Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-11-18

Four hundred and sixty.seven dollars for
a postage bill, that would depend on what
he had to do. Don't know anything about
it. Carriages for reception at capitol,
Fisk and ! paid $50 or more and the state
the rest.
Three hundred and ninety dollars and
forty cents at Fifth avenue hotel included
myself and staff and certain Vermont men,
the latter guests of ours, invited to sit az
our table.
over $500 official expenses during the
two years of GOV. CIRCUITS term OF Office is
the record shown by the vouchers.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Young
as to what ought 10 be done 10y the state to
put these matters beyond question.
| intended to explain the trouble of a
governor in this direction in my message
The legislature should define his duties
and limit his expenditures, and lastly, to
pay the governor a respectable and credit
able sum. As to a contingent fund, that
would be a good idea.
E1-Gov. Pages Evidence.
Gov. Page called
Can you give any authority torsOfiielH
expenditures - .sudl9gtr
have never looked up. tia law land
kno nothing about it,. ,,e,.a ! ,,.s,.t Z.
As to expenses of self and stan AZ Ben
nington, was very much surprised at Gov
Grouts atalbIneh4Q 4 Isdtd not approve any
bills ToritlIkt 0nraAlnh .Esfmy~ staff had no
expnnses.fsi dnuoooeyas
Q,aIntthe absence of express statute al
lowing these expenses. how would you lin
4 these matters9
/ Ans. Public sentiment will regulate
that matter We have been drifting away
from primitive methods for years. Don't
think any limit can be set without impair
ing the dignity of the office. Any bill
would be undigniied
Under the constitution how can a gov
ernor justify these expenses?
Only by precedent. Stop these matters
by having an auditor who will do his full
duty. The auditor takes it for granted
that any bill approved by the governor
must be right
At Bennington l used three tickets for
friends and paid the state for them.
GOV. Pages personal expenses al Ben
nington the week of the celebration were
5 I for two meals.
Hon. c. W Brownel:
The statute does not allow me travelling
expenses, hotel bills and clerk hire. 1t,
however, allows $500 for publishing the
laws. There is no authority except Gus
tom for travelling expenses. There is no
express statute Tor paving anybody any
thing as printing commissioner. one hun
bred thirty nine dollars and fifty cents in
four years for assessments in the associa-
tion of insurance commissioners. The
above is charged 10 the state. DON know
how they could charge the state against its
wishes. NO authority for charges for a.
tending meetings of insurance commission
ers, but | did it as puDiic officer repre-
senting the state. Think it was a Just
bill, but unauthorized and against the con
stitutiOn Have attended four times in
eight years. One hundred and thirty-nine
dollars and fifty cents in the last four
years for unauthorized assessments and
expenses.
gen. Peck on the Rack.
Gen. T S. Peck
Do not know Of any law that gives me
travelling expenses and hotel bills or car
riages at the expense of the state.
The subscription to Army and Navy
Journal was unauthorized by statute. Do
not know as it was ever done by predeces-
sors. Twenty-Five dollars for private eX-
penses at New \ ork, unauthorized. Four
teen dollars for teams at State House, un-
| author zed Same for board within the
state. As TO preparing roster, did much
| correspondence, but very little clerical
work. All vouchers for work done on
roster, ! think, was actually done on it.
Don't know whether tn roster was au
thorized by law or not. The official re-
port in December, 80 was not authorized
What services were covered by your sal
airy?
Anything ! could do.
Writing invitations to muster was extra
! service. Have usually charged for time.
What work haven't you charged for?
The witness could hardly answer this
Dues to Vermont Veterans association
Don't know why the state should pay it,
Have had no state order TO join this asso-
citation.
Must have had orders to incur these eN-
traOrdinary expenses, but haven't any al
hand now Five hundred and ninety-foul
dollars and sXty-tive cents postage eX.
planned by writing around, SljS p trav
cling expenses in two years, came to Mont
pelier pretty often, $50 for writing invita-
tions to muster 90, '92. Explained by sit
must have been a large attendance that
year, the Bennington centennial
Buying copies of tactics and giving then
away, They were furnished to troops
Pictures and frames, no authority, only
custom. The pictures are in the adjutant
| generals office. The tactics have beer
sent around TO schools. From 90 to '94
large correspondence, S24j2 in postage il
ten years, $50. so for Army and Navy Jour
nal for one year. Must have been fur
nished to field officers. Must have beer
| some reason for it. Several hundred copies
| of one issue were sent around by me to Off
| GERS and members of the National Guard
1t might have been because it contained Z
notice of myself.
The statute says my salary shall includ,
| all clerk hire. ! can have clerk, but a
my own expense. Charged for clerk hire
| but unauthorized, Twenty-seven dollar
/ and eleven cents expenses to and from
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