The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-03-14


Accompanying the recommendation
r..uIst- from the committee on the
n.r-art and tlde lands deficiencies.
EvuauZ the military deficiency the
committee said:
awe lind lAe deficiency in the military
Imnment over the appropriations
n4at u l,a3 to be about SAB, 900. This
i, in ueaJ part represented by claims
a,iiu,t the state as yet unaudlted.
these claims are as a rule just claims
held jH individuals in all parts of the
state. and upon being audited by the
military board, which consists OF the
governor, state auditor and adjutant-
general, should be paid from the military
tuad. However much we may question
The ezpelIeucy, ACCESSIBILITY or necessity
u. maintaining this large outlay, the
fact remains that the parties holding
these claims dealt with the state in good
faith. expecting to be paid, and we
therefore recommend that the above APP
pmonatlon be made, to be used in TAX
INK 80 -urn claims only as are approved
ny the above named military auditing
board.
'In an examination into the financial
management OF the military department
We appropriation committee has been
overwhelmed 10y an APPALLING exhibition
OF rtck.cssutes, extravaganza and inca
parjy Oh the part OF the adjutant-gen-
era. lie is practically the business
head of the military organization. He
I>amember OF the military board, which
makes tie expenditures, and also a
member OF the military auditing board,
watch passes upon these expenditures,
So luaI he can Justly be considered the
responsible head IN the management OF
our military finances. An examination
@. lUe records Tor the past four years has
s..oau TO the committee an utter lack of
the ordinary sense, sagaclty and COM
mon prudence which govern in the fir
aHcal transactions of to-day, and the
mr>ualued prodigality and profuse-
he,s o, expenditure on the part of the
head OF the military department war
rant the belief that few more years of
lie present management will put the
department. 50 tar IN arrears that dec
ade viii Oe required to place it again on
al even iuONug. The committee find
tual. owing to disorders occurring in
trntona. days, the legislature saw fit
10 ts.anl.>u "A 0nttfth of mill tax on
Inc assessed valuation OF property in the
state. To 20 INTO what is termed the mil
Haf} lGad. The entire receipts from this
Lax were formerly expended under no
restrictions, but upon obtaining state
Ho0l II became necessary, because of
Constitutional provisions, to make a
Specific appropriation from this fund for
Tue maintenance OF the military organi-
@nou, The limits set by previous leg
->a,ures as TO the amount OF money to
oerHpended seems to have been utterly
ignored, and the past two legislatures
nave found 10 necessary to meet def
CenJes caused by the failure Of the adj
lNantgsneral to keep within the
Iodnds set by them. The last legisla-
lure appropriated $50, 600 for the main
trAlAce OF The militia for two years
$fIyy1 Tor each fiscal year. This was
,t"Gtd 10 I've sufficient to keep the
A@.'ona Guard at a high standard of
excellence, provided ordinary care, fru
s"iiE and common business prudence
were exercised by the chief military
>.'~ officer IN whose hands the affairs of
.'e militia are practically intrusted. We
1l'' however an absolute lack and alb
>yA'e o. economy, and no inclination
Whatever TO keep the expenses within
Tile Appropriation.