The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-03
K|LBY CRITICISES
 CONDUCT OF STATE
 TREASURER ELLIS
Says Ellis Converted Office Into Family Affair by Max ing Clerks of His
 Daughters

Montgomery, November 2-(Spe- .eisl)-Declaring that George w. El- lis. whom he appointed state treas urer few days ago. had converted the public office Of which he is now the head into a machine for the ad- vancement financially of his own family. Governor Kilby Thursday afternoon made the most eaustie comment on affairs of the state gov ernment that has come from him since he became governor.
 The statement. resulted from infor- nation published in the newspapers Thursday morning that Mir. Ellis had appointed his daughter. Miss Nancy Ellis, chief clerk, and had re- tained another daughter, Miss Pau line Ellis, as assistant clerk.
 After pointing out that the state treasury would be without a person charged with the duty of receiving and disbursing public funds in the event of the illness of the state treasurer and the call of his daugh- ters to his bedside, Governor Kilby declared that he would not be true to his oath and the law if he did not call the attention "of the people to Mr Ellis conversion of his public trust into an arrangement whereby the public business will be subordi- nate to his plans for the financial benefit of his family"
 To Recommend Legislation
 MT. Ellis would not have been ap- pointed state treasurer If he had in formed the governor of his plan, ac- eording to Governor Kilbys declara- tion. which also declared that he would recommend to the legislature that some limitation be placed on public officials in the employment of their own relatives in their offices
 Governor Kilbys comment on the appointment of MT. Ellis daughters follows:
 "Citizens of Alabama no doubt were astounded to read in the news papers today that George W. Ellis. wht became state treasurer a few days ago, had converted the public office of which he Is now the head into a machine for the advancement financially of his own family under the arrangement which Mr. Ellis made effective through the appoint ment of one daughter as chief clerk at salary of $200 month and tho retention cf another daughter In the position or assistant clerk at sal ary of s125 q month.
 This public office has passed com- pletely into the possession or one family in disregard of the rights of the public which should at all times guide the hand of every public of ficial In the discharge Of his official duties. MT. Ellis has perfected an arrangement which will take from the state treasury and put into the private bank account of his family auring the next four years a total or $31.600.
 \ No NHte Employees
 There might be some excuse for this action on the part Of the state treasurer if the public was assured protection of it's Interests but his plan for the operation of the office does not include a single male employe. What may tho public expect in case of MT. Ellis illness. Of course both daughters, one the chief clerk, and the other an assistant clerk, would go to his bedside and the state treas ury would be left in the hanos cf another clerk, a woman and a ste nographer woman neither under bond nor authorized to receive or disburse public funds.
 { 'It Is inconceivable that a high pstate official would go this far in an effort to take care of his own family and it brings forcibly to my tContinued on Page Two.)