The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1885-06-20
Jackson State Ledger.l
THE CONTINGENT FUND.
A REPORTER OF THE STATE LEDGER INvEs.
rIGATEs THE MATTER AND PRESENTS
THE RESULT OF HIS woRK-EvERY.
THING STRAIGHT AND SQUARE.


THING STRAIGHT AND SQUARE,
I The skeleton in Lowry's political close
that has made brave editors trelnble an,
good men on the other side quake,is no,
revealed to the light of day. Now com
in yourselves and bring your wives an,
children and friends, if you have any
with you, and tell them how danger
lisappear when honest truth comes t,
The front and scatters imaginary sur
roundings:
A reporter Of the State Ledger calles
AGov. Lowry's office Wednesday even.
Ing, after the issuance of the Clarion ,ant
aid to the Governor "If you have ne
objection l would like to ask you a few
questions" That official replied:
II have none whatever"
The reporter upon this encouragement
sharpened up his pencil and began al
follows:
~ see that the Clarion has made q
proposition touching the accounting for
the expenditures of the Contingent Fund
10 the years 1882 and 1883, and invited
several journalists to call at your office
and examine the vouchers"
"Yes sir; l will be pleased to show
them, or any of them the statement" !"
the Governor replied.
The reporter continued: II see it
stated there was law passed appropriat-
ing $3.50 each year, for 1884 and 1885,
for iucidentals at the mansion. Was
this at your instance by any message or
otherwise, and how much of said ans
cunts have been expended?'
1T was not at my suggestion. The
amount expended for the two years, for
tue purpose mentioned, can be found at
the office of the State Treasurer. 1t is
very much less than the appropriation"
ut has been stated that everybody
knows that you had fifteen hundred dol
lars 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?'
"Ihe appropriation referred to was
made, not for my convenience, but for
the preservation 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 Governor Stones Message.) The
money was expended under the direction
Of the State Treasurer, but if l was
called upon to give an opinion about it,
| would say that the officer got more
work done for the amount expended than
| have ever before known since my in>
luction into office"
"Govern0r it is stated there were ap~
OF two or three thousand |
dollars for furnishing the mansion in |
1882, and the question asked what was
bought with this money AID who had |
he expending of it?"
"My distinguished predecessor in his
asst message in the Legislature used the
ollowing language: III it is the pur-
pose of the State to provide a residence
or the Governor, and furnish the same,
t is due to my successor that something
hould be done in the way of refurnish>
ng the mansion. The house was fur
lished eleven or twelve years ago and
10 tar as am informed nothing has been
ldded to it since that time. The turni-
ure is old and damaged. the carpets and
'ed. clothing worn out, the china and
rockery nearly all broken, and in short
lmost everything in the way of furni-
ure is needed (See Governor Stones
lessage. 1922 never saw dollar OF
he money, nor did ] have anything
whatever to do with the suggestion the {
preparation or its expenditure; other Q
entlemen were charged with that duty 4
nd performed 1t no doubt faithfully"
II also see it stated, Governor, that [
ou paid Gen. J. L. Harris out of the
ontingent Fund, $500 for his services as
'torneyw
Il never paid him dollar of the Com i
nscnt Fund tor any purpose whatever. t
en-. Harris has conducted in the United
,ates Court, fer the Attorney General,
case against the L. & N. r. R., and =
'iHcu IL Ill IudJ court. lue TdllTOau !
'pealed to the Supreme Court of the :,
nited States and Gen, Harris was, at Is
g instance of the Attorney General, re- 2 .
lned to attend to the case in that court : :,
gained it and received fee of $500 +
his services" ~
"How much of the Contingent Fund ~ y
Is drawn in 1882 and 1883 and how ~
UGH appropriated for those years?' =
There was appropriated" the Gov r
nor said, "$S,560. OF this amount $3,- a
Ito was drawn, and $4,577.3O was :"
vered back into the Treasury"
Have you the items for the disburse>
mt of the $3,921.70 in the shape of re- II
pts of vouchers?" h,
Il have" the Governor responded, m
I'D would be glad at any time to show m
I'M to you or any other gentle. "
N who would like to examine them" ar
The reporter thanked the Governor for W
information and after examining the se
uchers and finding them to correspond wi
th the statement as given in this inter- de
W. bade him good evening. ne