Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-14
AS TO DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Attorney General Hamlin Gives His Opin-
ion to the Governor.

Attorney General Hamlin Gives His Opin-
ion to the Governor.
Springfield, Ills, April 14.-Attorney
General Hamlin has made public his
opinion in reply to inquiries submitted
by Governor Yates relative to the con-
stitutional and statutory provisions
concerning semi-annual reports of re-
ceipts and disbursements by officers
of the executive department of the
state government.
He holds in substance that all Off
GERS of the executive department must
make such reports, regardless OF
whether or not they receive money
from other sources than appropriations.
He also holds that departments which
receive fees cannot retain the same
for six months or year, but must pay
them in advance to the state treasury.
AT the end of the opinion the at
torney general says: The purpose of
the provisions seems to be to have
placed before tire governor a specific
semirannual statement of the receipts
and disbursements of each of the Off
GERS and institutions referred to, so
that this report will show semi-an-
nually the exact financial standing of
the office or institution with respect
to tine state In regard to your in
quiry as to what said reports shall
contain, and to what extent they shall
be Hemized, would say that no form
of report is laid down in said conStitu-
tional provision or in the statutes. and
any report that will show fully tho
amount of money received or disbursed
will be compliance with said constl-
tutional provision.
'As to the public institutions over
which the chief executive exercises the
power of appointment and removal, he
can require such reports as in his judg-
ment will furnish hiIn such informa-
ton as he desires. If the reports made
by the executive officers of the pup
lie Institutions do not furnish, lin the
opinion of the chief executive the nee
essary information in regard to the
financial conditions of their depart
ments he is empowered by the consti-
tuition to require any further and addi-
tional information in writing under
OATH"
In reply to the governors inquiry
as to whether the governor is required
to make such report. the attorney gen.
eral quotes the articles of the constitu-
ton defining the governors duties and
says:
Three things are required by this
provision:
HE shall give to the general as
sembly informa ton as to the condition
of the affairs of the state, and shall
recommend such measures as he shall
deem expedient.
Pile shall account to The general
assembly for the moneys received and
paid out by him from any fund sub
jeet to his order, with vouchers.
.'33-He shall present estimates of
the amount of money required to be
raised by taxation for all purposes.
This provision, in my judgment
contains all the requirement so far as
legislation, expenditure of money and
the estimates of the amount of money
required to be raised by taxation Cor
all purposes, devolving upon the gov
ernor to furnish. Yet the governor is
made an officer of the executive de-
partment and it would seem that If the
provision of the constitution applies to
the other officers of that department
it would apply equally to him.