The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-19
,nnclnl nIsnntch % the IntellIgencer.

The Republican state administration has
been bitterly censured by the Democratic
prsss for It's leniency towards w. L.
chiffon, late Democratic secretary OF
state. 1t was their purpose II possible.
10 leave the impression in the minds OF
the people, that Governor Atkinsan, Sec
retary OF State Dawson and Auditor La
Toilette are responsible for the delay In
securing what is due the state. 1t was
trumped up for use In next years CAM
palsn, but when the true facts come to
light they Will be sorry that the unjust
criticisms ever appeared. Mr chilton's
shortage was known over a year ago, In
fact, Il was notorious In political circles
during the campaign last year, but in de-
ference to Mr.. Chiffon and thinking, per-
haps. he might be able to lqu.date the
amount, nothing was said about It.
When the report OF his shortage was
exploded here some time ago by the
leading Democratic paper, the Gazette.
the organ of Col. John T. McGraw, the
board Of public works. which Is com
posed OF the governor, secretary Of state,
auditor OF the state and treasurer. met
nnd decided to investivate Mr., Chiltons
hooks, Mr.. Kendall was delegated to
pertorm the duty and at the meeting
Saturday. ne presented the following re-
morn, which was unanimously accepted:
81 have made careful investigation
OF all the available records and docu-
ments which shed any light upon the
financial condition OF w, u. Chiffon. late
secretary OF state. and beg to submit the
following report:
81 find mat the money which comes
into the state treasury from the secre-
tary of state Is derived from three
sources. namely: initia. license tax on
oharters and dcertiflcatesnf Incorporation;
ale of books and tax on state seal. BY
mr. the largest OF these Is the first named.
Our gtatutes require that this should be
paid directly to the auditor, but tho uni
yersal practice has been to pay It tn the
secretary Of state. An examination Of
the books In the treasnrer'S office shows
that Mr.. Chiffon has made payments on
this account aggregatinE S66,A50. The
memorandum attached to his last pay
ment, namely. $3.50, on March 3, 1897,
reads as follows. Balance on initial tax
On charters and certificates Of lncorpora-
Ion to and including June 30, 1886
MANY INACCURACIES,
This amount would very nearly COM
pare with the amount with which he
charged himself in his first report to the
auditor But careful examination re-
yeals various inaccuracies and discrep-
ancies in these reports. In the report OF
the first half year 1894, there Is mis-
take OF 81 900 in the footings. This
amount added to other small errors
makes total agzinst the state OF sl,lSp.
ION comparing these reports with the
records In the office OF the secretary OF
etate. find that the following corpora
tons failed TO appear in Mr., Chilton's
re- porr. (Mr. Kendall here numerates
them, the fees on which amount 10 S26OO
~ also find the following list of corpo-
ratlone, twenty four In number Che here
refers to them by name). returned In Mr..
Chltons report as domestic and with
which he has charged himself but $40
each, when the records show that they
are foreign and consequently must have
paid $50 each. This list is IN addition to
a number Of others which were first re-
turned as domestic but afterwards cor
rected as indicated by marginal notes on
his report. find, then, that he is charge
able With $40 (the difference between for
efgn and domestic ilcenses) on each one
OF these twenty -four, making total OF
$3.50. I also find six domestic corpora
lions returned as foreign. on which he
has charged himself with $50 each In
stead Of $40 and have accordingly credit
ed him With $40. Taking these omis-
slons and discrepancies into account, II
makes the total shortage up to July fst,
1896. 12llO. This does not include S2,6OO
which he has marked uncollected.
"Of the money collected since July LIST,
1895. he has paid nothing. HIS reports
show that from that date up to and in
Guiding March 4, 1897, he received Sb35O
FOR initial license tax on charters. This
does not include s5i0 marked uncollected.
] find that this iaFt report coresPond9
with tho records In the secretary OF
slate's office. except that three foreign
corporations nre marked domestic and
consequently si2O must be added to this
report I therefore find that his total
shortage 10 date for license tax on char
iers 10 $3.50.
NO BOOKS KEPT.
when undertook to investigate the
accounts for the sale OF books. and tax
on state seal found condition OF
thlngs witch was very remarkable in
deed, Here is an important branch OF
business which involves thouBands OF
dollars during term OF Office, but ]
found no record Of II whatever. II he
ever kept any. hr must have cnrrled II
away with him The statute preHcrlbos
that the secretary nf state shall make a
detailed report Of these matters twice n
year, In january and July. and certify II
10 the auditor. and assesses heavy ilnc
ior failure 10 do 90. liut ind that dur
Ing his entire term. Mr. Chiffon made
but one report to tho auditor ana do
not consider that report within the
meaning " the statute for he simply
makes bald statement Of the amount
received The simple report he makes
concerning the sale " books WAS trans
mltie1 on January 10, 1895, and states
that the amount received from tho sale
NJ books from and Including March ~
1903 to and including December o. lSpl
was I2,1O7 ~.
The ono report which ho makes cdh-
corning the tax on state seals was trans.
mHtttd yn the 10Th Of February, 1890 nnd
glatoB that tho amount received from THE
GOurro from and including the 3lri day
NJ December, 1904. wns 6lilSl ] fnrlhtr
IND that m tho ilth day NJ January
1906, and the 18th day ot Fobrunry 1909
respectively the above amounts were