The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-27
THOMPSON WILL REMAIN
STATE STATISTICIAN'S CASE RE-
VIEWED BY THE GOVERNOR.
Money Drawn from Treasury Used for
Legitimate ENpenses-A Deposit
tn Cover All Differences.

IF / believed that Mr.. Thompson had will
fully violated the law or had drawn from
the treasury money that he did not intend
to use for the legitimate purposes of the
Bureau of Statistics, / should demand his
resignation tonight" said Governor Mount
last night in answer to a question after he
had given full consideration to the case and
had taken action in the matter.
This action is i'm the form of a note to Mr..
Thompson. directing him TO pay into the
hands Of the auditor Sl.144.7 ~ TO be held in
trust until he can show where he had spent
a like amount in his office. In answer to
another question the Governor stated that
this was all the action hi should take at
this time. This is an acceptance of the
proposition made by Mr.. Thompson that he
return TO the treasury $1,2J0 drawn out of
the appropriation for 1896 to pursue a spe-
cial line of inquiry in 1897, and that he de-
post with whomever the Governor might
suggest the sum of 81 ,144.7 y and be given a
reasonable time to file claims against this
sum for money expended i'm the work of the
bureau. When Thompson assumed office he
found that his predecessor. Peelle, had, in
twenty days. used up S1,4s7 of the appro-
priation for that year This was practically
an overdraft TO pay expenditures made in
anticipation of the appropriation. He had
the matter before the attorney general and
II was found that there was no law TO reach
the case. a few months later. when a sim
liar case was developed at the Prison
South, the attorney general made a ruling
that appropriations could not be antici-
pated, but that the expenditures of the year
must be met with the appropriation of the
year.
The inquiry into the charges made by
Deputy John Worrell was practically
ended on Thursday. when Mr.. Thompson
filed the statement given below. Briefly.
this document showed that the statistician.
near the close of the last fiscal year. had
drawn from the unexpended balance of the
appropriation of that year 81. 80 to be ex-
pended in a special line OF inquiry deter
mined upon by the 1896 convention of sta
tisticians to be pursued this year. He sup
posed this to be lawful. He submitted his
check for this amount to be covered back
into the treasury. He further filed an item
lied statement of expenditures with vouch-
ers, leaving $1,1H.12 unaccounted for. In
this statement no allowance, except $40, is
made for the postage of the bureau, which
amounts TO about $500 a year. He asked
that the Governor direct that he deposit
this sum with the proper officer and that he
be given a reasonable time To file vouchers
against 1t, the remainder 10 go back to the
treasury. AT the same time he signified his
willingness TO resign if the Governor should
deem IL advisable.
THE GOVERNOR TO THOMPSON.
Yesterday noon the attorney general and
auditor filed with the Governor their find
ings, and Mr.. Worrell filed another state
ment in which he declared that there was
no possible means of accounting for the
shortage. The Office seekers crowded the
Governor to such an extent that he did not
get time until late last night to examine all
these papers, and after going over them all,
he issued the following note to Mr.. Thomp-
son:
"Sir-The committee. consisting of Viii
liam A ketcham. attorney general, and
AmericuS G.. Daily, auditor of state, ap-
pointed by the Governor to investigate the
charges made by John Worrell against
Simeon j. Thompson, state statistician,
conclude their report with the following,
to-wit:
We therefore recommend that Mr..
Thompson be notified forthwith to place in
the hands OF some one designated by your
self the sums of $i1s.55 and $726.17.'
You are therefore directed TO pay to
Americas C.. Daily the sum of Sl,li4.72,
treasury, the same having not been ex-
pended as provided by law so far as in
veStigatiOn reveals, the auditor of state to
hold this amount in trust until May l, 1897.
During this time you will be permitted
10 present Claims against this amount held
In trust for all sums you have expended in
the performance of your duties as state
statistician for which you have no credit.
After settlement has been made of all
legitimate claims due you the auditor of
state is directed to cover the remainder into
the treasury. He is also directed to cover
back into the treasury the 81. 2o0. the same
being the amount claimed to have been
withdrawn from the treasury under a mis-
apprehension of the law"
This settles for the present at least the
homes of three or four gentlemen who had
hoped to succeed Mr.. Thompson. There has
been much talk about this as a motive on
the part of Mr.. Worrell in making the
charges, but be declared yesterday after
noon that he was not a candidate for this
or anything. o course" he added after
stating that the records showed that he
had lone all the work of the bureau, IF
the Governor should feel disposed to APP
point me that would be Il different matter"