Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-29
ODELL GIVES ANSWER.
But Cunneen Holds That He Violated
 His Trust.


 Cunneen's statement regarding the un- constitutional use of public funds:
 "I have read Attorney General Gun neen's remarkable statement in the press. Divested of it's generalities it makes the following charges: That public funds have been diverted in an unconstitutional manner to the beet sugar industry of the state; that the board of canal commissioners, con- listing of the lieutenant governor, the comptroller, the state treasurer, the secretary of state, the state engineer and surveyor, the attorney general, all elective officers, who act with the su- perintendent of public works, the only officer appointed by the governor, had made an award of $1S,618 in excess of that which he claimed to be proper; that in, the appointment of the board of appraisers, provided for by legislation of the last legislature, had fixed the salary contrary to statute. That he claimed was an indication that the S1O1 100000 appropriated would not be sufficient to pay the place holders, because the salary of. those employed In this and expert engineering work now was $6,083.30 month, although no contract for the work has yet been allowed.
 "The attorney general began his statement by disclaiming responsibility for the authorship of that ren1arka ble document known as the Demo cratic state platform. Of this l am glad, because do not believe that he has the slightest conception as to its truths, so far as it reflects upon my personal or official endeavors. If oth- ers however, who mask behind it will be equally as specific in their charges as to my official conduct I shall be as ready and glad to meet them as I'am to meet the specific allegations of MT. Cunneen. The statement of the at torney general as to the beet sugar in dustry is ingenious in. so far as it would create the impression that it was the product of one of the legisla lures which had served, with me dur ng my four years of administration.
 '"The contrary, however. is the case. because this law was first emlcted i'll the year 1897 and amended in 1898, the latter provision stating in explicit terms that it was the avowed purpose of the state to encourage for term of not less than five years the cultiva- ton of sugar beets by the farmers Of the state and their, manufacture into sugar. Both of these laws were signed by Governor Black The appropria- tions during those two years, amount Ing to $75, ,OOO, were made for this pur- Io fc nh as lawyer would have led him to dis approve of these measures if the mar! row construction had been placed upon 1t in those days as the present attorney general gave to 1t in 1903. President Roosevelt as governor continued these appropriations during his administra- ton. During the second year of my administration objected to the bounty which was paid to the sugar manufac7 tory as being excessive, and by the laws of 1908 the bounty was reduced to one-half cent per pound instead of q cent, as heretofore, with the distinct understanding, according to my recol- lection, that this bounty should cease with the appropriation of 1904
 'Has the attorney general been en- tirely fair, however, in his treatment of this matter? do not recall that he objected to the appropriations in aid of the agricultural society of the state, yet they fall under the same inhibition, or that there was any objection upon his part to the appropriation for the Buffalo University For the Study of Cancer, to the Albany Medical hospi- tai, to the Alferd university, to encour- age the pottery industry in western New York and to the appropriations made for the support of the Juvenile society, q private organization, of which he is a member, and to other similar appropriations that have been made during his term of office. Nei- ther is there any objection, so far as I know, on his part to the appropriation which has been growing steadily to the agricultural department for the ex- i termination of the San Jose scale, which is in the interest of the orchard owners of the state and is as much in 1 the direction of the encouragement of agriculture as is the aid given to those 1 who cultivate the sugar beet.
 ! "All of these items also go to show that the growth of the expenditures of the state, taken up Item by item, can be easily accounted for. In reference to the charge that $16000 was diverted from the public treasury by the unwise action of the canal board, do not be- lieve that. the attorney general means to reflect in any way upon the integ- rity and honesty of his associates up- on that board. The people of this state should not be misled by statements which lack substantial and specific di- rection. The charge that am using my official position for the benefit of ! my party is as false as it is untrue. I am interested in the success of the Ite- publican party because believe in it's principles, and the aid that can be given by me legitfmately and without detriment to the interests of the state i purpose to furnish. The people of the state will find that there has been 1 nothing that has occurred during the l four years in which they have in- trusted me this great office that can in