The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-10-27
Oglcsby's Perquisites.

In a statement recently published it was
alleged that in 1872, when Hon. SILAs WooD-
son was Governor Of Missouri, the current
expenses of the Executive Mansion were paid
by the State. In its implication that Gov
ernor WooDsoN had used the States money
unlawfully, this was altogether false. Neither
were the whole expenses of the mansion
borne by the State, for it is stated on good
authority that Governor WooDsoN spent
more than his salary in keeping up the man
sion. What he did spend of the public money
was spent under direct authority of law, as
he shows in the following letter to THE RE-
PUBLIC, dated st. Joseph, 10th inst.
The false and malicious publication in the Globe
Democrat (not now before mel of Il recent date,
in substance charging that during my adminlstra-
ton l had used money that had been appropriated
by the General Assembly for improving the Execu-
tive Mansion and defraying the expenses of the
executive department in defraying the current
expenses of my household, would not have been
noticed by me at all had 1t not been for your refer
ence to 1t in your issue of the 18th inst. The casual
reader might well infer from your statement that
the facts as given by the Globe Democrat were in
dorsed as being true. l know that you intended
nothing Of the kind. Still, it occurs to me that
If you referred to the article In the Globe Demo.
cTat at all, it was due to me and the Democratic
party that you should repel the slanderous false
hood by stating the facts in the case, which are as
follows:
On the 10th of March, 1873, an act OF the General
Assembly was approved which embraced, to-
gether with a number of others, the following
appropriations, viz. For contingent expenses
of the Executive Mansion, two thousand three
hundred dollars. For improving grounds of
Governors mansion, two thousand dol.
lars. For completing the furnishing OF the Gov
ernors mansion, four thousand dollars. For cur
rent expenses Of Governors mansion, taCO thousand
.fUe hundred dollars"
. had nothing whatever TO do, by way OF sugges-
ton or otherwise, in bringing about the passage
OF the law under consideration. The whole thing
originated with and was completed by the Legis-
lature Of the State.
Every single dollar, appropriated as above
stated, was used and applied strictly to the spe-
citic purposes designated in the law. challenge
the world TO show that one cent of any one of the
above hamed appropriations was used for any
other or different purpose than is specifically men
toned in the act. [See Session Acts of 1873, pages
land 81 Respectfully, SILAS WooDsoN.
The attempt to justify OGLEsBY in Illinois
by WuoDsoN in Missouri thus reacts on those
who made it in making it clear that Governor
WooDso carried out a statute, and clearer
still that Governor OGLEsBY disregarded and
violated one.
If the State Of Illinois cared to pay its
iovernor more than it does, 1t could easily do
30 by providing by law that while he is Gov
.rnor his laundry bills, his servants hire, his
GOAL, ice, soap, matches, combs, brushes,
and other luxuries or necessaries should
ne paid for out Of a special fund.
Instead of doing 50, it has declared
directly that this shall not be done. When
Governor OGLEsBY took the oath of Office he
swore to enforce the laws of Illinois, Wilhelm in
cludes Section One, Chapter Fifty three, r. S.,
providing that the Governor shall receive the
sum of $1,000 per annum and the use of the
executive mansion lin lieu Of all other salary,
fees, perquisitcs, benefit or compensation in
any form whatever"
Governor OGLEsBY has not denied that he
violated this law The people of Illinois
might afford the money the violation cost
them. but they have a right to demand, and
they are demanding, a government las strong
as The law"