The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-23
INVESTIGATIONS

Inc remainder OF the witnesses in stock
were examined the committee w ed nesdav
night, and although many interesting and
valuable points were brought out, Hamlet
was no longer Hamlet without the star
actor. An abstract Of the testimony is given
below:
Mr.. Sault secretary of civil and military
affairs.
Looked for authority to-day In statute to
charge for expenses. SlS charge for SER
vices was in preparation OF message and
other matters pertaining to 1t. Did some
work in that line as stenographeT,- MF
Young read statute providing that all work
as secretary should be covered by salary,
uartermaster-General Gilmore:
From ~ to 80, 1858 80 travelling expena-
es under Gov Dillingham; Visited ali ar
mories four times each Have to look after
equipment and supplies, and have charge
of all Of them. S5273, postage account. 1
do the purchasing of all stores. Make ar
rangements for muster. Issue camp equip
pages and all stores. October 1872 to '94 S5i7
! includes all expenses Of the trip to Chcaga~
with Gov. Fuller. My own personal
| penses were S62, as per voucher, am a.
/ ed that it isn't more. | usually pa r.
| expenses OF Governor and staff on sll
sions, usually make all arrangeN NV
order OF the Governor. ! simp fs2ecute
! his orders. / arrange for officers school,
once each year. Also have charge OF Nor.
wich University branch. Make all arrange
ments for transportation of National Guard
Voucher amounting to S29.95 was expens-
es of Governor and staff at Burlington.
In December '94 voucher showed all of
my own personal expenses. Trip to Bos-
ton $3.50, December '04 to '96 in Governor
| Woodbury's term was all the personal ex-
pense l had.
My conduct of my Office has not been af-
fected by anything from any governor.
$685. expense under Gov. Grout, 500 of
this for typewriter, now States property.
Extra expense in last year was superinten-
dence OF building and repairing permanent
camp ground Can't answer az to what
Gen Peck's duties are. Mr.. Young said
he couldn't find out what Peck's duties
were from either him or the Governor, and
didn't know but what he might from Gen.
Gilmore. 81 1856 total expense for ten years.
Where do you find any authority for
charging your travelling expenses to the
State?
In answer, Gen. Gilmore quoted the stat
ute which Mr.. Young read. Have never
made any charge for my services. All
clerk hire until this spring have paid out
Of my own pocket. L went ON the Nash
vile trip. Here Gen. Gilmore read a list
of the party. l arranged for the excursion
by order OF the Governor; $50 per ticket
included all necessary EXPENSES except
possibly carriages. Gov. Circuit told me
to figure on four carloads. Expenses
paid from the State treasury for all but
ten OF the rarity. In first instance it was
expected that the State would pay for fifty
FIVE tickets. The State paid for three S25
|
had authority.
Where from2
From the Governor.
Did you think he had legal authority?
Yes sir, did not question his authority.
l think he was justified in doing it'll
thought he was.
How much was paid from tire asury to Ma
tional Guard for New York celebration?
Think nearly $4,000.
Why was it paid to them out of the State
treasury
The Governor ordered them out, gave
them their June drill and one extra day.
The men were not paid anything 1t was
all paid to the railroads.
The Governor did not order them to New
York, they all volunteered. There was no
compulsion about it.
Ex-Gov Dillingham;:
wish to make an expl snation regarding
a statement of Gov. circuit. Myself and
wife and Col. and Mrs. Kimball attended
President Harrison's Inauguration and paid
our own expenses. Several other functions
were mentioned at which no expense to
the State was incurred. ! attended dedica-
ton OF Gettysburg battle monument under
authority Of legislative act of 1888. L did
not care to take all my staff and make the
State pay for it, and they all wanted to go
and did go and most of them paid their
own expenses. The centennial celebration
OF the Inauguration OF Gen. Washington
was attended by commission appointed
by me. A public subscription was raised
to pay the expenses of the militia on that
occasion. The total expense was SOAPS
Tor the event All necessary expenses"
except ball tickets. AS to the right to
make these expenses l believed then and 1
believe now that 1t is the duty of the chief
magistrate to see that the State is fifty
represented | think the Governor must
be the judge Of the duties and necessities of
his position. 1 did it then and would do
it now.
Some states provide contingent fund for
these purposes, and have thought that it
would cost more than it does now. Can
see no objection to it, however
Ex-Auditor Hale:
What did you regard as your duty as to
drawing warrants for the Governor?
assumed thai he has right to his per-
sonal expenses and l never criticised any
voucher approved by him.
is there any law which authorizes you to
draw warrants on voucher approved by the
Governor?
:. In answer Mr.; Hale read the section of
the statute detailing the auditors duties.
The Old Guard ball. Drew an order for
its payment because the bill was approved
by the Governor.
Do not know that there is any statute
that would technically allow that claim.
But for the past twenty years this precedent
has been recognized by the committee on
claims and the Legislature. 1t is the duty
OF the committee on claims to examine an
auditors account, but / never knew them
to do it.
Mr.. Hale then read the statute which for
bid the payment Of the above charge.
have followed Col. Powell's example.
AS to assessments made by National Insur.
ance commissioners ON Mr.. Brownell, Mr..
Hale said he considered that he had right
to allow it, but possibly there is no law per-
mitting it.
consider approval of bill by the Gov
ernor authorization to me under the law.
Mr.. Hale's position apparently was that the
Governors approval was a law, even to the
extent OF abrogatng an existing law.
Mr.. Young-The law says the auditor
shall draw no warrants not based on law.
Did you regard the custom as legal war
rant for your paying them?
Yes, sir.
just as obligatory as the written law2
Yes sir.
1t has been the custom for twenty years
to charge in travelling expenses besides sal
airy, although the law does not warrant it.
Did not think General Peck entitled to
clerk hire except in emergency, and possi-
bly, not then, under the law.
Don't you know that the law says that he