secretary answered
Did YOU ever hear of a resolution
or order by the general assembly au-
thorizing or requesting you TO Duy
such things?" was the next question.
NO. but | looked upon it as part OF
the routine OF my ONCE u 0upP1S S-AS0S
incIdentals" was the answer
From whom did you learn OF that
precedent"
BY my own observation" the secre-
tary answered.
nunroe then asked the witness II 1t
was true that the secretary oil state
had paid $l43 for 220 wooden boxes
used by the legislators TO send nome
stationery and other things from Their
desks. Mr. Stevenson said he had
bought the boxes but he understood
they were to be used for shipping q
collection Of pamphlets TO legislators.
This was the only case IN when the
secretary testified "he took it that
goods bought by state funds were de-
liyered to Legislators personally ana
not TO the assembly as body.
Among the Witnesses scheduled 10
appear today were Secretary Steven
son. Auditor Brady, Rufus Potts, super
intendent Of the state insurance de-
nartnent. and Finley f. Bell, secretary
of the legislative reference bureau.
Governor Dunno who also has been
scheduled as a witness, departed TINS
morning for La Sale 70 investigate the
cement workers strike.