The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-03-16
Funny Features OF the "Coutiugcut
Rnnd.o

FUnd.o
Some of our Radical contemporaries
have been rejoiciag beyond measure
over the Governors report on the
Civil Contingent Fund" They aver
that be has shown his disposition of
that fund to have been perfectly lcgiti-
mats and proper, whoreat they exult
exceedingly. Their surprise at his sup
posed honesty seems to hciShtcn their
JOY over his so-called viudication. His
freedom from corruption is all the
more gratifying in that it was unex
pccted .-..
A brief examination of the report
shows that AN explanatory supplement
thereto may not be altogether needless
in tae future. The Governor states, in
his message accompanying the report,
that the "Civil Contingent Fund" "is
merely designated as a portion of the
Treasury that may be used to meet ex-
pcndlturcs in the administration of the
State Government, the amount of which
caaHot be Joreseea or specifically prOridcd
for by the Legislature" Hence We
take it that this "Fund" cannot be ap-
piled to any purpose for which the Leg
islaturo has made specific and abundant
provision.
A comparison of the Governors report
with the Auditors report proves that
the theory of the first named official is
not borne out by the facts. The Audi
tor shows that the Legislature of 1867
appropriated $1,000, to pay "costs Of
serving notices, summoniug witnesses,
&C., under the Registration Act of lo66," ,"
and that of this fund he pad ont S237 .33,
leaving S76?.67, to be applied to the OBJ
iccts thus specifically provided for"
The Governor reports that he expended
$1,000 in Jefferson county for the above
named purpose, and states several
other items Of outlay, which although
vague, yet seem TO have been
incurred in the same way. By
his own showing the "Fund"
IN question IS not to DO used for objects
amply and specifically provided for"
aud yet if his report be correct he has
applied money from the "Fund" to an
object for which the Legislature had
made full and specific appropriation. So
iSr Is NC can gather from his obscure
Wording of some of the items, he has
u,cd altogether for the object above
named about S2T.0O. 1t is somewhat
'"sua: as we'll as suggestive, that the
AutI. I.or claims that he expended on the
same account, the same sum of S237 90.
Whether the Governor is claiming credit
i'I what the Auditor has expended,
We shall not undertake to decide.
The Auditors report furthermore
SLOWS that the Legislature of 1867 APP
pi"pr!atcd $4,000 to pay counsel to de-
lend the suit of Virginia RS. West Vir-
gina, in regard to Jurisdiction over
Tie counties of Berkeley and Jefferson.
The sumo report shows that this officer
paid ont $1,000 for this purpose, leaving
H>''oO of that appropriation unexpend-
cI How the Governor could conscien-
uously pay ont $1,000 to REvERDY
JOHNSON for the same purpose when be
Claims that his "Fund" c.uld only be
uN,d for objects not specifically pro-
Ndrd for" we cannot exactly under
S'"uI We eau only explain
on the idea before suggested,
Tat possibly the Governor has mad
Eeitenty placed to his own credit, an
Item of $1,000 which the Auditor had
extended Gnd himself charged against
Inc State. Certain it is, that according
10 Ills ExUellency's own theory of TIE
and, he would never have used in.
'ehtionally any portion Of it to pay
counsel i'll the Berkeley and Jefferson
case seeing that the pay of such cOun
set had clearly been otherwise
ana specifically provided fer
The report of the Auditor shows that
he paid out $4,000 as the costs Incurred
IN defending election suits, from an ap
preparation of $1,000 made by the Leg
i'iatugc of 1857 for that purpose. 1t i,
remarkable coincidence that the Gov