The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-10-29
GRAHAM'S
DEPOSITION
Hearing in the Voucher Case
at Montpelier
AUDITOR GIVES HIS SIDE
In clement-Graham Voucher Case r
What Mr.. Graham Said
Before the At
torneys.
AUDITOR GIVES HIS SIDE

Montpelier, Oct IS Over three hours
was spent tonight in taking the state
auditors decision in the vouchers case
of Clement against Graham The depo-
sition was taken in the secretary OF
states office The petitioner was repre-.
scented by Cowles Aioultou of Burling-
ton and the petitionee by W. WI Miles
Of Boston. The peg on which the entire
case seems to hang is the distinction
made by the auditor between the rec
ords,s which constitute the books pre-
pared by him, all OF which are open 10
the public, and the vouchers, including
itemized bills, only the total Of which
appear in the records, and which Graham
does not consider public property.
Vouchers Win Not Locate Dishonesty.
The auditor stated tonight that in
effect the vouchers were simply useful
lin proving that he had paid out no
more money than Justified by law III
accordance with expense and other items
submitted 10 him BY the state officers
and institutions He asserted the vouch-
ers would be Of no use in asceftaining
! If there was graft or dishonesty IN the
JNUAAtIt VI TtdNt fiietAhNkAAiiHs Ilt All
ditor explained in detail the accounts
kept BY his office with the state officers
and institutions, including per diem and
various expense accounts. II an officer
employed by the state paid bill the
item would not necessarily appear on
the records, but would appear among
the vouchers, in the case Of the Brattle-
boro retreat the vouchers show no more
than the public records The vouchers
Iof the other state institutions, however,
do show more than this record which
contains the total amounts.
Taxpayers Can Examine Records.
The auditor said dishonesty in the
state institutions could not be disclosed
/ by an examination Of the record books
4 or vouchers II could only be discovered
at the various institutions. He said in
case the auditors action is questioned,
the vouchers furnish evidence that he
has complied with the statute. He had
never refused tax payer the privilege
| of examining his records" Mr.. Glenn
ent had applied for that privilege, and
his private secretary, Barney, had spent
three days at the office some months
ago III examining the records"
The auditor asserted that he had
shown all the records asked for and
given all the information called for. He
told Of expense to him personally, which
the examination oeeasioned, but said
when Barney asked about the expense,
The had told him there was no expense
4 to him (Barney) Nothing was said at
that time about an examination al the
vouchers asserted the auditor. Mr.
4 Clement first asked to examine the files
at the auditors office in August, but
| the auditor stated that he supposed I'M
1 til September 2 that only the records
was meant. He had never refused the
privilege of examining the records.
Has Received $4,000 Vouchers.
He estimated the vouchers received
since he took Office number about 145,-
LOCO These vouchers at that time were
/ specially arranged for inspection by the
telaims committee and inspector Of IL.
nance In the auditors opinion it was
/ impossible to submit the vouchers to
the inspection Of every person wanting
to see them, and keep them in any kind
| of order. lie said no one in the case had
| told him the examination was to dis
cover negligence if any in the eXpendi
! tne Of public moneys. No offer was
made TO reimburse him for any time he
imight expend during such examination.
Cross examination brought out that he
had never presented bin to Mr. Glen
ent for any such labor in the latter's
behalf. Deputy Auditor Miles stated
that he did not agree to call up Moul
ton, and let him know when he could
see the vouchers. On September AIouI
II ton spoke Of the vouchers, but mention
/ ed no specific ones. There had been
quite few who have asked TO see the
Vouchers, but he had alweys refused
them, as Graham did not consider them
public records, and had ordered him to
lallow no one to see or inspect the
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