Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-07
MAY BELONG TO The STATE.
Says He Will Refund It Ia the Event
That Public Ownership is
Established.
A QUEER FINANCIAL TANeLE'
Prof Cummings Clears Up Nest Per.
iectly the Cloud That Had Been Gre
ated Regarding Small Amount

OOe OF llle lUpet llNtftnNllk nNNSi"hN
OF the Utah-st Louis exposition COM
mission yet held was the one that took
PLACE in Judge Morse's court room
this morning The principal witness
was Director General whitaker whom
Atty. II. A. Smith pursued as
vigorously as though he were on trial
for a felony instead Of simply testify
ing as to the facts and conditions un'
der his administration. It must be
said that the gentleman did not make
the best possible witness for himself
or that he cleared himself Of charges
by innuendo, that he apparently might
have been able TO do,
The most damaging point that wai
not cleared up WAS the question Of
the ownership Of $500 Witness de-
clared that he was unable to say
whether It belonged TO the state OF
10 himself His accounts said the
money was his own. In the event that
state ownership We're established he
would willingly refund IT, otherwise he
would retain II.
During the morning Prof. Cummings
who was In charge of the educational
exhibits OF Utah, went on the stands az
his own request and cleared UP enureiy
the doubt that had been raised al %
the disposition OF a certain VIZ
MIR. WHITAKER RECALLED.
The hearing was resumed with Dlrec-
TOR General s. r.. Whitaker on the
stnnd The witness was shown tins
Lange a Bergstrom building contract,
ana asked why the amount thereof had
been enlarged in the sum OF s2,Ssl. ny
whose authority We're you acting IN TINS
matter?" was asked the witness
"The sum OF $3.50 OF this amount was
used ON the verandas'
Did YOU and Mr. sherman extend the
contract price 10 the amount Of S239lY'
Il have no recollection OF having
IT notice that the total expenditure
ls Sl0.387.4O for the work that Is des-
cribed In this letter. Is that CORES
There must be some mistake. You
must have hold OF other contracts
There is a charge here OF 500 for
wiring the state house. Is that rightY
yes. sir. that was the work done on
the yeranda.'
this additional expenditure
"There was no special authorization,
but the matter Is covered in certain
correspondence between members OF
the commission
"Will you produce any instrument
giving you such authority"
The witness was here handed buuch
OF correspondence, and after examining
the papers, replied: There rs none OF
that correspondence here at All
was there ever such correspondence
between yourself and the board on
these matters2'
Eyes. sir; there was some correspond
ence on this subject
"The item Of Ss4l0 for extras that
was in connection with the building
was Il not2'
Il think mott
EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURE.
"Mr. whitaker. I wish you would
md, II you can, any correspondence au-
thorizlng you 10 exceed the expendi-
lures authorized In the original letter
| now hand you voucher li3, state
whether or not that is the amount paid
to r. q. Shiser for the work mem
toned"
This was for work that arranged
with Mr.. Shisler TO do Tor the sum OF
$3.50, as stated
was this amount In full2'
~ think 3d."
II notice a notation for work In re-
pairing oyclorama, etc, How much was
this?"
Something over $500, l believe"
"Why was this expense incuTedY
THERE WAS A STRIKE.
During the time OF preparation there
was a strike on and / was forced TO
hire additional men va order 10 push
the thing through. These men ] paid
out of my own pocket and In the hurry
! neglected to make out voucher for
the amount. Later / concluded to at
tach Il to Mr.. shisler's voucher aud
made a notation to this effoct."
"Who did the work2'
"Dnerent parties, whose names am
not able to give They were transient
workmen, hired by the day and were
paid IN money when their work was
completed
"Dir Mr. shlsler have anything TO
do with this extra work.
mo, SIR
WHY IT WAS DONE.
why then. did you put It ON his
voucher? why did he sign for Sj905O
Mnen ne ktk NH"N A'a' NtfHf' NAAA'
AMOUNT"
Because / asked him to. II was the
only way / could get my money back"
"Why didn't you present a voucher
for the amount TO the commission and
get your check2'
BECAUSE there WAS some question
whether l would get the money
you were afraid that the commission
would not allow it, were you"
We'll. / had no assurance that they
would"
"Did you pay this hill ia check or
money!"
II do not recall now whether II was
bv check or money!
"Here Is check No. 4 for S59050 Is
that tho check covering the indebted
ness to Mr.. shisler?"
1t appears 10 be-
1T calls for s59o5O, and yet he was
entitled to but S3S250
Yes. sir"
"Wnl you explain why you aid bus-
ness In this way2 Were you In tho