Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-10-28
IN OUR OWN STATE.
Testimony In the Clement. Graham Case

Testimony In the Clement Graham Case.
Testimony was taken at Montpelier
Monday evening before W. N. Theriault
in the mandamus proceedings brought
by p. w. Clement of Rutland against
State Auditor II. +. Graham to compel
the auditor to allow an examination of
the vouchers in his office. Attorney
Moulton, f. e. Miles, deputy state au-
ditor and State Auditor Graham were
examined. the testimony of Mr. Mouton
showing that he was refused permission
to examine the vouchers in the auditors
office. Mr. Miles and Mr. Graham were
questioned at length as to the reason for
such refusal. Mr.. Graham denied that
the vouchers in his office are public prop
erty and subject to examination by any
citizen and taxpayer. Mr. Graham tes-
titled that since he had been state au
ditor there had been no mismanagement
of his office He allowed an examination
of Mr. Bells vouchers because Mr.. Bells
character had been assailed and If the
charges against him were true he would
have been disqualified for governor. He
considered this instance entirely out
side the rule that the vouchers were
not public property. The examination
lasted until nearly midnight. Counsel
for Mr.. Graham have several dispositions
to take before the case will be in shape
to present to the supreme court.
Mr. Clement, in a deposition taken at
Rutland recently, said in part: From an
examination of the published auditors
reports of this state 1t appears that for
the thirty years ending June 30, 1901,
the total state current expenses increas-
ed from $3.50, S160S to $685., 20S.12 per
year. or about 1876 per cent. and the au-
ditor's report shows that the latter fig
ures have been increased for the last BIZ
ennial period by 1896, 059.25, or an av-
erage annual increase for that period of
q 49,. fAw
of the insane of this state increased, dur
ing the ten years ending June 80, 1901,
from $74,SSS.05 to $15S, 717.65, or about
112 per cent. During such period of 80
years the population of this state has in
creased $4,000 or about 4 per cent In
such published reports sufficient details
of the expenses in the various depart
ments is not given and it is impossible to
ascertain from such published reports in
what departments there has been an
undue and unreasonable increase of eX-
penses. The vouchers on file in the au-
ditor's office contain such details, and
form the original records from which
such published reports were made up.
An examination of such original vouch-
ers is the only means of ascertaining
such items of increased expenses and the
details of the same. full knowledge
of such details is absolutely indispen-
sable to a full understanding of the mat
in the accounting departments and the
various other departments of the state as
will reduce such expenses to the proper
amount 1t is my present purpose to full
ly understand all such items of expenses
and to analyze the same and make up
proper statements therefrom which will
show wherein the various items of eN-
penses are unnecessary or excessive, and
to bring such information before the
voters of this state and personally and to-
gether with other citizens and taxpayers
of this state to advocate and bring about
reforms i'm the auditing and other de-
partments Of the state which win reduce
such expenses to the proper amount, and
will save the state large sums of money.
This was the purpose for which asked
an inspection of the vouchers i'm the au-
ditor's office, and ! now desire an in
specton of such vouchers for the purpose
of carrying out such objects and secur-
ing in the future a proper reduction of
such expenses"