The record-union., 1893-02-21


an opinion to the otficSwhen called upon.
HARRIS ABSENCE.
}. w. Anderson, Superintendent of
/ Public instruction, was sworn and
stated that his business relations with the
Attorney-General and his deputies had
not been pleasant. owing to the physical
/ exertion he was obliged to undergo in
travelling up and down so many flights
OF stairs only TO find the door locked a
/ great majority of times.
The witness stated that his business had
/ been principally with Mr.. Layson, as
General Hart was frequently absent.
When asked regarding the opinions he
had received from Mr.. Layson. the wit
ness said they We're usually opinions he
/ himself had advanced, in which Mr..
Layson would heartily concur. "AIr.
Layson," said Mr.. Anderson, usually
said TO me, What do you think about it p
and when would answer him he would
say, Well, L guess you are about right -
The witness produced an opinion from
/ the AttOrney-GeneraPs Office which he
had received in the morning, which was
| read by Attorney Devlin. The witness
stated that he had received about fifteen
written opinions from the Office since the
/ General had been its occupant.
| On cross-examination, Mr.. Anderson
said he was generally conceded to be a
good judge of the school laws, and could
! see no reason why Mr.. Layson should
not defer to him before giving an opin-
/ ion. Mr.. Layson had always treated him
/ in gentlemanly and courteous manner.
! Regarding the number of times the
/ Office was closed during business hours,
! the witness said he hardly ever found
! the office open. lone time when l went
! for advice" said Mr.. Anderson, "I found
the door locked and placard of this pur-
| port tackled upon it: This Office to Let.
| Fixtures for Sale and I considered it a
very wise provision"
| In reply to a question by General
Barnes, the witness said that one time in
particular he had reason to complain of
! General Hart He had become confused
over the Constitution OF High Schools''
| question. The General had given him
about fifteen minutes of his time, and
then went away without expressing an
! opinion, and left the witness to dig out
his own conclusions. He had complained
very bitterly about the matter.
Referring to the opinion read by Mr..
Devlin, and which had been received the
same morning, the witness thought the
| opinion was contrary to law, but insisted
that it was not read because he thought
it erroneous.
! Mr.. Anderson, it appears, has been act
ing as Secretary for the Joint Committee
on Education, and the opinion in ques-
ton states that no State officer can draw
money from the State other than his
usual salary.
ALL RIGHT WITH COLGAN.
Controller Colgan was recalled. His
experience with the Attorney General
had been satisfactory. Seven, eight or
nine cases have been brought against
him in his official capacity, in several of
which the Attorney mas acted for
the State. "When the Attorney q eneraI
advised me not to pay a claim I stayed
with him." continued the witness, but
when he advised me to pay them I some
! times took issue with him and employed
outside counsel"
The Attorney General, continued the
witness, had never refused an opinion
when asked for it, and he had been led to
employ outside counsel to protect him
self when, in his Judgment the opinion
of the Attorney General was at fault. He
could make no complaint against the
General on the ground of dilatoriness,
and that when he was not in the city Mr..
Layson was usually the only person in
the Office. General Hart was a hard
:
number of nights with him in relation to
business connected with the Controllers
Office. General Hart and witness had
often criticised each other rather severely,
though they never allowed such criticism
! to have any bearing upon their business
relations.
J. r. Mcdonald. State Treasurer, was
the next witness called. His relations
with the Attorney-General had been very
pleasant, but his experience with Deputy
Attorney General Layson had not been
satisfactory. He frequently called at the
Office on business and found no one pres
ent. On one occasion only, the witness
had written to General Hart for an opin-
ion and had received no reply. In all
other instances their business relations
had been eminently satisfactory. The
witness explained the manner in which
State money was deposited in different
funds, and stated that he invariably recog-
nized the warrant of the Controller in all
business transactions regardless of what
the Attorney General might say to the
| contrary.
| Secretary of State Waite was called, and
testified that his relations with Attorney
| General Hart had been pleasant, but that
such had not been the case with Mr.. Lay
son. Had been to the Attorney eneraFs s
office eight or ten times in one day and it
| had been locked. Had occasionally en-
| ployed outside counsel-sometimes be-
cause there was no one present to repre-
| sent the Attorney Generals Office and
| sometimes because there was difference
/ of opinion between the Attorney General
and himself, Had called in Mr.. Devlin
| and Judge Catlin, both of whom had con-
CURED in his opinion and against Gen
| eral Hart. He further stated that it would
take very strong opinion from General
Hart to change his opinion when it was
once formed.
| ROUGH ON LAWSON.
George E. Pratt, Secretary of the State
| Board OF Examiners, testified that his ex-
perience with the Attorney General had
been very pleasant, but when he is not
at the Capitol witness never entered his
office. He gave as his reason that the
Office was usually closed.
Being cross-eXamined, the witness said
the business of the State Board of Exam
iners was attended to by the Attorney