Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-25
GOV. LOWRY
Interviewed as TO the Expenditure q
the ParsimOni0us Allowances
For the Repair and Furnishing of the
Executive Mansion.

Jackson (Miss.) State Ledger: A re-
porter of the State Ledger called at Gov.
Lowry's Office Wednesday evening, after
the issuance of the Clarion, and said to
the Governor: If you have no objec
tions would like to ask you few ques-
tions2" That official replied:
Il have none whatever.
81 see that the Clarion has made a
proposition touching the accounting for
the expenditure of the contingent fund
in the years 1882 and 1888. and invited
several journalists to call at your Office
and examine the vouchers"
Yes, sir; | will be pleased to show
them, or any of them, the statement"
the Governor replied.
The reporter continued: see it is
stated that there was a law passed APP
propriating $3.50 each year, for 1884 and
1885, for ineidentals at the mansion. Was
this at your instance by any message or
otherwise, and how much of said amounts
have been expended"
1t was not at my suggestion. The
amount expended for the two years, for
the purpose mentioned, can be found at
the Office of the State Treasurer. 1t is
very much less than the appropriation:
1t has been stated that everybody
knows that you had $500 allowed you
| from the States money, for repairs on
| the mansion in 1882, said sum being. for
your convenience and pleasure, and for
which there has been no legal account
made p
The appropriation referred to was
made, not for my convenience, butfor the
preservat on of the mansion property.
| An amount greater was made the year
previous for the same purpose, but
owing to sickness in the family Of my
worthy predecessor, the repairs were not
made. (See Gov. Stone's message.) The
money was expended under the direction
of the State Treasurer, but IT L was
called upon to give an opinion about 1t, |
would say that that officer had more work
done for the amount expended than
have ever before known since my Undue
| ton into Office"
Governor, it is stated there were APP
preparations of $1,000 or $4,000 for fur
nishing the mansion in 1882, and the
| question asked what was bought with
this money and who had the expanding
of itp'
MY distinguished predecessor in his
last message to the Legislature used the
following language: If 1t is the purpose
| of the State to provide residence for the
| Governor and furnish the same, it is due
to my successor that something should be
] done in the way Of refurnishing the man
| sion. The house was furnished eleven
or twelve years ago, and SO far as L am
| informed nothing has been added to it
| since that time. The furniture is old
and damaged, the carpets aud bed
clothing worn out, the china and crockery
| nearly all broken, and in short almost
everything in the way of furniture
is needed (See Gov. Stones mes
sage, 1882 l never saw dollar Of the
money, nor did l have anything what
ever to do with suggesting the appropri-
alton or its expenditure; other gentle
men were charged with that duty and
performed it no doubt faithfully"
Il also see it stated, Governor, that
you paid Gen. j. L. Harris, out of the
contingent fund, $500 for his services as
Attorney?
81 never paid him dollar of the con-
tingent fund for any purpose whatever.
| Gen. Harris had conducted in the United
States Court for the Attorney General a
case against the Louisville and Nashville
railroad and gained it in that court. The
railroad appealed to the Supreme Court
of the United States and Gen. Harris
was, at the instance of the Attorney
General, retained to attend to the case in
that court. He gained it, and received a
fee of $500 for his services"
How much of the contingent fund
was drawn in 1882 and 1888, and how
much appropriated for those years?"
There was appropriated, the Gov
ernor said, $500. OF this amount,
1921 20 was drawn, and Si577 so was
covered back into the Treasury"
Have you the items for the disburse-
ment of the 1921 20, in the shape Of re-
ceipts or vouchers"
Il have" the Governor responded
''and should be glad at any time to show
them to you or any other gentleman who
| would like to examine them"