New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-15
4 BRACE OF REFORMERS.

The Committee of Fifty omitted t.
appoint George w. Carter to ferret OF,
the shortcomings of the city officials
This is an oversight that should be rene
died, for ''he burns with a most intens
and fragrant zeal to serve his country, az
shown by his 'few, neat and appropriate
remarks on the occasion Of the Me
chanlcs' Institute mass meeting. W,
have suggestion to offer that would, i
strikes US, smooth over this little sligh
admirably. Let the citizens committee
extend the sphere of its investigations te
include the irregularities and frauds o.
that branch of the State Assembly ovel
which Mr.. Carter presides, and invoke
his assistance. No one could better full
fill all the requirements of such deli
cate mission, for he knows full we'll Just
chow it is himself" and could at any
time command the able and intelligent
cooperation of his friend and familiar,
Hon. p. Jones Yorke, who, by the grace
of Speaker Carter, holds the responsible
position Of Chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Contingent Expenses Conf
dent that the suggestion here thrown out
will not be passed by UNDECIDED, We de-
sire to suggest to the future committee
a few points we'll worthy attention, and
promise in advance that full EXPOSE
ton thereof shall win for each member
popular notice. To begin:
| l. Colonel Carter is credited with the
sums respectively of twenty -four hundred
dollars and seventeen hundred dollars,
drawn for services as a member of the
committee on public and private lands.
1t is true the entry of the first sum is
marked null on Mr.. p Jones Yorke's
books, but the voucher is out, notwith-
standing. When, where and how did
Speaker Carter earn these liberal amounts?
And what services to the State did Mr..
lorke reuder for the very comfortable APP
preparations he has vouched himself to be
entitled to:
2. On vouchers approved by Mr.. Yorke
between fifty and sixty thousand dollars
have been warranted for, in the names of
various House committees, for thousands
Of miles Of travel, ETC., when not one of
the gentlemen named left the city, as Mr.
Iorke- had daily ocular evidence Has
Mr.. Yoke an explanation for this action.
so damaging to the State treasury? Will
the committee not ascertain if this man
ner of obtaining money under false pre-
lenses is not worthy the attention OF a
grand jury?
j. Mr.. Carters chairman of contin-
gent expenses kept blotter and a
journal in true bookkeeping fashion:
but, unlike those of a well regulated |
business, his do not agree in their entries. |
and erasures seem to be the
leading features Of his style, neglecting
even the precaution which common neat
ness would suggest, to have the new
entries made in ink of the same hue, and |
of the same character as the
originals. Instances are exhibited Of the
imperfect erasureS Of names and amounts
after the journal had been posted, neces-
stating alteration in the footings and it
would be Well to let the public know if
this untldy. not to say suspicious little
job, was not performed after the posi-
bility had arisen that these records might
be required in one Of the district courts.
1t might, too, especially relieve the mind
Of Auditor Graham in relation to the
State debt to be informed what DISPOSE
ton was made of the vouchers in those
cases where the entries corresponding
thereto are claimed, in Mr.. Yorkes ac-
counts, to have been annulled.
4. Did Messrs. Carter and Yorke run
heir respective positions in the Legisla-
ure on joint stock basis, sharing alike
he powers and the emoluments? We
ire led to this inquiry by the fact that, in
It least one case, the latter issued vouch-
r for services on a committee of which
'lr. Carter had neglected to appoint the
eputed beneficiary member. Did he
lold his appointment, as we'll as draw per
lem and mileage, from the chairman of
he contingent expense committee?
5. J. Pinckney Smith, as warrant clerk
ot only warranted for some quarter of a
lllllon dollars over and above the sum
uthorized by the appropriations, but in
AMY instances he failed to number these
vidences of Indebtedness, in others du- a
Heated the numbers, and in some appears
} have forgotten about the issue altogeth-
r, as he failed to include them in his list
eturned to the Auditor. As Mr.. J. Piuck-
ey Smith cannot plead inexperience, we
limit that these irregularities are a fit
inject for rigid inquiry, especially as for :.
large sum he is without vouchers, claim
g to have surrendered these proofs Of =
is integrity and good faith to the Hon
Jones 1orke aforementioned
s. A warrant was issued to - Man.
ng, afterward changed to A. J. Keat-
g, in the sum Of $500, for printing the
ouse journal. The stub of this war
mt remains in the book, and is can y
led'-but can the Warrant Clerk tell
here the warrant itself is, and WHY il.
o, was not pasted III the book and can =,