Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-11

| ais office acknowledges "a deficit of
over $4,000. and it is certain the es-
innate is in excess of that sum.
This money was paid out. or the
bills were contracted, directly under
the supervision of Gov. Richard
Yates. who must, under the stntute,
approve all bills before the state
auditor will draw a warrant on the
state treasury. Gov. Yates cannot
shift the responsibility. He must
stand in his own shoes and assume
it.
| This enormous sum-Over S2S5.0O0,
taking the figures of the adiutant
| generals office-was scattered with
prodigal hand during an encampment
that extended over above two months.
When the bills are all in it will
doubtless be found that the total
will reach at least 100000. This is
$150,00O a month, or So 900 day.
What rat hole, what cavern in the
sea, was filed with this vast sum?
There was one regiment in camp
each week, and including rank and
file, non-commissioned. commissioned
officers, field and staff. the average
number each week during the en-
campment could not have exceeded
| 900 men.
Imagination wholly fails to account
for an economical or honest" or
business like" expenditure of So
day each for total of 1000 men.
The entire guard could have been
lodged and boarded at the best hotels
in St. Louis or Chicago for less than
that figure. The best hotels in
Springfield cater to their custom for
half that price per diem. 1t is not
necessary to insist on this point.
Every citizen of the state knows it
is true. Will the governor render an
account of his stewardship of the
prodigious military fund? 1t is in
order for him TO show that it was
honestly and economically expended.
Did the soldiers get ibid they
get even their share of the 100000?
| They probably got all the law al
lowed them and the exact figure for
the entire national guard is S54,-
244.52. There still r remains about
S245.000 expended during the two
months for the governor to account
for. He will show that $4,000 was
spent for transportation-an aver
age of nearly 50 Il man, which is Il
| frightful extravaganza, considering
the accommodations furnished the
rank and file. There still remains
1929 900.
The item of groceries. usually so
! important in feeding a body of men.
amounts only to S6.O53. butterine.
81 ,O79; meat and lard. So.6s5. Under
the grocery head was included bread.
Here we have about $1,000 and there
still remains over 100000 for the
governor to account for.
1t was the peoples money, wrung
from them by the taXgatherer.
What has Gov. Yates to say in
defense of his militia department?
Adjt. Gen. James b. Smith. it is said.
expects to save $25, 900 or 100000 this
year by consolidating the regiments
into brigades, and having one brigade
meet near Chicago, saving transpor-
tation. The negro regiment will not
be permitted to go into camp of in
struction at all. They are expected
to swallow their chagrin. They will
vote the ticket anyhow. The white
boys are the ones that require some
pampering and coddling by the gov
ernor. They are a pretty indepen-
dent set of fellows.
Gen. Smiths estimate of saving
this year is very high. If he is not
extremely cautious he will show that
the headquarters of Gov. Yates
cost the taxpayers of the state at
least 500. 900 during the two months
encampment in 1901. The appoint
ment of Gen. Smith, by the way. is
one of the few really good ones the
governor has made.
am not attempting to fix any part
of the blame upon the late Maj.
Gen. Reece. He was a soldier and
certainly countenanced no eXtraya-
gance that was not ordered or re-
quested by his superior, the governor.
Indeed, / know of one instance where
he entered vigorous protest to
livery bills being contracted by one
of the governors secretaries and
charged to the national guard.