The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-10-05

sentative Warnes drew $10O a month
from the state at the same time as
official "spotter" for unlicensed auto
mobiles, although the records fail to
show that he ever reported single
violation of the law. While drawing
these three salaries from the state
at the same time the author of the
Warnes law was active in the anti
referendum movement under the di-
rection Of w. Il. Finley, Chairman OF
the Democratic State Committee.
Another Democratic legislator who
illegally held Office as special attor,
ney or liquidating agent for the bank
ing department was Representative
Black, Of Hamilton county. Superin-
tendent Lattanner says that he also
made this appointment after confer
ence with Governor Cox, who after
wards approved the appointment. In
fact, Governor Cox, took a special in
terest in the case of Representative
Black, according to Superintendent
Lautanner; the probable reason was
that Representative Black drew the
initiated bill providing for "small'
legislature. Representative Black re,
ceived $4,2S2.85 as special attorney
for the banking department and as
liquidating agent for banks closed by
the department.
A third member of the legislature
who was appointed liquidating agent
was Senator Carl Friebolin, of Cuya,
hoga county. His salary as agent
was $4,000 year, while at the same
time drawing his salary as a member
of the legislature. For acting as
liquidating agent of bank at Am
herst, Senator Friebolin received
$1,959.46; and at the same time his
law partner acted as special attorney
for Superintendent Lattanner in the
same liquidation proceedings, for
which he received 81 ,467.43.
After the public press had exposed
these improper appointments and ex.
travagant fees, the three legislators
above named ceased their connection
with the banking department. Attor-
ney General Hogan Ia Democrat)
severely criticised their appointment
and the leading Democratic paper OF
northern Ohio, Cleveland Plain
Dealer, thus expressed itself:
"No member of the present legisla-
ture should have accepted employ
ment of that kind, and the administra-
ton Governor Cox should not have
cOuntenanced it,"
But the administration dii counte-
nance it. However, at the subsequent
session of the General Assembly a
law was passed making the penalty
for violation more severe, not only as
regards such cases as tbs above, but
also as to a number OF other instances
of members Of the Cox legislature
who held state jobs.
DEPOSITORS MONEY WASTED
TO PAY POLITICAL DEBTS.
One Of the most notable instances
of how the money of depositors was
used to pay off the political debts of
Governor Cox was that of the Secre-
tary of the Democratic State Central
Committee, who received the sum OF
$6,473.37 as attorney for the Superin-
tendent of Banks in liquidation pro-
ceedings.
The legislative investigating COM
mittee report>d:
"Since May 16, 1911, there were Is
banks hquidated, in whole or in part
at a total cost of $96,191.73, up to
December 31st, 1914. Of this amount
the sum Of $50,749.11 was paid to fav-
ored attorneys, a majority of whom
were appointed by the superintend,
ent (Mr. Lattanner), not because Of
their qualifications, but in payment Of
political debts, some either upon the
direct suggestion of James NJ. Cox
then Governor Of Ohio, or by the sup.
erintendent himself"
There is expert evidence, and alsC