The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-08-22

fNNN w "1eP anu ih"IdSe IL Ddhh iuii'
as part of his official duties for which h,
receives the above salary. This compen
sation which is at least one hundred dollar
more than fair equivalent for all the ser
vices rendered by the Treasurer has beer
fully satisfactory to the predecessors of tn,
present incumbent. But Mr. Spauldn!
already more purse proud and arstocrati'
than any who had preceded him, coul,
not control his intolerabe a,aricious lhirs
and in lS42 moved the great whig spirit.
in the Legislature TO allow him 81 so pei
day in addition to his salary during the
sitting of the Constitutional Convention
This course was done, for unless these
corpulenl wings have extra fees from the
public crib, they will grow lean notwth.
standing,
Encouraged by this success, the Trea-
snrer, in 1913 prevailed upon the auditor
of accounts, IA very economical many to
give him an extra allowance of 1854 Sc.
This outrageous act the auditor cndeavors
to father upon the Com, of claims, as will
appear on page 20 of his report, by the
following entry John Sparkling, Treasu-
rer, for extra services and cash paid in
collecting school fund, managing safety
fund notes, distributing surplus revenue
&c, allowed by order Com. of Claims
1854, 56.
Now let us examine this miserable sub
terluge, to sponge few hundred dollars
out of the State. The services here emu
merated, are the legitimate and ordinary
services of the office, and in consideration
Of which the Treasurer is paid his annual
salary. But cash paid in managing safety
fund notes, distributing surplus revenue
Sc The expense of the safety fund is
taxed upon the interest arising on itself,
and the surplus revenue is distributed at
the expense Of the towns which receive it,
why then this charge Tor cash! But if
this was proper item to be charged to
the state, why was it paid out of Mr. Spaul-
dings private funds! Was the Treasury
bankrupt Not if the auditors report be
true, for at page 7 he says, Balance in
the Treasury Sl2,GG6 49,"
The truth is, this is only slight sample
of the frauds these wing leeches have been
practicing upon the funds Of the state, for
several years past. Allowed by order of
COM of claims. Who does not know that
this is committee of the Legislature, and
in order to bring any business hgjtimatey
before them, ii must be so reported by the
House of Representatives. But the whole
is a wing concern, Treasurer, Auditor,
and Committee, and in this way and
through this machinery they have illegally
and unlus,ly squandercd thousands of the
peoples money.
But this extra allowance only slarpened
the appetite Of the Treasurer. lie next
besieges the committee on Dcbenturcs, and
insists that in addition to his salary Of
$500, and his extra allowance of 1854, he
shall be allowed 81, 30 per day, during
the session. This whig committee very
kindly granted his request, but in this case
there happened to be "a slip, between the
cup and the lip for on the last evening OF
the session Mr. Sanborn of Slrailord, a
rascaly democrat learning the fact, had
the lmpudcnce to introduce the following
resolution, "Resolyed that the committee
of Debentures be instructed not to pay
John Spauldng, Treasurer olthis State,
for any services for his attendance during
the present session of the Legislature,
believing it to be included in his salary"
House Journal p, 1907 This resolution
produced tremendous Il ul,ering, among
the leading wings, atrick TO flch from the
treasury some $40 or so was exposed,
Mr. Wright, of Shoreham and Mr. White
more of Milton were in panic, and not
having the moral courage TO stand up and
boldly defend such shameless effort of
the Treasurer, undertook to cloak the
matter and pass it of, But Mr. Sanborn
and Mr. Davis of Norwich were not to be
gammoned, and manfulIy insisted on the
resolution but which on motion of the
gentlemen from Milton was laid upon the
table with the hope undoubtedly that it
might expire with the session, but there
were those who were watchiul of the pub
lie interest, and would not let the matter
sleep. The resolution was called up and
adopted, on which occasion, the Speaker,
took the floor and did ample justice to the
mean avaricious disposition Of the Trca-
surer.
And no,y Mr. Editor With this cnuo ,b;yet