The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-14
Tells the Voorhees, Investi-
cation Committee Why
He Retained the
State Monies.
FAT PROFITS OUT OF STATIONERY JOBS
ire Nee a Neat Sum to the
iretary of state-Mr.
kelsey's Explanations.
s.,eein, to ths Ierseu Citu Ne,es.


ketary Kelsey was put on the stand
asked by Senator Skirm what con-
tction he placed upon the law in ref
ce to his accounting. He replied
that when he went ON the stand at the
last sitting he had not the slightest
intimation of the line on which he was
to be examined, and had made no prep
aration. From the time he took possess
sion of the office, July II, 1870 to the
present time there had never been any
question as to his accounting. He had
summarized his position in a brief state
msnt which ne said he would like to
read Permission was given him to 90
SO, and he read long printed state
, ment.
.eThis Interpretation has been given to
these laws with the concurrence OF every
State officer who had any official knowl-
edge of or contact with them. Never,
at any time, until now, has any sug-
gestion been made for variance OF
practice which 1 inherited from my pre-
iecessors and have pursued for twenty
five years, except that mentioned IN
regard to Comptroller Anderson. And
now, since the question has been raised,
] have consulted counsel of character
and position.
AMPLY JUSTIFIED.
saThree gentlemen of the highest stand
ing at the bar of the State and their
unanimous Judgment given to me in
everything is that on the several ques-
tions raised I was fully justified in
law. I think have shown. Mr.. Chair
man, that I have not only followed
long established precedent but that my
action has uniformly been in accordance
with the requirements of the law, as
I believed and as am now advised by
eminent legal talent. Further, that it
was at all times acquiesced in by the
financial officers of the State, and that
my reports We're always matters of pub
lie record, open alike to the Legislature
and the people.
However, when during the last session
of the committee was asked if I would
be willing ITO pay the amount collected
during the current fiscal year into the
State Treasury at once on request OF
the committee, replied in the affirma-
tive. But the committee has refrained
from making such a request.
MR.. KELSEY'S SUGGESTIONS.
ST was further asked by yourself.
believe. Mr.. Chairman, if, in my judg-
ment, some better system of collecting
he devised NV ran,y 1pas that T thought
Il would he reasonable and practical t.
-oe,,,,,.. No., -, he ,,oia int +bo st.te
,r,.aas,,r,r ,,ont,,1v r, ,,,rr,,anoa Of This
,,ieu and IN aeferenoo 40 what r believe
i, o,,+;,a1,, i,,et ,,,,b1io sentiment. h,,t
..y;tro,,t race7;n. in anv yvav from INV
,,os;t;or, 4b.+ +1,ara ,s 10 las,1 rao,,i,e-
rart =, ~ 90 eitto,. ,,on+b7v or a,,ar-
80, -. ,,.ta ;,,tc +,,o ct.ta ,r.oos.
~, az a,,t;ro h.1.,,oa IN NV b.,,ds COL
,aotaa -, t,ah,1f ~ t1,o cto+a d,,rin. tho
f5sos1 ,ra.,. 10 +he e,ut dav of tbe ,res-
s,41, 80 49, 7aten,s,ir,aa ~ A.
,,oraae.a,. ..+h,1,n
W.T., NJ Yo1eo,, toa e,;.,oa ,rr
r,o,h;,, saia +ha+ he ,,ris,,a5. -, oor,.ao+
49, rsa,.. - - caa.ata,,s,s statay,a,,+
H. t,tr,,sa,f +a1d M. 1~ai,a,, zisti,,,t,s,
.tat - r,,o,,Ia ~, 10 ,,,i,,sd -, tis ao
aa,,n+ir,, 80 c+ato ,,,a,,ias
.Sp roppJN roppEcro,
.m.ana -,,os.a e.. o,ess.ss - ea.,.
,t;,s,,aa ..r,,.ls,, t,e eoa.o+.r, -, -
ra ~ M ne. IL 81 80 - 49,
-. 10 ~ - p1',l.i' - So
poie quaf'eiis, uiue, q peh"its u S'0o
tor eacn uay iesiecl' seeoha' couf.
ees, WHICH ne - coiipeneu oo Iepoit
al the end Oh each term, tnira, corpora
forthwith, and fourth, ne IS compelled
70 report quarterly fees which he re-
talns Tor his own use
He mad not done SO. and Mr. Corbin
contended that there was no possible
doubt about the requirements of the
laws, and there was no use in caviling
over the matter-no other clerk or ofli-
Ger had any doubt about it.
COUNSEL TOLD HIM TO DO IT.
Mr.. Kelsey replied that what he had
done has been done by advice of coun-
! Sci as eminent as any in the State. No
one ever questioned his conduct before,
and had they he would have remedied it.
Mr.. Corbin then took UP the examina-
ton where it was dropped at the last
sitting and examined Mr. Kelsey on the
expenditures of his Office fer clerk hire.
Mr.. Kelsey wanted time a week ago
to prepare detailed statement of his.
expenditures. This he submitted today.
and said that it included all expenditures
of his Office except. printing.
PROFITS ON CLERK HIRE.
Mr. corbin showed that 1889 Mr.. KELSEY
drew. s1.S2S10 more from the State for
clerical hire than he paid out. The figures
of several other years were read showing