The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-02-13
ON THE GRIDDLt
A Hot Old Time in the Conn
ell Over Auditor Hopkins
Refusal TO Show Fis
Books

urdRY. after the LEADER press nour
was taken up in warm end spirited
discussion Of Territorial Auditor Hop
kins's refusal TO bring the warrant
stubs and vouchers relating to the ad
iutant generals Office TO the joint in
vestigating committees room for the
inspection Of the committee.
n the discussion, Senators Biddisou
and Clarke insisted that the legislat.
ure bring the supreme power, IL had
the lawful and constitutional
right to compel state officer accept
ing and disehsrging the duties Of the
Office created by the legislature to
produce the vouchers and warrant
stubs named In the subpoena duces
teucm With which the auditor had
been legally served. and that a re
fusal to do so subjected such officer to
the penal les of contempt. This view
was combatted in d latory motions
and arguments by Senators Hutto,
Husto and Candy The following /,
the report aud the resolution submit.
ted by Senator Biddison, chairman OF
the Joint committee and which
brought on the discussion which con
sumed the afternoon and was only cut
of by Senator Bellamy moving an sd-
journment.
CONuTTEEs REPORT
Mr. President Your council committee
appointed under council concurrent res
olution No. 4, and authorized concurrent
ly with the committee appointed on behalf
VI tho house Of Representatives Of the
Fifth legislative assembly 10 investigate
into certain departmental and fiscal af-
fairs of the territory Of Oklahoma, beg
leave to report:
The report then recites the fact that
in obedience TO the subpoena issued
by the committee Auditor Hopkins Rp
peR,ed before the committee at l p
m. February 10, and was duly sworn
and the following questions were
asked by the committee and answers
given nv the anditor.
Q.--CBy MIR. BiddIsop) your name
residence and official position.
As. N. Hopkins)-Guthrie, .. T.:
territorial superintendent ana ex-offlcio
auditor Of the territory OF Oklahoma.
Q.--As such officer, have you in your
custody the vouchers upon which the war
rants have been issued 20 pay the ex-
penses Of the military department Of this
territory FOR the last two years?
Al have.
Q.-You may produce first the vouchers.
(Here witness hands the chairman let
ter, which Is hereto attached. marked
Exhibit D" and made a part hereof)
A.--ono thing I would like to say-This
morning when the subpoena was served
upon me ] at once went 20 work TO get
out these papers. There was not a copy
OF the subpoena left with me but l went
20 work TO get them out. As stated in the
letter, In view of the responsibility placed
upon me / felt that It was only right that
1 ask the committee to come there where
they are legally required TO be kept and
where I would feel that they were safe
and not being lost or mislaid. They are
documents for which the auditor is re-
sponsible.
Q.-Mr. Hopkins is there any great
amount OF bulk to these vouchers?
Ayes, It would take a trip OF two TO
bring them here. would say that / do
not hesitate to bring them here because
shere would be any trouble TO me in bring
ing them, but would not want them lost
or misplaced, as ! am responsible for
Shem. / have tin box there that have
flled up.
Q.-Wen. Is st not possible for these
records to be brought here, that is, these
vouchers7 They are not asked 20 be left
out of your custody or out Of your pos
session at all, but are for the eXamin-
alton OF the committee that they may
work together, and for the inspection of
witnesses while we have witnesses testl-
flying concerning them, If II is not incOn-
veDient for them 10 come on account of
their bulk.
Al just took note from the sub
poena. There was not a copy left with
me and do not know Just what papers
were wanted.
Q,-Would IL Inconvenience the business
81 your office, Mr.. Hopkins. to pres mt
these vouchers 20 the committee.
A.-Why, not further than that I wan;
10 be sure on that one point. being custo-
dian Of them.
Q.-Mr. Hopkins. you may produce 10
the committee the vouchers upon which
the warrants have been issued In pay
nnent Of the salary and expenses connect
"a with the military department OF this
territory during the last two years They
need not be out Of your custody any por'
lion Of tho time and you may remain IN
attendance OF the committee and IN Gus
fody OF the documents.
Q.-Do you refuse 70 produce here for
tho inspection Of this committee the war
rant stubs and vouchers upon w..4ch tht
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