The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-07-14
BUSINESS
MEN SHOULD
Be PROBERS
Va a. GREEN, IN
Treasurer Would Di-
vOrce Graft Inquiry
From Politics
SQUABBLE WITH
AUDITORS GOES ON
Each Side Accuses the
Other of Being
Sore

take the entire Investigation OF
county building affairs out OF the
sphere OF politics and let II be han.
died by committee OF citizens quail.
lied TO recommend not only prose
cutions but complete new system
Of administering the affairs OF the
wayne county government"
This was the answer which Coun-
" Treasurer William II. Green, Jr..
made Friday morning 10 the state
mont that his action in demanding
the public probe Of the treasurer's
once was based on a desire TO EN-
barrass the county auditors. with
whom he has had political DIFF.
ferences. Charges have been hurled
hack and forth between the audi
tors and treasurers once since the
Kloka scandal became public.
The auditors declare Green Is an
gry because they didn't support him
n the race for treasurer: Green
rays the auditors are incensed be
cause he insisted on an investiga.
ton. He declares they should have
told him there was shortage in
Kloka's books, instead OF saying
nothing while he reappolnted Kloka
but political quarrels have no
place In the issue before the peo-
pie" said Green. What We want
70 know 10. what Is the condition OF
all the departments in the county?
The attempt TO inject a personal an
de into the thing IL merely put
forth to divert attention from the
main issue.
Il would like 10 see a committee
~ citizens not involved in politics
q charge OF an investigation OF all
he county departments. A commit
loe OF intelligent business men could
- thru the records, investigate
methods Of doing business, and
coonge things around so that all the
apartments would be placed on 2
basis of real business efficiency. II
this investigation Is TO be carried
On under direction OF certain Off
cials. II might be charged that the
cmcials are not free to act because
Of political Affiliations. A citizens
committee could DO the work with
out restraint and without showing
favor TO anyone.
1T would not take such a commit
tee very long to decide that a check
ing system should be installed TO
keep track OF all the books OF the
townships. Such committee would
not accept reports from townships
as unimpeachable records without
having them audited first.
Despite Green's cry that politics
ahould have nothing to do with the
investigation, the battle between
him and the auditors Is going on
merrily.
Soon after he was nominated. and
before the election. Green applied 20
the board OF supervisors for an in
crease In the salary of the county
treasurer He rightly considered his
nomination as equivalent to an cleo
lion. Auditor Gutman learned Of
Green's effort to have the salary
boosted from $1,000 to $1,000 lie
went among the supervisors. telling
them Green had no right to try to
put thru such measure before he
had been elected
Maybe that's why he's sore at
me-" said Gutman. THE auditors
treated Green so decently that We
got In wrong about il. During the
race for the Republican nomination
for treasurer. Green stayed on the
payroll OF the auditors Office az
chief clerk while he spent most oil
his time campaigning. asked him
10 take p two weeks vacation anG
two weeks leave Of absence so III
could devote his full time to his
campaign and not lay Us open e
criticlsm Or j L. Burgess and
other candidates came UP here and
complained that Green should mo-
do his campaigning at the expense
of the county Green wouldn't gC
on his vacation and he wouldnf
take the leave OF absence Why. hs
even used the big room Of our ofict
for his political meetings"
Green says the auditors becam,
angry NJ him because he refused
TO Get out Of the race. as they asked
him 10.
The New York lnfrmary for Won