Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-08-08
The Mileage Matter.
From Detroit Free Pre-

From Detroit FREQ Press.
An effort is being made to convey
the impression that it was the Board
of State Auditors which prevented the
collection of ten cent mileage by the
Commissioner of Labor. Such is mol
the fact. Whatever credit attaches
to that proceeding belongs to Govern
or Begole, and not to the Board Of
Auditors. When the Commissioner o.
Labor returned, with his deputy, from
his journey east to examine the work
ings of similar bureaus to his own, he
prepared an account to be presented
to the Board of Auditors of the eX'
penses incurred in making the trip
Upon examination of the reports Of
the Board of State Auditors, he found
that State officials had invariably been
allowed by the board milage of ten
cents for every mile travelled on bust
ness of the State, without any refer
ence to the amount actually paid for
fare. Assuming very properly that
he was entitled to the same treatment
accorded to other State officials, he
presented his account to the board
with charge of ten cents per mile for
each mile travelled. No comment
was made on the charge by any men,
Der of the board but shortly after
the presentation of the account, Gov
ernor Begole called the Commission
er's attention to the mileage item, in
sisting that it was an improper charge
and ought not to be allowed. There
upon the Commissioner explained the
assumption upon which the charge
was based, calling attention to the
printed reports of the State Auditors,
showing what the uniform practice
had been. He stated, however, his
entire willingness that new rule
should be adopted, and that if it were
adopted he would heartily indorse it.
He then sent to the office of the State
Auditors, recalled the accounts pre-
scented and made out new ones, sub
stituting actual travelling expenses for
the mileage charge. Neither the
Board of State Auditors nor any
member thereof had anything to do,
even by way of suggestion, of bring
ing about the change. 1t was wholly
due to the Governors watchfulness
over the public business and the
prompt acquiesecence of Commissioner
McGrath in the Governors view of
the matter. it is not from the Board
Of State Auditors, it is fair to say,
that any claim comes of credit on
their part. 1t is the party organ at
Lansing that paints the picture of an
Argus-eyed Republican board pounc-
ing upon irregular and unlawful
claims-the same organ, in fact, that
labored so earnestly two years since
in defending the allowance of unlaw-
full claims by the then existing Board
of Auditors. The present board had
taken no action upon Commissioner
McGrath's account prior to its with
drawal and modification.
The public have reason to be glad
that this question has been raised at
this time, and they are indebted to
Commissioner McGrath and the Gov
ernor for raising it and putting it in
the way of final and proper settle
ment. For years there has been, UNI
der the pretense of milage, the pet
tiest of stealing on the part of State
officers, connived at, and participated
IN, by the Board OF State Auditors.
We have grounds for believing that
the present board, even if the watch
full Governor had not raised the ques-
ton, would have resisted the tempta-
ton and stopped the leak which has
been going on so long. But the fact
that the question has been raised, and
in such a manner that they cannot
evade it, may save them possibly from
unpleasant importantly on the part of
their Republican fellow-ofiicials to
continue the illegal practices of their
predecessors.