The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-25
Fact, and Figure, for Tax Payers.
amber y.

Extraordinary Em5e=sisme,,i Of The People,
Money by The Administration Of Samuel
Wells.
ISAAC REED was qualified as Treasurer
on The ped OF January. 1856. The salary OF
the office was then 5000 per annum-S225
per quarter. Joseph A. Sanborn, Esq, Nc.
Reeds predecessor. drew SIS Tor bis sersi-
ces up 10 January 22d, leaving Si7O as the
amount due to Nj Reed nj The expiration
OF the quarter. When the quarter expired.
however. We fluid that Gov. Wells drew MIR.
Reeds warrant for The full sum Of s225.-
This warrant is dated April I. and Is ''in
payment Of Treisurst's salary for quarter
ending Marcn 81"
II this were the " whole ont" the mat
ter would not be SO bad Bat o6serre the Sc
guei. Four days after this warrant was
drawn, n law went into effect, which had
the speciouy title Of" An act ior the batter
secu,ily Of the Moneys in tho State Treasu.
ry." The real design was to Increase Nlr.
Reed's salary to sixteen hundred dollars
per annum. The 10 and 18th sections OF
that act were ~ follows -
Sect 10. The salary Of tho treasurer OF
state shall Se SIXTEEN HUNDRED Dbl.
LARS PER ANNUM, instead Of the sum
now provided by law, AMI the same shall
be in full compensation for his services in
office, aud he shall no, receive any emolu-
mrnr or peIquisilo over and above such
sum.
Sect. 70. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE
EFFECT AND BE IN FORCE FROM
AND AFTER ITS APPROVAL BY THE
GOVERNOR.
IApproved April 4, 1850.
Now, mere was an act expressly forbidden
IN its last clause To be made retrospective
the salary of tho Treasurer for tho quarter,
which had expired fire days beiole. had
been paid by warrant under the law then
in force - the warrant was removed from
the Secr-iary's Office. and yet, incredible "a
relate! Gov. Wells deliberately resolved 10
make this act retrospective. and absolutely
drew warrant for MIR Reed for the sum OF
foUR HUNDRED DOLLARS, in payment oil
his salary for quarter ending March 81"
although he bad previously drawa him
warran, for s225 for same quartet. And
so tar as could be determined by the g. war
rant book" in the Secretary's Office, for six
weeks AFTER the Legislature adjourned, both
these warrants were pad. for both were ie-
moved from the book. Il Is now ascertain
ed that The fiist warrant, for SOS, has been
returned and is pasted in the warrant book.
The FOUR HuNpRED DOLLAR warrant was To-
tanned by Mr.. Reed, and the money drawn
upon Il.
To sum M, Il will be seen by the fore
going statements, thai, foe the hTst quarter
of the wear 1856, Gov. Wells drew warrants
for S455 (S55 10 Sanboui, and SiO0 10 Reedl
although the law expressly declared. nj that
time. that the salary OF the Treasurer should
be- bu, $225 per quarter. Here, then, wa
TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY poLLARs OF the
PEOPLES MONEY absolutely smbezzled.
ANOTHER CASE JOHN 5. CRAIG was
conf, IN ID in his appointment as Superin-
iendent Of Common Schools, on the 2sih ol
February. when the quarter had well n,gh
,l0o thirds expired. The salary ofshai sthee
is 800 per quarter. Mr. Dunnell, tns pre-
dece-sor OF Mr. Craig, was paid from Jan.
To- Feb. %, 10y warrant drawn by Gov.
Wrlls.) the sun Of sl96 81. leaving to MIR
Cnis the balance OF Si03.3S, when the
quar- rr should expire. Tor his one month s
service. Gov. Wells, however, drew war
ran, fot Mr.. Craig Tor The foil sum OF $500,
Just as If he had served Tho whole quarter.
The Off 20 Of School Superintendent, Tor the
fist Quatter Of 1856 was therefore put
SI96 CO, (Si96 G. To Duunell. and $500 to
Craig,) instead OF The sum tired by idlc.
Tho year before, when Mr. Dunneli was
appointed, near the close OF the quarlef, Gov
Morrill, dew a warrant in his favor only ioi
the small fractional balance OF $40 a.
Contrast thai with Gov. Wells course.
We shall take up this subject again.
"The half has no, been told
No. l ia this series Of articles, from th
Kennebec Journal, we print on our frs
page; We DO no, understand the facts give
Ia the article 10 DO questioned By the Well
men. They endeavor ioget over tho matte
by saying that these amounts were paid unds
new construction Of the law, BY which th
officers elected by the Legislature were a
lowed pay, no, iroo, the day Of their oticia
lie, bu, from the preceding January. Sue
n e'.n,,iucti m is u very convenient ono f.
the otice holders, but no, 80 pleasant W
app, shend 10 the TAX PAYERS. ], Is, 10 fac
clear, shser swindling = no,hiSs mote I
less, vi,hou, justification BY law or prec
dent.