Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-19
Fusion Frauds in Maine.
A CHATTER FROM THE History OF The GAR
CELoS GOVERNMENT.
CORRESPONDENCE oftiie Boston journal.

Correspondence of the Boston Journal.
The fusion party came into power in 1879
with loud professions ofreform and economy
Their journals were overlooking with it; their
public speakers and legislators shouted them
selves hoarse over il. The fusion legislature
reduced the salaries of everybody hut tilem-
selves and those of the Governors Council.
and ATTEMPTED to do big things. but succeed
ed in making net reduction Of the appropri-
atoms amounting to less than $50. 900. al
most wholly from salaries and the education
al interests OF the State.
In view OF these loud professions. | pro-
pose to give brief summary of some of the
transactions that were, to saw the least,
slightly irregular, and had they occurred in
the republican party would have been deserv-
edly stigmatized as downright frauds. These
items have been made public heretofore and
are matters of record Ny purpose at this
time is simply to conveniently group them
where they may be seen together.
THE EXECUTIVE CoCNcIL's GRAB.
First. the economical Council made up
their pay by charging for extra length oftrav
el. by charging for days they were not in at
tendance, and by charging for services ON
committee work for the same days. they re-
eeiving compensation on the pay-rolls for ser
vices in the full board. making their compen-
sation for services for the wear as follows :
John b. Foster. 1888 II. II. Munroe, s926.-
80; Charles ii. Chase, Sl0I5.25; $. 5.
Brown, S9l9.90; F. G. Parker. sI4s5: F
NJ Fogg, s74i2j f.. c. Moody, s90674;
aggregating, S666031
The following Councillors drew pay for
committee work at the rate of $3.50 per day
and expenses for the following DAYS. for the
same days receiving paw Tor attendance on
requiar sessions of the Council, thus receiv-
ing double pay Brown, Jan. IL, II, IS, Wis
iting Western Normal School and April u, ,
%, and %, visiting State Liquor Agency:
Chase April 81, -, %, visiting Reform
School and State Liquor agency; Fogg, Jan.
IL, Il. Is, visiting Western Normal School :
April II. %. %, visiting State Liquor Agen-
cy: Monroe, April p. %. %, visiting State
Liquor Agency; Parker, April II, %, %, Wis
iting State Liquor Agency.
At the legislative session of the Governor
for which the compensation Is the same as
for members of the Legi, lature, the Council
drew double mileage, that Is, 20cts. a mile each
way. The Governor, after approving the re-
port giving his Council this mileage, vetoed
the pav-r0lls of the Senate and House, made
up for the same mileage. The matter was
submitted to the court, who rendered a decis-
capital and return. The councillors, having
the money already in their pockets, or hav-
ing disburscd it for hotel bills, were disin-
clined to refund, and arranged it in this way :
They kept their full mileage, but at subse-
quent session made up their payroll without
including mileage. This appears all right
on the face, but this adjournment was only
over the Sabbath, and shows signs of being
arranged to meet this case without putting
these gentlemen to the expense of the usual
travel, and besides, Gov. Garcelon testified
under oath before the Hale Committee to the
disbursement of S465 to the councillors out
of the $4,000 he drew at the close of the
wear, to reward them for refunding the
double mileage for the legislative session.
The TABuLAToRs' GRAB.
As a specimen brick of the economy of the
Council | give the expense of tabulating the
returns of votes. There was paid to the
several councillors as follows: Chase. $3.50 :;
Fogg, $50; Moody, $50; Brown, Sl4S.45;
Monroe, S74 Parker, 500 Foster. S45: to-
tai. 1892 45.
This sum appears to have been paid for
work on these fluctuations outside of the reg
ular sessions of the board, and does not in.
cluGe various sums paid to parties who did
the clerical work. s25 to II. NJ. Pshon, and
Camn.;, tha, No. i,m,na1 lei, ,ear,,au;,aI
e. n ." -, ';IfP ~ . .oi 'A.'
10y '"' - !" ioi,"
us .uou'''n' ',.. - oe,n maui oS 'ne
S.s " VI. -, '"e "eo.e
'.ns y, N''''@ ''''' '''' "''' '' eN'''
RAISING SALARIES.
E.i ~ .FI " VI. "o''ino'
of the time * fyed hy Low NJ goo Tho 70
- .'' ~, nv" y! at go" ne re-
i'il' a'ion pau MN >1oco' ho'"i'h-
a"uls pm '.'o" VI r"e 'tt "N.nS '.ie sal,
nj . .l :, '""'i oe III i"ii ioi All
'','
ILLEGAL USE OF MONEY.
The Governor and Council ordered the paw
ment of $500 to +. +. Pillsburv & Co.
State printers, ostensiblv for printing for the
State. without any voucher being filed or ac-
count rendered for the same, and the matter
remains unsettled to this dav. They also on
the very last day of the year, just as they
were going ANONYMOUSLY out of office drew
upon the Treasurer of State in favor of A. J.
Cameron. State Binder, for $1,000 for work
be had hardly begun. A large mart of this
work was bv direction of n State officer in
violation of the law, and the $1,000 has mot
been accounted for to date. They also nIaced
in the hands of Adutant General Leavitt
$1,000 for the protection of public property.