New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-11
A CARD FROM SENATOR HERWIG.
The Times Slander of tho Dfsbarstng
Ohlcers of the General Assembly,

VmC6I0 Oh tue 0ScuCE0A AS0CuUAys
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
In the New Orleans Times Of yesterday
appeared an editorial charging fraud
against the disbursing officers OF the Gen
eral Assembly. As l am one of those re-
ferred to, and as my name was mentioned
| feel called upon not only to deny the
libelous charge, but to give public ex
planation OF my Stewardship.
As member of the S'ate Senate, and as
a disbursing officer of that branch Of the
General Assembly, l am legally responsible
only to that body: but as Senator repre-
senting constituency and as member OF
society and q merchant, feel it to be a
duty l owe to myself to refute the vile
charge.
l am charged in the Times with depriving
four Conservative members of the Senate Of
their mileage and per diem, and also of
having drawn from the treasury SIS, 900, Of
which have not accounted for one dollar.
! am also charged with having issued orders
against the money already drawn.
l pronounce every word in these allega-
tions to be false, and charge the author
of them with slander.
Now for the explanation. am the dis
bursting officer Of the Senate. l am re-
quired by law to receive and disburse the
funds appropriated to pay the contingent
expenses of the Senate. l did receive
Auditors warrants to the extent of $l9. 900,
under the provisions of act No. 2 Of 1875
These funds l have disbursed in accord.
ance with law and orders of the Senate,
and in addition thereto have disbursed,
in anticipation of the appropriation OF
$2O,0G0 in the general appropriation bill,
out Of my private funds. to accommodate
those who could not afford to await tie
fate Of that unhappy bill, some $4,000 or
$1,000.
l have nothing to do with contracting
are approved by the proper officers, and it
becomes my duty to pay them.
l have paid out, for which l hold re-
ceipts. for contingent expenses Of the Sen
ate, $22 ,3Sl. l have drawn vouchers for
mileage and per diem of Senators, officers
and employees of the Senate, $45, ,4O7,
making the sum Of $67 ,7S8
These vouchers have been drawn in
exact conformity with act No. IL of 1872,
and together with sundry orders of the
Senate or its chief officer, have not yet been
delivered. Amsng them are vouchers for
Conservative members, who have not yet
called for them. To pay this sum of
$67, ,7oS there was appropriated $5S,00O,
showing deficit in appropriation to meet
the actual demands against the Senate of
$97SS.
Now, instead of robbing the State. am
the suffering party, for in many cases
when the Auditor could not warrant
because of deficiency in the appropriation,
/ have taken the vouchers myself and
advanced the money to the holder. l
have done this to relieve the pressing
necessities of certain employees and others.
My books are open for examination by
any one who has right, or any party even
who feels an interest in seeing them.
If the editor of the Times had desired to
know the truth, there was no obstacle in
the way to prevent him from learning all
about this matter before making the pub
lication. This being SO, it is evident his
only object was to create a sensation, or
perhaps a diversion Of public attention
from the real party who has plundered tho
State. K. +. HERWIG.
New Orleans, April 10, 1875.