Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-03
$4,000!
What They DID With The
States MOneU.
TESTIMONY OF A. ]. CAMERON.

The late State Binder, A. j. Cameron,
having been asked by correspondent
through our columns about that $4,000 of
the States money placed in his hands by
Governor Garcelon and Council at the
close Of the fusion administration, occu-
pies large space in the Maine Standard
this week in an attempt not to explain but
to conceal the facts in the case. He as
serts that 1t was only a ''straight-up-and-
''down, square business transaction. ~ and
that he had precedents for it in the bust
proprietors with the State. In regard to
these assertions we have this to say
First. that there is no precedent to be
found in the transactions of the Kennebec
Journal proprietors with the State such as
he mentions, and the assertion is totally
false; second. we will show from the
sworn testimony of Cameron himself what
the facts concerning this $1,000 were, and
then let the public judge for themselves
from his own statements made under oath
whether this was "a straight up-and-d down.
square business transaction" or an un-
lawful, unheard Of way of plundering the
State treasury.
If Cameron were alone interested in
this matter we should take no notice of
him or his billingsgate article in the
Maine Standard, but Governor Garcelon
and his Council. whom the democratic
party are endeavoring to have indicated
and endorsed for all their infamous acts
by the election OF Harris NJ. Plaisted.
were parties to this transaction and more
responsible and guilty than the greedy
Cameron, and the voters of the State
therefore have an interest in knowing
about it before they cast their votes for
Plaisted.
On the sixth day of March. 1880. Alex
ander J. Cameron appeared before the
Hale Investigating Committee, was sworn
and examined and testified in part as fol-
lows:
a. ~ ShNEnVN
Odd you receive, during the year eigh-
teen hundred and seventy mine. from time to
time, payments for work done by you on
your contract?
Ayes.
Q-When you received a payment upon
your contract, what was your method of pre-
senting your account, and what action was
taken?
A-Presented detailed account.-all of
which believe is on file TODAY. with vouch-
ers, each item signed by those in charge of
the department to which the work was de-
livered.
Q-When you wanted any money upon
your contract, you presented detailed ac-
count of the work you had done up to daieg
o-wih vouchers accompanying
Ayes.
Q-And certified by the heads of the diff
ferent branches Of work?
Ayes; clerks or responsible parties.
Q-To whom did you present that bill with
the vouchers?
A-Sometimes to one of the Council. and
sometimes to the Secretary of State-just as
was convenient they took them in
Q-But it always went before the Governor
and Council?
A-Ipresume so mo doubt about it.
Q-Then what would you receive which
would entitle you to the money?
A warrant signed by the Governor. by |
and with the approval of the Council.
Q-That warrant was drawn upon whom: |
A-On the State Treasurer; never took |
particular notice, but I presume the same |
form exists now.
Q-How would you get the money?
A-By presenting II at the Treasury.
Q-So that the voucher which you present |
ed to the Treasurer was warrant drawn nv |
the Governor and Council?
A-Yes.
Q-And he paid you the money and you
LEFT the warrant with him?
A-Yes; Endorsed on the back of the
warrant
Q-But the original vouchers of your ac-
count and statement of work you had done