The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-03-02
RETIRED UNDER FIRE.
Adjt.-Gen. Artx states His Case and Ten
ders His Resignation to the Governor.

RETIRED UNDER FIRE.
Adjt Gen. Artx states His Case and Ten
ders His Resignation to the Governor
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.
The report of the expert draws at
tention to voucher No. Is, 1858. 81, for
express, freight, postage and telegraph
ing; voucher No 9, s199. A, for work on
arsenal and repairing arms. tents and
cannon; voucher No. ,, William Baker,
$50. for salary, and says that they are
irregular. He also says that there are
several vouchers given for drayage
that seem to require explanation. He
also found that it had been the prac-
tice to charge the G. A. r. Is cents
for the use of tents to cover drayage.
If all tents sent out were paid for the
receipts from that source would
amount to s2s6.75. The expert found,
he says, from the bills of lading, that
drayage on tents for encampment pur-
poses amounting to sl6.5O, 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. IS4-H H. ArtZ. Ad
iutant General: Some days ago on your re.
4t..N
plant had been made to this office. charging
you with irregularities in the financial manage
ment of the Office of acknowledgement You
fr eely and frankly invited an investigation and
Mr.. w. j. Stagg, accountant was thereupon
appointed as special agent and together with
Mr.. j. b French, chief clerk of this office your
books and accounts were carefully examined
herewith hand you copy OF the report OF
Mr.. Siagg, and while regret to say the result
Of his finding is not satisfactory to this office,
1t Is my desire to suspend judgment in the hope
that you NAV be able to make q satisfactory
explanation. Yours respectfully,
l. d LEwELLING, Governor.
ARTz's REPLY.
TOPEKA Kan Feb 2L-To Hon. L ID. Lew
cling Governor State of Kansas Sir: Your
communication just handed me has been
carefully read and considered and l now have
the honor to reply. AS have not been asked
TO make any explanation heretofore concerning
the charges preferred against me, l herewith
submit a statement of my account which
hope will explain to your excellency every
thing satisfactorily.
In regard 10 vouchers and 13 mentioned in
report of Expert Accountant Stag1, the
amounts respectively sl62. 81 on voucher IL and
sls9 s4 on voucher O. were by me drawn out on
June 20, 1893 as shown by said vouchers,
amounting in all TO SS6365, for the reason that
there was then due on expense already
incurred the sum of S222 i5, which
was paid out, leaving a balance be-
longing to the state of sl4L2O which
is now and has been in the hands Of w.
IL Bddle, the state treasurer, for safe keep
ing subject to my order These amounts were
drawn from the treasury for the reason that
part of il had already been expended by me In
connection with the office, and there was no ap-
preparation for the years 1891 and 1875 for
arsenal repairs and no fund out of which such
expense could be drawn
Voucher No 2 drawn February %, is93 was
drawn in favor of Mr. w II. Baker for services
rendered in connection with the adjutant-gen-
erals office During the legislative trouble, l
had employed four men, three dars, February
Is, i6 and Il, TO do extra guard duty in and
about the state house and arsenal for which
paid s. per dav each making a total OF
So l employed four men three nights
at SO per night, making q total of So.
s2 per night, amounting to sS Not being ac-
quainted with these men. except MIR. Baker.
and they wanting their money at the close OF
the trouble, paid them out of my private
funds and put the whole amount in Mr.. Bakers
voucher which he signed and the money drawn
as shown by voucher of which Mr. Baker re-
ceived sS and received in return the 81 had
paid out
AS to furnishing tents to the G. A r en-
campm nts. the amount Of fifteen cents per
tent was fixed for the reason that there il n
appropriation to defray such expsnse This
amount is not only used for drayage for pick-
ing and checking in and out, but IL is frequently
necessary to make trips to encampments and
see that tents are taken down, packed and
shipped Immediately after closing OF the
encampmen', that they may reach the
next encampment in due time, also to do GER
tain repair work on the tents for which there
is no appropriation The total amoent have
received for tents is S254 ~ out of this amount
1 expended s156 leaving a balance OF STS. ~.
This amount il also in the hands OF w. II Bid.
die. state treasurer.
This is my defense and is correct and de-
sire to add that having come into possession OF
my Office amid cyclone OF opposition and nv
official voyage having been made daily and
hourly tempestuous by enemies AMI heartily
wishing to relieve the imnis ration and my
sc of any further unjust criticism I hereby
tender your excelency my resignation, to take
afford me full opportunity to make thorough
inventory Of all property belonging to the state
now in my possession or under my control
III III mt 4