Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-17
From the Belfast Journal
The Late Attorney Generals HOtel
Bills and Hacl. Hire.

An anecdotc of the late Attorney General
Mcclellan and which comes to us well youched
for. illustrates the well known avarice of
that official. When the fusion Secretary of
State was summoned TO shoa Why he should
not answer to q writ OF mandamus, command
ing him to exhibit the returns, the Attorney
General was asked by the Governor to appear
and answer to it. 'But who" said Mac, al
ways mindful of the main chance. ''who is to
pay me?" The only reply made was to en-
gage Gould to conduct the defence. This ex-
plains why the Attorney General was not per-
mitted to open his mouth in the case.
That was a case in which the Official over
reached himself An examination of the treas
ury accounts at Augusta reveals a
bill showing the most characteristic
sharp practice on the part of Mcclellan,
and one which, if it does not trench
closely upon the borders of fraud evidences
the most extraordinary liberality towards
himself officially. Because the bill limiting
the compensation of the Attorney General, of
every kind, to $1,000 per annum. had not been
passed until the last week in February, Nc
Iellan makes series of charges, ranging
from the first day of the year to the dav of
the approval of the bill reducing the salaries.
covering every possible item during the time.
1t is obvious that the repeal was for the po-
litical year 1879. and that the Attorney Gen
eral had no more right TO expenses for Janua-
~ and February than he had for the rest of
the year. As curiosity we append copy
of the bill
BELFAST, April IL, 1879.
W. H-NCLEILAN, Atty Gen, DR..
Jan 1. 8, .. To car and hack hire to and from
Augusta, a. n
T., h;lly
10 hotei o'ii was auai'fedD 5 70
from Portland, O 70
To hotel bill. went to about action vs. At.
lant,c 4 st. Lawrence X r., other actions 81
Jan. q To car and hack fare to and from Au.
gusfa, m
To To- hotel 3. expenses. Is
Bangor thence to Belfast. 10 20
Ie. "'I 90
FEB O. To expenses to and from Augusta two
r.h Ia u 90
stop over tickets At Portland aud hack II
went 70 Boston about Hart murder and TO
see witness about Dexter Bank Sc Is 80
Expenses in Boston, Portland aud Augusta, 6
IsF,, 24oo
e i sastn's' at Ass' at Augusta IS
Augusta, and fare back. and hack hire in
:, Boston, Portland Belfast. Is 80
T T1'el olils , asys 20 90
s,..:, ..,.e Narch ISL M rs
stationery and postage up to Feb. d, when
kilograms from March to date. April IL. 1872, s.
asa %
The charge ''To hotel bill was oualifed,
-, -, - the one item which will commend
hsef to the economical TAXPAYER. Those
VINO were about the Au.us House on that
occasion. and remember 1.-THE noise of tho
captains and the shoutings' will think the COS,
very moderate-very. The great prevalence
OF hotel bills and carriage hire in this Ar.
count will strike the average reader as some.
thing marvellous. Hackmen. hotels and
railroads must have sincerely monrue,I whom
the axe OF retrenchment cut them from board
ing lodging and conveying this official
Ahere are only taree actions mentioned. and
Het therc are charges ofone hundred dollars
a month Tor real or constructive travel in
looking after them. .sTelegrsms before
March lst. 1879, So NAV be explained
upon the lame apology that the retrenehmen,
law had just gone into effect: but there can
De none to cover kilograms from March
to April IL, except that they were still cbas-
ing the Attorney General in his fiyino trims
about the State, looking after those three ac-
lions. at salary of 81, 200 per wear, 81 DER
day for endless hotel bills, and unceasing
hack fares.
Our readers will perceive that II IL No
snsii matter, financially considered. to have
= rasinn Attorney General, pledged to re- !
iorm bat II ne had asked, n in the manda |
mus case. who is to pay me?" . glance :,
the Items above given. would have ansvered
the query.