News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1898-11-23
The Report Of the Special Joint Com
mittee appointed to investigate the
Expenses Of State Officers and
States Attorneys,

To the Senate and House Of Representatives
Your Special Committee, appointed under the joint resolu-
tons of the Senate and House, approved November 9, 1898,
to investigate and report as to the expenses Of State Officers
and States Attorneys, and the Joint resolution which was
adopted by the House, November 9 and by the Senate, Nov
ember 10, 1893, directing said Committee to investigate and
report what sums of money, if any have been drawn from the
State Treasury in violation of Section y of Chap. 1 of the
Constitution of the State, submit the following
REPORT:
Your Committee have examined all the vouchers for pay
ments made from the treasury upon the expense accounts of
the Governors, of the Adjutant and Inspector General and
of the @ uartermaster General since October 1, 1888; of the
accounts of the Superintendent of Education since December
/, 1892; of the accounts of the Secretary of State and the
State Treasurer since October I, 1890; of the accounts of the
Tax Commissioner and Sergeant-at-Arms and of the State
Auditor since October l., 1894; on the Secretaries of Civil
and Military Affairs since October I, 1888, and on the &C.
counts of States Attorneys for travelling expenses, hotel bills
and disbursements since December 1, 1883.
Your committee find that no money has been paid from
the treasury on the accounts OF the Superintendent of Educa-
-..ap since December I, 1892, that are not fully authorized by
statute. Mr.. Stones expense account has not reached the
statutory limit in any year.
The State Treasurer, Mr.. Field, has drawn no money from
the treasury for travel or hotel bills, All monies paid out on
his accounts since October, 1890, are authorized by law, being
only for postage, express, stationery and kilograms.
The State Auditor has received no money from the treasury
in excess of what is authorized by statute. The statute ex-
pressly provides for the payment of his necessary expenses.
The Sergeant-at-Arms The statute expressly provides
that "he shall also be allowed reasonable compensation for I'M
usual services when they become necessary in the perform
snce of the duties Of his office" We fail to find that he has
received any money in excess of what the statute authorized.
The Quartermaster General: Section No. 1924, v s.,
provides for his salary and Section No. 1892, V. s., provides
for the payment of the expenses necessarily incurred in his de-
partnent.
Since October I, 1888, General w. H. Gilmore has re-
ceived no money from the treasury on his personal expense
account in excess of what is allowed him by statute, if, as
your committee believe, Section No. 1892 in connection with
Section No. 1896, gives him the travelling expenses necessa-
rly incurred in examining and inspecting the various armor-
les and attending company and regimental drills or parades.
His total account for travelling expenses, hotel bills, telephone
and telegraph expenses and postage for the ten years is
ST., 1886. 10, which your committee find was necessarily in
CURED in his department, and believe to be very economical
and reasonable.
The Inspector OF Finance; Section 1921, Y. D, gives
him a salary g with necessary expenses other than rent, fuel
and lights, to be apporioned by the State Treasurer among
the several corporations and institutions examined" Assum-
ing that the several corporations and institutions paying these
expenses would be careful that he received no more than he
was entitled to have, I'VE made no examination ofhis accounts as
the State Treasury is not effected thereby.
The Commissioner of State Taxes: Section No. 5322,
vs. S. "The annual salary of the Commissioner of State
Taxes shall be ST. ,Iooi he may appoint a clerk whose salary
shall not exceed $500" Mr.. Foster has charged in his ac
count, and received from the treasury, travelling expenses and
hotel bills to the amount of $I34.25, since October I, 1894
Mr.. Foster informed a part of your committee that he sup