The Portland daily press., 1875-09-04

In the daily Argus of Aug. 26th noticed
'everal questions proposed for me to answer. 1
am willing to give you all the information l
possess in the case. The first question refers
20 the books missing from the Treasurers Of
fee.
'Now the first question we wish to ask Mr..
Dixie is this: Does he know anything about
these missing books?" In reply, 1 know moth
ing about them. 1t has been nearly five years
since my term of Office as Commissioner expir-
ed, and since that time have known but little
about what was going on in the Commissioners
# Treasurer's Office except what have heard
oy the papers, and that is not always reliable
The second question: "Was there anything
in those books which would render him anx-
ieus to have them out of the way?" do not
know of the least thing that should wish
them out of the way.
Third question: "Does he know where they
are?" / do not.
Fourth question: "Can be help the expert
who is examining the accounts to find them?"
do not know that can any more than any
other person. 1 am not professional detec-
tive, and know of nothing to start with any
more than you or any other person who knows
nothing about them, SO do not see that can
do much in that line; If 1 could should be
willing to do it.
The next question: "How was Pennell set
tied with?" In answer to this will say that
Mr. Pennell was Treasurer about one year and
half while was Commissioner, and we ex-
.mined his books at the end of each quarter to
see il all was correct In settling we added
the amount in the Treasury at last settlement
to the amount paid in, and then substracted
what had been paid out, and the difference
would be cash on hand; and to see if that was
correct we examined the bank books (if he had
money in the banks) and counted the money,
and if the figures agreed we called it correct. L
do not know that we asked the Treasurer
whether the money was borrowed, but we knew
1t was there, and if on the next day we should
have audited bill due person and he should
go to the Treasurer to get his money and there
was no money there to pay the bill, then we
should have made an investigation to know
what had become of the money that was there
the day before. But there was no such thing
happened during the year and half that Mr..
Pennell was Treasurer while was Commis-
sioner. And think all was correct during
that part of his term in office, but he held the
office four years after that, and am not re-
sponsiblo for what has occurred during that
time.
Now as to the last question, the one which l
suppose the Argus calls sure shot to lay me
,ut of the way and make it sure thing for
their man to be elected The question in re-
gard to the extra pay for services as Commits
soner will give the reason why asked for
extra pay in as brief and clear a manner as 1
can, and the statements that made to the del
egation. I was not there in the interest of that
claim entirely, but was requested to meet them
in regard to the county estimates for that years
county tax, and while before the delegation
think made statements something as follows:
The Commissioners of Cumberland county did
not receive salary according to the service re-
| quired, and that before it was fixed at a salary
they received for their services from ten to fif
/ teen hundred dollars year each, but the legis
ator thought that too much and fixed it al
five hundred dollars each. 1 also stated that
there had been no other surveyor on the board
with me and had done the surveying
And we further ask Mr.. Dixie to tell u;
what were the reasons he urged for the pay.
ment of his bill for extra services. Did he
claim that his bill should be paid because The
other members of the board had made mors
than that amount extra by commissions OIL
what they purchased for the county?"
did not claim it on that ground. I spok
Of the custom Of stationery being furnished I