, 1890-11-22

LNHESTTGATING GRANE.


There is a good deal of fiourishing oil
trumpets in regard to an investigation oil
the late auditor NJ. N. Grant, of Laramie.
Very little of the actual merits of the case
seem to be yet generally known. but there
is an apparent disposition to smirch the
character of the ex auditor if 1t is in the
timber to do so. The LEADER believes
the auditor should have q fair show in
the matter and therefore makes a few ex-
tracts from the Communication sent by
Mr.. Grant to the Laramie Boomerang.
He says: This committee also insinu-
ate that there have been over four thous-
and dollars paid out by the auditor il the
past six months for contingent expenses.
This is not true. There was a claim for
500 for attorneys fees-theY have a
good reason for not explaining this. There
was a claim of 81. 200 of my deputy for
the year 1888 and up to March 3lst. 1890;
also one for $2.4OO, that represented
money that had to pay out Of my "
pocket from March 3lst, 1890. These
two claims | referred to the legislature
and requested them to carefully investi-
gate and it found to be just to pay them;
if found not to be just / gave the speaker
of the house written authority to destroy
the certificate.
There have been allowed 300 per
year for a contingent and 81, 200 per year
for salary to the auditor: out Of this he
had his deputy to pay as well as all con-
tingent expenses including Office rent and
fuel up to the time the office was moved
to the capitol
Il see that the committee failed to CEN
sure me for only issuing certificates Of in
debtedness to myself at the rate Of 81, 900
per year when the constitution provides
that it shall be 81, 900 per year until other.
wise provided by law. A number of the
territorial officials got more than double
the salary and Eve or six times as much
for contingent and yet they did not have
anything like the business to transact or
the responsibility that the auditor has.
This committee made the following
endorsement on my books on November
s, 1890: We have carefully examined
the records of the auditors office; that
we find the books correctly kept and the
accounts properly balanced. as per the
foregoing balance sheet (~iolios 2S2-87.
We have found a voucher in due form
for every warrant issued and for every
certificate of Indebtedness now outstand.
ing and issued since the examinsdon Of
the books by the legislative committee on
September so. 1890
1t seems rather strange that with such
an endorsement lett by the committee
it should eleven days later make the
report which it did to the legislature.
The following letter, too, strengthens
the position of Mr.. Grant;
LARAMIE, Nov. is, 1890. Hon. o. 2.
Kellogg, Speaker OF the House Of Repre-
sentatives. DEAR SIR-lnclosed herewith
YOU will find certificate Of Indebtedness
No. 65, issued by Mr.. U. W. Stewart,
for twelve hundred dollars. as per items
named in voucher No. 1909 now on file
in the auditors office. This certificate
was issued TO him on account of services
as deputy auditor from March 81, 1888,
to March 81. 1890. A short time before
the former date the office of insurance
commissioner was attached to the
auditors office and a law passed admitting
accident and assessment companies to do
business in the territory. 1t was on
account of this large increase in business
that | based my action in allowing Mr..
Stewart fifty dollars per month more han
l had been paying him. Before and
after this | paid hIl fifty dollars
per month out Of my own pocket.
Notwithstanding the fact that | was
advised by the Hon. W W. Cor
lett and by Mr.. G. w. Stewart
that l bad a legal right to issue
this certificate, 1 refused to issue 1t ex-
sept on condition hat it be left in my
possession and that / refer it to the legis-
lature for their action. This certificate,
with one Issued to myself for two tnous
and four hundred dollars tbeing certificate
No l04, issued on voucher No. 1888, now
on file In the office of auditor Of STATED,
fol money paid out of nv own pocket, is
delivered to you with the request that
you have the matter thoroughly investi-
gated, and if you End that the claims are
lust you will please return certificate No.
l04 to me and certificate No. 65 to Mr..
U. w. Stewart II they are not Just claims
you will please have certificates and
vouchers hat the certificates were issued
destroyed. and file this letter with the
auditor Of state for authority for
50 doing. Should you deem
this insufficient authority you will
please call on me for the necessary
papers. As you are somewhat familiar
with this subject, owing to the investiga-
ton by the last legislature, | hope you
will give the committee all the informa-
uon that you can. You doubtless re-
member that | told you at the session OF
the last legislature. when thus subject was
under discussion, it was the opinion of
Hon. w. w. Corlett as well as Mr.. Stew
art that | had a legal right to all of the
insurance fees. These fees, amounting
TO between s.. 900 and 5000, have been
turned into the treasury. You will con-
fer a great favor by doing all you can to
see that justice is done both me and the
state. Very truly yours,
NJ. N. GRANT.
The public would do well to suspend
its JUDGMENT in this case until such time
as the committee makes its final report.