The Lamar register., 1902-08-27
GOVERNOR THOMAS SPEAKS.
Ex-Governor Reviews State Auditor
Crouter's Report.

Denver, Aug 23.- Ex-Governor
Charles S. Thomas has sent to the
newspapers for publication II letter to
Auditor c. w. Crouter in which he an
swers the auditors allegations in re
gard to the non-payment of the special
emergency loan made to the state dur
ing the Thomas administration by the
Denver clearing house banks.
After dealing caustically with the
personalities included in the report, Mr.
Thomas says:
"Now, let us come to the merits of
your report. The funds of the clear
ing house were secured TO carry emerg-
ency vouchers issued under the stat
ute. These vouchers, which were
cashed, constitute the real claim of the
clearing house. They We're perfectly
lawful and the fact that they were
taken up and cashed by one concern
does not change their character. The
situation was called to the attention
of the General Assembly, and it
promptly recognized the Justice not
only of these, but of similar claims of
the previous administration. Both
houses concluded to cover them in the
temporary appropriation bill and the
item of $251 800 was intended for that
purpose and no other. You know 1T.
Every member of the executive depart
ment knows it. Senators and repre-
sentatives of unquestioned veracity
have assured me that you were all con
suited about 1t before the step was
taken and it was agreed upon rs the
most expeditions way of liquidating an
emergency debt. | went to see you
upon the subject, having first seen the
attorney general. You wanted to con
suit your own attorney, Hon. G. u.
Harrington. l acquainted him with the
facts and do not think you will deny
that he advised you to proceed. You
have not done so. You and you only
of the board of audit have refused to
pay the claims.
But If the appropriation was not
available for the purpose mentioned 1t
was certainly available for no other
1t was by the act itself limited to the
executive and judicial expenses for De
cember 1900. and January, February
and March. 1901. The general assem-
bly, emphasized this condition by ap-
propriating 100000 for the remainder
of the fiscal period. This was the us
ual and customary appropriation. but
wholly unnecessary if S25OOOO had pre-
| viously been devoted to the purpose. 1t
| may be that the attorney general ad-
| vised you that the two taken rs n
whole were TO constitute one fund for
| general purposes, but if so, 1t is hardly
| consistent with his recent action In ad-
| vising you to devote the remnant to
| the payment of the clearing house
claim. Besides such an opinion does
| violence to the language of the act and
perverts the plain Intention of the geii-
eral assembly.
'lf the objection urged to the clear
ing house claim be good. it should he
| generally applicable. If l understand
it you contend that n debt or deficicn-
cy created and arising in one year can
not be liquidated out of the revenues
of another year. without special act
of appropriation therefor. Even then
it must be postponed to the payment of
fourth or fifth class claims. Why has
not this rule been followed? Why has
it been almost uniformly disregnrded?
| In conclusion. Mr. Thomas says:
Il shall continue. If | live, to advO-
cate and effect the payment of the
clearing house claims. and | greatly
mistake the spirit of justice. fairness.
honesty and manhood prevailing in this
commonwealth if they are not speedily
liquidated."