Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-03

c;s;on adyerAszp - mt Of mileage
to the capital AID fs(nin, The council
Ion. hayia - monsy slready in their
pockets, having tihbursed it for hotel
bills, ven iaipclined 70 refund, and ar
ranged 4 y way: They kept their
full mile ,6dt ate subsequent session
made up their payroll without including
mileage. This appears all right on the
face, but this adjournment MAS only over
the Sabbath, and shows signs Of being
arranged to meet this case without put
ting these gentlemen to the expense Of
the usual travel, and besides, Gov. Garce-
ion testified under oath before the Hale
Committee to the disbursement Of 1855 to
the councillors out of the $4,000 he drew
at the close Of the year. to reward them
for refunding the double mileage for the
legislative session.
THE TABULAToRs' GRAB.
As specimen brick of the economy OF
the Council, l give the expense Of tabula-
ting the returns of votes. There was
paid to the several councillors as follows:
Chase, 1910; Eogg, $50; Moody, ss5;
Brown, sl4s.45: Monroe, s74; Parker,
SO; Foster, s45; total, SS32.45
This sum appears to have been paid for
work on these tabulations outside OF the
regular sessions of the board, and does
not include various sums paid to parties
who did the clerical work, 1925 to II. NJ.
Pishon, and a sum to Mark Harden,
Messenger of the Council, that was
Jumped with unauthorized pay for other
services. In former years these tabula.
tons have been made by the councillors,
aided by the clerks in the Secretary OF
States office, usually with no extra ex-
pense.
RAISING SALARIES.
The salary of messenger of the Cover
nor and Council, who is employed but
portion of the time, is fixed by law at
$500. The reform administration paid
him $1,000, notwithstanding provision
of the act fixing the salaries specifics that
il shall be in full for all services and
travel.
ILLEGAL Use OF MONEY.
The Governor and Council ordered the
payment of $500 to T.. +. Pillsbury &
Co, State printers ostensibly for printing
for the State, without any voucher being
fled or account rendered for the same,
and the matter remains unsettled TO this
day. They also on the very last day Of
the year, just as they were going igpo-
miniously out of office drew upon the
Treasurer Of State in favor OF A. j. Came
ron, State Binder, for $4,000 fas work he
had hardly begun, A large part Of this
work was by direction of State officer
in violation Of the law, and the $4,000
has not been accounted for 10 date. They
also placed in the hands 81 Adjutant
General Lesy;t. $1,000 for the protection
of public property, etc. This Gen.
Leavit, returned to the Treasurer Of State
after the collapse Of the fusion govern
ment. The return Of this sum is evidence
not only of its illegal payment but also
that it was entirely unnecessary.
The CoUScIL ASSUME LEGISLATIVE
| FUNCTIONS,
The appropriations, as In the National
Government and as in other States, are
made in items for specific purposes. Ii
is well understood that there is no legal
authority for the diversion Of the money
appropriated for these specific object to
other purposes, and this has beer tao
practice in the history Of tho State OF
Maine. There have, it is true, been
some exceptions in the practice. but they
have been few and the practice cannot be
justified. In 1879 the Legislature sus-
pended the operation of the Free High
school act for one year, but an aRprcpria-
ton of S37 900 was made TO adjust un-
settled accounts with various towns for
the past year. The amount proved to be
larger than was necessary, leaving. after
payment of Sl5.2j3, the High school
liabilities, S2l,7 that should have re-
manned in the treasury. But tie Oarcc-
lon Council drew $4,000 of this amount
feg purposes entirely foreign to that de-
signed by the Legislature, and $4,000 OF
this amount without the least color OF
law, where no equivalent had been
rendered and for which no voucher had
been filed, viz $4,000 drawn in favor of
Alonzo Garcelon to pay the anticipated
lexpense attending the seating of bogus
State government, and $1,000 in favor of
A. j. Cameron, State Binder, for work
he expected to do during the year follow
ing.
Gov. GARcELoN's CROOKED FINANcIER-
ING.
Gov. Gsrcelon drew warrants in favor
of Alonzo Garcelon for $4,000 on the 9th
and 3lst days Of December, ls7a-S4OO0
from the appropriation for free High
Schools, $1,000 from military purposes,
and $1,000 form the contingent fund Of
the Governor and Council. On the 3lst
day of March he returned 1926 to the
Treasurer of the State, leaving 5000 Of
the peoples money IN has hands to be ac-
counted for. Let US consult his testimo-
ny before the Hale Investigating Com
mittee, for the disposition he made Of this
public property illegally in his hands.
First he said, 81 have got the receipt of
the Adjutant General for $1,000, which
he says in his letter or receipt, / think he
has expended" "Mr. Gould drew $780,"
"a. p. Gould was counsel in mandamus
case, and was employed as Gov. Garce-
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