Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-09
Communication

communication.
To the Editor of the Kennebec Journal.
me New Age continues to disseml-
nate transformation through its vain
aple columns relative to the commits
sioners of inland fisheries and game
as evIdeno ed by its issue this week. !,
says ana to cap the climax Chair
man Cook has requested the fish and
game commission to render q complete
itcmlzei expense account tor the year
1900.
rms is error. Chairman Cook has
made no such request: a complete
tHlni"ed expense account was rendered
the Governor ana Council during the
year 1900. one was also rendered the
Legislature under the "Plummcr or
der in common with all State officers.
which was printed by order of the Leg
islaturc and which the New Age has
, since reproduced. Again the New Age
says. referring TO Il recent meeting of
| the t'oVerno. and Council: Ia the fish
and game account was the bill Of Com
| missioner Carleton. in which the
greater part OF his charges We're for
railroad fares and board at Augusta
| Willie attending to his duties at the
| '7AtstN Il i''l"i- Alllt again III lilt dll-
| parent zeal to discrcdit the chairman
Of til" commission, is an error. The
| chaiIuIan for the seven months of the
year mas been paid s195.55 expense ac-
count Ono fare from his home in
| Winthrop to Augusta has been charged
III his expense account. one team
oacc-and less than So for board Not
one-fifth OF his expense account is for
railroad fare from his home to the
| office in Augusta ana board while
| here.
Again the New Age says: Chair
| man cook did not quite understand
| why Mr. Carleton should be allowed
travel from Winthrop to Augusta and
4 board while here. when Adjutant Gen
cral Richards does not charge his rail
road fare from Gardiner nor his board
at Augusta. II was unfair. thought
| Mr.. Cook. To other state officers who
do not charge such expenditures to
| allow Mr. Cartoons bill. therefore il
| was laid over till the July meeting
| The commissioners are not informed
and have no means of knowing what
| tranSpires in executive session of tho
Governor and Council except as in
formed by the New Age. Tho commits
sioners were told by excellent author
| ity that all of the bills of this depart
m"nt went over from the June meet
ing simply and solely for the reason
! that there was insufficient tim" to au
| dit them on account of the TIM con
sumed in the various pardon hearings.
| All bills of this department went
! over together. not alone M. Cartoons,
| but those of his associates, also the
| wardens and the Wolkmen in the
hatchcries. and for the reason above
stated
There seems to be some misundcr-
Standing rs to the salary of the com
|! missioners and their right to charge
| eXpenses. and it should not be con-
founded with the law pertaining to the
adiutant generals salary. The law
4 states expressly, that the commits
sioncrsr Except the forest commits
sioner) shall receive $1,000 per annum
salary and actual travelling expenses
1 to be audited by the Governor ana
4 Council while in the case of the ad-
infant general his salary is $500 and
no travelling expenses: and the reader
| can $40 the fairness of the statement
| Of th,. New Age that chairman COOK
did not quite understand why MI.
Carleton should he allowed travel. etc
when Adiutant General Richards does
| not charge for travel. etc.
! In Mrs ,'arlcton's case the law says
no shall be paid his actual travelling
-nonsas in addition to his salary of
$1,000. in the adjutant generals case
the salary of $500 is in ful! for services
and travelling expenses.
Whether right or wrong. II has ocen
Tie universal practice ever since the
commission was estabiiSheo 10 chf'i ~
Ecyncnses while coming to, returning
from and while at Augusta. uhder re
publican and Democratic adhhhlstra-
tions alike and Mr. Carleton has fol-
,o,yod the practice He has devoted a
t-reat deal more time to the duties 81
the office than had been customary,
the work of the department has moro
than nuadrupled since the salaries OF
tho commissioners were established,
and hence his expense account mas
+ been larger but not materially larger
i. than that of his associates
-rheF commissioners file their expense
account with the tribunal provided by
law 70 audit them. They believe they
ara under the law justly entitled to
their expenses while coming to. re-
tnrning from and while at Augusta in
the performance of their official duties
They are not, however. satisfied with
,bis method of compensation. and Mr.
, Carleton. last winter, tried to get it
, changed and have them paid salary
in fun for services and expenses, the
: same as the adjutant general and
other State officials are paid believing
, If would be more satisfactory all
I around, but he could not bring it about
It is difficult to understand why the
7 fish and game department and Mr.
: carleton in particular is criticized SC
harshly and held up to ridicule and
sought to be discredited by this paper
! OBSERVER.
o Augusta, Me-, Aug. 8.