The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-23
Report OF the Investigating
Committee.

mittee has examined the vouchers of
the State officers since 1888, from Gov
ernor down to the secretary of civil ane
military affairs. There are no extraor-
binary disclosures except in the admin
istration of Governor Grout, and these
are in the office of the Chief Executive
and the adjutant and inspector general.
The details of these expenditures have
already been spread before the public.
The committee finds that Gen. Gill
penses, hotel bills, telegraph and tel
ephone expenses for the ten years COW
cred by the investigation was 81 ,SS6.70,
which the committee finds was neces-
sarily incurred in his department, and
ventures to express the belief that this
sum is Every economical and reason
able" On the other hand the COM
mittee finds that Gen. Peck's total &C.
count for similar items and other
personal expenses connected with his
department is 81 ,S72 5,Inot including
$1,000 paid by special act of the
Legislature for services in connection
with the new roster.
Gen. Peck failed TO satisfy the COM
mittee that the Cfficial duties of his of
flee required any larger expenditure
for postage, express, telegraph and tel
ephone service and stationery than the
| do, ort,, ut Of ha OF
eral during the same time. In the
aggregate of Gen. Peck's account for
ten years these four items amounted
to 81 ,661.09
In the accounts of the Governors
nothing unusual, or susceptible of the
slightest criticism, is encountered till
the administration of Josiah Grout is
reached. The accounts and vouchers
in the auditors office show that the
executive expenses of w. p. Dillingham;
during his biennial term were 81, 774.14.
The Governor attended the Washing
ton centennial in New York, and some
other official functions within and with
out the State, without expense to the
treasury. The expenses at the dedica-
ton of the monument at Gettysburg
were specially authorized by statute.
Carroll S. Page, during his two years in
the executive office, charged the State
S939.01 for expenses-the item for the
Bennington centennial, one of the
largest-sized functions in which the
State has participated is, cash paid out,
$33 21. Governor Page officially Wis
tied Chicago and other places without
expense to the State. Governor Full
er's bill was 81 ,637 S7-attending Off
cially the Worlds Fair at Chicago with
out expense to the treasury. Governor
Woodbury's official bill was 81 $4,000, of
which sum $764.55 was for expenses of
self and staff at Chattanooga and Chicka-
manga, and S37 40 for staff at Mont
pelier at his exit from the governor
ship.
But the nonpareil, the Kohinoor, of
this collection of executive accounts
| 40 tuau VI OONClAOl otOuls Haul-
boyant' total is 81 1858 drawn from
the State treasury, with $4,322.69
more expended and seeking reimb urse-
ment through authorization of the Leg
islature, a grand aggregate of $11,-
561.22. The Nashville junket, $2,830,
the Mckinley Inauguration, $63S 50,
the Grant Memorial expenses, 1868 100,
for the National Guard on the same
occasion, 81 ,9S0.S3, are the larger items
in this total of 81 1858. The 81 ,322.-
SO, to pay which bill presented to
the Legislature, was on account of
the National Guard at New York and
Washington. Governor Grout seeks
to justify the taking of part of the
militia to New York and Washington
by the authority conveyed by Section
4417 of the Vermont Statutes to order
out the National Guard for drill, discl-
pine, inspection and review at such
times and places as the commander-in-
chief Directs" etc. But this is the
| PiOo VI q io5 uo LA eiShe PAoSC'
None of the Governors before Grout
had audited Gen. Peck's accounts, but
all this officers charges passed under
the eye or Governor Grout and were
approved by him, including the $40
for attending the Old Guard ball.
The Governor was particeps criminis
in all these unwarrantable expendi-
lures. His word would have stopped
them, his disapproval would have end
ed them. Gen. Peck was a subordi-
nate, Gov. Grout was the principal,
with full authority over the subordi-
nate. At Nashville, New York and
Washington he was basking in the
light of publicity and the sdjutsnt
general was feeding the fires with the
peoples money. 1t was grateful radi-
L