Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-22
Special Telegram to the Globe.

To-day.
Special Telegram to the Globe.
ST.. PETER, Aug 21.--On the arrival of the
Senatorial commission at the asylum this
morning the person who first welcomed them
them Mr.. Talbot. He was in the office
awaiting them and came forward and shook
hands heartily with each Of the Senators. Up
on their assembling in the board room Mr..
Talbot entered and asked the board if he
should make general statement in reference
to the matters with which his name was con-
nected in this investigation or whether the
board should question him, and having per-
mission to address the board, he commenced
by unfolding number Of annual reports of
the asylum trustees. Opening one, he said:
l. can afford to be mixed up in newspapers
for | am old newspaper man
myself. When was appointed trustee there
were sixteen newspapers in the asylum, and l
increased the number to forty-six. In order
to accomplish this 1 wrote sixty letters, not
merely what lawyer would write, but flatter
myself | did pretty well. When | was writing
them Mrs. L. said sit is no use writing those
letters" but said we should sce and think
the result proved was right. The first year
got fourteen papers, second year sixteen, third
year sixteen. Out of these there are thirty
seven weeklies which / put down at 81 so
which makes $3.50; three dailies at $40 make
$50 more, in all 2l15.50. | charged for this
work four days at "a, making SIG for writing
the letters, and / consider that the
State owes me this transaction
$99.50, not that [ claim it or
intend to claim it. That's all I'll say about
this.
FLETCHER TEMPTED HIM.
Now l want to refer to an article in the
Pioneer Press which makes nv son Charley tell
nonsenslcal story of this, that and the other
The facts of the case we're these-part of that
report is clear fiction l asked by Mr.
Fletcher to visit the ASYLUM in his place
did so and received from Mr.. Dryer the per
diem money. Some months after-it might
have been nearly year for all L KNOW met
MIR. Fletcher and he asked me if l had received
compensation for my duties performed for me.
L answered yes, got my 49, He said you are
entitled to more. | asked what he meant. He
said the fare from Minneapolis. l said / won't
take it. He said you will take it.
L said, will not take it. Then he said, if
you won't take it l will draw it and put it in
an envelope and send it to Mrs. Talbot-a wo-
man he never saw-but if you will do me a IA
vor, he said, you will take it. Then / said l
want to say anything against Mr.. Fletcher. He
had nothing to do with the money any more
than have said.
Senator Doran-Then, Mr.. Talbot you never
thought of charging mileage from Minneapolis
till MIR. Fletcher suggested it.
Mr.. Talbot dreamed of it
never dreamed of it, never! l wish
you had q Bible here and would let me
take my oath on this matter.
Senator Doran-I think the gentleman had
better be sworn; and the chairman administered
the oath binding Mr. Talbot that all he should
say would be the truth and nothing but the
truth, so help him Cod
Mr.. Talbot-All shall say and have said.
He was then shown the vouchers in which he
charges $3.50 for travelling expenses from
Minneapolis and two days attending for
Fletcher IS, and two days attending for him
self, IS.
Mr.. Talbot-This is contrary to nv sworn
statement. There is something wrong in that
voucher without it can be explained in this
way; MIR. Dryer frequently gives money,
and afterwards finds some informality, and
fills out Il formal voucher for the amounts, and
sign 1T. suppose that was the way in this
case, that he put the three separate payments
in one voucher. L took that money because
thought Mr.. Fletcher was entitled to it.
Senator Morton--Do you mean to say that
you were entitled to that mileage from and to
Minneapolis?
to do a duty for him he is entitled to the nav
as if he did it himself; no matter what it costs
the other party
Senator Drew then read the law referring to
trustees, emitting them to reimbursement of
the tn, actual costs or moneys paid out in
the interests of the ASYLUM and
Senator Morton asked the gentleman if he or
Fletcher actually laid out that $3.50 or that SO
charged by him.
Mr.. Talbot-That law is very obscure, and it
has often been discussed by the trustees.
And to show how the board interpret it, will
give you an instance. was down at Roches-
ter on asylum business, and putin claim of
$2.5O for expenses at the Cook House. and Mr..
Kerr took his pencil and scratched it out, say
ing that was not expenses within the meaning
of the law.
Senator Rice-But brother Kerr has made
such charges himself in more than one in
stance. He has not been fair with YOU, MIR
Talbot
POWER OF THE TRUSTEES.
Senator Doran-Do you remember if the
power of the trustees to buy or sell lands was
ever discussed at the board meetings
Mr.. Talbot-Frequently, and Gen. Brown
gave it as his opinion that there was no doubt
the trustees had the full power. He ruled that
we had power to do anything we pleased fol
the interests of the institution.
Senator Doran-But if that were the case
you could go to any length.
Mr.. Talbot Yes, as you have said, involving
millions of dollars, but you must trust a little
to our common sense.
Senator Morton-That is just what the Stat,
has been doing.
Senator Rice-Will you please ex
plain what saving or advantage
it was to the asylum when the trustees bough
McFadden's house.
Mr.. Talbot-That is not SO easy to explain
Laughter had nothing to do with that
gentlemen. Not that [ want to throw any
thing on the shoulders of the other trustees
had thought it possible to get a man cheape
than McFadden, and was ayerse to Rising hi