Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-01
ARTZ REsloZs.
rhs Governor Writes to the Adjutant-
General and lie Replies.

Th0 Governor writes To the Aolutnnt-
General and lie Replies
TOPEKA, Kan, Feb 26.-Adjt Gen.
Artz has resigned under FIRE, but
whether the governor will accept the
resignation and let the matter end
there, or will formally remove the off,
Ger and leave further steps TO the prop
er officers, cannot now be said
In his letter OF resignation Artz
makes q very plausible explanation OF
the charges against him, and the gov
ernor Ia inclined 10 believe him. Other
state house officials also credit isstate-
ments
W. J. stagg, the expert accountant
who has been examining the books and
accounts OF Adult Gen. Artz, submit
ted his report TO Gov. LewellinR Friday
night, and the governor at once
made II public. The governor said he
would have preferred TO withhold the
publication Of the report until final
action by himself on the case, but as
the public had manifested so much In
terest in the charges against Artz, he
would waive his preference and give 1t
out now.
The report of the expert draws at.
tention 10 voucher No. lS, ti6S 81, for
express, freight postage and telegraph
ing; voucher No. 0, t1g9. ~, for work on
arsenal and repairing arms, tents and
cannon; voucher No 2, William Baker,
$50. for salary, and says that they are
Irregular He also says that there are
several vouchers given for drayage
that seem 10 require explanation. lie
also found that IL had been the prac-
tice TO charge the q. A. X 10 cents
for the use of tents TO cover drayage.
II all tents sent out were paid for the
receipts from that source would
amount TO t2s0 75. The expert found,
he says, from the bills of lading, that
drayage on tents for encampment pur-
poses amounting to sl6.50 had been
paid by vouchers drawn on the state
treasurer.
On receipt of the experts report Gov.
Lewelling addressed the following let
ter to Adj Gen. Artz;
| Topeka, Kan, Feb, lsA-H H. Artz, Ad
iutant .Generali Some days ago on your re-
| turn from Iowa, you were Informed that COM
| ri int had been made 10 this once, charging
you with irreg ilarities In the financial manage
ment OF the once OF adIutantgenerh You
| fr eely and frankly invited an investigation ana
| Mr.. W. J. StagR, accountant was thoreupon
appointed as pecial agent and together with
Mr.. J. u French. chief clerk OF this O1ice, your
books and aoooun's weru carefully examined
| herewith hand you a copy OF the report oi
| Mr. StARg, and while regret 10 say the result
q his finding Is not satisfactory to this ofioe,
/ II II my desire to suspend judgment In the hope
that you NAV DO abo To make satisfactory
explanation. Yours respectfully,
| L. ID LEwELLtNo, Governor
Following is Adjt. Gen. Artz's reply
10 the governor:
TOPEKA Kan Feb 2L-To Hon. l. ID. Lew.
| eiling Governor State Of Kansas Sir Your
Communication Just handed me has beea
carefully read and considered and now have
the honor 10 reply As havo not been asked
| TO make any exp nnation heretofore ooncernin
the ch trges preferred against me, 1 herewith
submit n statement of my account which
hope will explain 10 your eHcellenoy every
thing satisfactorily.
In regard To vouchers and 10 mentioned II
report Of Expert Accountant Stag, th'
lamounts rcspo lively tl62 4 on voucher ~ ant
ilg9 n on voucher o. we're by me drawn out OF
Juno o. i'B3. as shown by said vouchers
amounting In all to 636o, for the reason TIA
there was then due on expense alread
incurred the sum of t2s1 IS, whicl
was paid OUT leaving balance b.
longing TO the state OF tliLO 70 whii
IA now aud has been IN tho hands Of w
II Biddle, the state treasurer, for safe Keep
inR subject To my order These amounts wer
drawn from tho treasury for the reason tha
| part OF II had already been expended by me- Il
connection with the ONCE and there WAS no ~
lprOpriaton for tho years ispt and 1872 fu
sennl repairs ami no fund out OF which sue
expense could be drawn
Voucher No 2. drawn February ~, 1897, W.
drawn In favor Of Mr w II. Baker for service
rendered In connection with tho adlutautgCt
rats ONCE During tho legislative troub e,
mad employed four men. three da =, Fohrunr
| o, III and a., to do extra guard dutf in nm
about the state house aud arsenal for which
paid o. per day each making total
, "a l employed four men three might
At ~ per night, making total OF 70
employed MIR Baker four nights
~ per night, amounting To ~ Not being a
qua ntod with these mon except MI. Bake
; aud tney wanting their money At the close
l | the trouble, paid them out OF my prival
unds and put the whole amount In Mr Baker
voucher which he signed anu the money draw
4 as shown by voucher Of which Mr. Baker r
. ceived ~ and received In return the G4 h
) aid out
As to furnishing tents to the O. A Il e
olmpm nts, the amount Of fifteen cents y
tent was hSed for the reason that there Is
appropriation to defray such akp 'nso IN
4 amount is not only used for drAyagc for plo
ing aud checking In and out, butit Is frequent
!. | necessary to make trips 10 encampments ~
SOC that tents aro taken down, packed N
: shipped Immediately after closing Of Il
oncampmenl that they NAV reach q
: next encampment In due time, also TO do &C
$ tain repair work on the tents for which the
!. ia no appropriation The total amount ha
. received for tents IL t2A " out OF this amou
n I expended tiId leaving balance OF tff
s This amount Is also In the hands OF w ID
3 die, state treasurer
,. This Is my defense and Is correct and (
. sire TO add that having come into possession
70 my once amid q cyclone OF opposition and 4
z ofiiclal voyage having peen made daily q
o hourly tempestuous by enemies and heart
H. wishing 10 relieve the minis ration and n
n 80 { OF any further unjust criticism here
% tender your excellency my resignation, to ia
5, effect at the earliest possible date that v
s. AFFORD me full opportunity TO make thorou
l. inventory OF all property belonging TO tho st,
A now In my possession or under my control
)" II H. ARTz AdiuiantG oneral
HIS SHORTAGE MADE GOO
ID Arts Draws ON Hts BoH In tho Treasure
Iy Once and settles Up.