Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-26
,Acard.
10 IL. EaitOreja Is. la,e,lissns.r.

10 he Eaitoref tss late'liasnesr.
With great reluctance l again In
trude on your valued columns, In
reply to tho malicious misrepreseatd-
ton in the Caucasian of lust week,
touching tho action of the commits
sioners tor the North Western Mis-
soua Lunatic Asylum. Did tho
SANDER extend to none but myself.
would treat it with tho silent con-
tempt becoming II rs familiar asI am
with it's origin. But as it reflects on
my associates, aud III ght in its mock
sarb Of offended honesty, bcguile
some worthy citizen into momentary
rredcncc, the following exposition of
the fraud will | hope be pardonable.
That the whole article, saving rs to-
the amounts drawn by the coinmis-
.iGners respectively, is u studied
tissue of misrepresentation and de-
libcrate falsifying of facts, | leave
tho public to conclude from the fol-
lowing-quoting from the act sstab-
lisliin. the board:
SEC. 4.--"Thc said commissioners
shall each receive the sum of two
dollars per day, and their necessary
travelling and other expenses, during
the time actually employed by them
in tic performances of their du,ies
under this act" 1t would leave the
read II to infer that the duties of the
commissioners were sim ply confined
to the locating of such institution;
whereas, tho next lincs-"for which
they shall each ut the eud of every
xix months from their appointment
present thar accounts to tho Gov
ernor, verified by affidavit, and il
the same be approved by HIM,
he shall certify the same TO the State
Auditor, who shall draw his war.
rant oil The State Treasurer for tho
amount so certified in favor of said
commissioners" show the fal.
lacy of such an Inference, and
that their dtuics were cx.
pccted to extend over u period OF n,
f least six months. y further perusal
OF section 8, shows authority of com.
missioners to select site for said
asylum, report same TO the Governor
, anu on his approval, purchase same
i'll tho name of tho State. Section .
authorizes them to employ competenl
person as architect and superinten.
l dent, who shall perform the duties
required of them by the commlnis
slsnrrs,' section 10, under bond te
be approved 10y the commissioners
n whist section Il of said act cntrus,s
II ti,c examination aud approval of all
plans, drawings, specifications and es
tlmates to such commissioners, to
gctlicr with examination and comsid
Grafton Of all bids thereon an,
.. contracts TO be made tllcrcunder.
>, Section II authorizes them tt
:. reject all such bids if the,
SAY proper, and make contracts TO
the different parts Of the building an,
improvements, and furnish materia
therefor in the name of tn,
! commissioners, with q view to com
plotting the same within fittcel
- months. Section Is authorizes then
: to demand and approve bond OF con
tractors. Section IL authorizes sal,
commissioners TO make reuuisitiui
upon the State Auditor from time Il
time, for such sums as may be ncrcs
sarv 10 comply with contracts. pa,
salaries and Incidental expenses
Section l6 authorizes them on IN,
/ completion OF building t" lei CONTRACTS
. for finishing the same. or undo
l section 10. 10 purchase sucl. furniture
: Section 70, provides for settlement!
1 OF architect with such commissio,
and section 81, for such commission
S crs turning vcr the institution thu
completed to the State.
With this review of the act, com
mon sense should have taught til
5 Caucasian that the varied duties thu
required of the commissioners lie
q mand frequent meetings of the board
c and much time, instructed as The
were under section II, to visit othc
State institutions of II similar charac
o ter, with 4 view 10 obtain %iHfurIna
i ton for the structure, plans, arrange
mcnt and Improvement of said asy
y lum.
y That the board did give their attci
tion to such duties from Nav 18th t
Nov. 10Th, 1872, see report to Gov
erhor Brown. accompanying his me
II sage to the 27th General Assembly
and FOR which, vita record book.
seal of board and incidental OK pcmsc.
t the accounts stated i'll the Auiiiur'
report were presented. approved b
Gov. Brown, and drawn by sal
commissioners, as they were legal
eHtitlcd to do. And Whenever an
t cLargc is made by proper authorit
to tie contrary, there arc gu file i
the Secretary ofStatc's office, five sc,
T. cral bond> of said commissioners fo
e $4,000 ca. II, out of which anv mi.
appropriation of such funds can b
II recovered to II" State. With Il den.
al of the Allegation that any O sal
Il commissioners were ever members q
IS the 10Th General Assembly savil,
l. myself. would close, assuring til
public that | have 10 apology to OF
Ter for the amOunt L received as CON
q missioner. drew 1t all ana expen,
ed it for my own private purpose:
e With this explanation. ] remain your
truly, ZACH. j MIrCuELL.
j.,