Oakes Republican. (Oakes, N.D.) 1898-1906, 1899-08-25
THE OTHER SIDE.
Joe Devine Explains How he Drew Two Sal.
aries in One Month Last Year.

The story as published in the last
issue of the Republic can about Gov
ernor Devine drawing two salaries
for the month of August last year has
another side to it It appears to be
true that the money was drawn as
stated, but it was left for the gov
ernor himself to telI why. The fol-
lowing is his statembnt of the matter
as given to VALLEY City newspaper
man:
For some MONTH prior to Govern
or Briggs death, the latter was in
very poor health, and was able to de-
vote but little time to the duties of
his office. In fact, he was out of the
state most Of the, time travelling for
his health. When the war broke out
and the North Dakota troops were
called. MIR. Briggs was in California,
and while Gov. Devine prior to this
time had not felt warranted in as
suming any of the duties of the gov
ernor's Office, although section Y,
article 3, of the state constitution
prescribes that the lieutenant-gov-
ernor shall act as governor during
the absence of the latter from the
state, he felt at sthat time that the
condition of affairs warranted him in
taking action. He accordingly as
sumed the duties of governor and
acted as such dfring portion of the
months of Apfil and May, 1898,
about month ii all. There was a
great deal of I 1ork and correspon-
dence in connedk zion with the mus
teripg in of the Toops and the bur-
den fell upon MI. Devine's shoulders.
The successful Ranner in which the
North Dakota regiment was cared for
at Fargo and tie promptness with
which it replied to the call of the
government wasEn no small measure
due to MIR. Devihe's zeal and untiring
energy.
Notwithstanding the fact that he
filled the COVER BORIS office be drew
for this time bib salary as lieutenant
governor only 1883. .33 a month. This
was a matter Which Mr.. Devine ex-
pected to diust with Governor
Briggs when tie latter returned, but
the untimely dsath of the governor a
few months latsr prevented this. Mr..
Devine felt that as he had filled the
Office for month, he was legally en-
titled to the sail Try, which was $3.50,
and that he hah a balance coming
of $197 for his dervices in April and
May. When @ overnor Briggs died,
August 9, Mr.. pevine at once became
the governor, aid as such, entitled to
the salary. Hadrew for his services
in August $333Awhich is about $50
less than the atnount to which he
would have beeh entitled had he been
allowed his sald dFy as acting governor
in the spring. THAT is all there is to
the charges thd Il he drew two salar-
les during AUGUST
So far as thdcharges in connection
with his serviq bs as lecturer before
the summer Schools are concerned,
the amounts Allowed are for travelling
expenses onlyt for which the state al
lows 10 cents sper mile. No allow
ance is made 1pr hotel bills or other
expenses, whi{ {h the lecturers pay out
of their own p peckets. Besides Gov
ernor Devine, here are, perhaps, half
a dozen other leading educators in
the state who dive their services to
the state educational departments on
these same terme The county sup
erintendents ard allowed to choose
their lecturers, $nd it is not to Gov
ernor Devinn's dscredit that his tai
ents are recognized in this direction.
Low Excursion RateIto Atlantic Seabord.
Remember the Nickel Plate Road has
solid through trains between Chicago and
New York City, Also don't forget that the