The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-02-17
Auditor Anderson Makes a Demand on
Secretary of State.
WANTS TO COLLECT FEES.
Charge for Transcribing Journals - Mr..
Lewis Denies the Work was
Official.


great deal of discussion, especially in
political circles, respecting the action |
of Secretary of State Lewis, conncc-
ton with the transcribing of the laws
and journals of the last session. The
appropriation act provided $4,000 for
'spubllshing house and senate jour
nails and session laws of 1897 Mr..
Lewis let the contract to the Sentinel
Printing Company for $4,000 and
himself as an individual took con-
tract from the printing company to
do the transcribing and compiling,
receiving therefor 1918.
When State Auditor Anderson be-
came president of the Sentinel com
panv he discovered that this pay yment
had been made to Mr. Lewis. He
held that the charge was one that
should have been turned into the state
as fees while it is understood the
secretary of state holds it was no part
of his official duty to do this work
and that, rs it was done at times when
it did not conflict with his public
duties, he had right to do it HIM
self and receive the compensation
therefor.
After the matter had been gossiped
about for some time Auditor Ander-
son served demand on MIR Lewis to
turn the money into the treasury. 1t
was accompanied by the following
letter:
State of Idaho. Auditors Office, Boise.
Idaho. Jan II, 1898 Hon. George j
Lewis, Boise. Idaho. Dear Sir: In ODE
dience to the laws of the state of ldah'
prescribing the duties OF the auditor O
said State and in compliance With th'
peoples democratic party to the residen
iaxnnvers of the state | regret Ton accoun
OF our plcas mt personal relations) to IN
form YOU that consider 1t my ofiicia
duty to make the best effort possible tt
collect for the use and benefit of the siai'
of Idaho all moneys received by you from
Frank Walion business manager OF IN
Sentinel Printing Company, limited,
for transcribng the house and senate Jour
nails and the session laws of the fouril
session OF the Idaho legislature. and 10
the reasons above stated and that alon
do serve the official notice enclosed.
Respectfully Yours.
j. II. ANDERSON
The letter was served January 24th
The official document simply set fort
the demand that Mr.. Lewis pay tn
money into the state treasury With
20 days and declaring that If b
failed to do so he, the auditor, woul
state an account that would draw lie
oal interest from date and institut
proceedings to collect the amount.
Mr.. Lewis has submitted the fol
lowing reply to Mr.. Anderson lettel
Department of State. Boise, Feb.
1S9S.-J H. Anderson, Boise lah
Sir: In reply TO your personal cnmmun
cation under date January l7th in whic
YOU refer to an official demand upon II
for the sum OF six hundred and seventy
five dollars alleged by you TO be d'
the state from me on account OF IRA
scrbing the laws and journals Of II
EOurln session oi titt - ElothNN''- "
saw that. rs stated in my official repl
| have not as secretary of state receive
The sum before stated or any other su
for transcribing the said laws and jou
nails or for any other service in connecti'
herewith that have not received 1
said sum or any other sum for the p'
formnnce of any official duty, or for al
uuoili cial act at the expense of the Sta
of Idaho, or while employed as secrcia
of state without having duly account
for same and turned same into the trei
ury as required by law.
- In this connection permit me 10 S
that rumors in relation TO this matter a
of Il nature calculated TO damage my p'
sonal standing have frequently reach
me and | regret very much TO say u
their origin has Invariably been imput
t. YOU. These rumors have been of
insinuating and malignant character "a
obviously circulated for the purpose
doing me great personal injury PERI
me to ask if YOU believe such methods
be honorable? | submit that no m
can regard them as productive OF pie
ant personal relations" affected IN y1
letter and think i is just 10 assu
that no man who INDUCES in them
a reasonable cause for legal action
have, on numerous occasions during
past SIX months stated that y
would institute proceedings against 4
- and taking you Mt your word h'
awaited your pleasure in the full col
m dence that such course would dissip
m the evil which am constrained to
has been planned against me; But hi
waited in vain, aud knowing that f.
60 presentation of the matter is on ev
fonota mud in the publtc nrcSS