The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-07-28

Auditor Charles ]. Moore Answers Ex'
County Supi. Green aud VlgOr-
lusIy Defends Ills RepoFt.


There appeared in The Leader 81
July 24th ana in the Times Of the
23rd inst. an article over the sigma
ture Of Mr. Edgar Green, ex-Supt.
of Education, which. in justice to
myself, and to the Board of Super
yisors, who employed me, | feel
called upon to answer.
am very sorry to note that Mr..
Green chooses to treat as personal a
matter which to me was purely the
discharge Of an official duty.
| Mr.. Green failed utterly, how
ever. to back up his personalities
when, in the presence Of several
witnesses, met him face to face,
and gave him excellent opportunity
to obtain personal satisfaction.
wish to give brief history Of
the matter under discussion and to
clear up few points at issue.
Acting upon the suggestion Of
two Grand Juriee, the Board Of
Supervisors Of Lincoln county, at
its February meeting, requested
that Gov. Noel send an expert or
competent accountant to make 4
complete audit of the books and
records of Lincoln county. Acting
upon this request and by authority
lof section 1888 Of the code of 1906,
which reads as follows:
Examiner Of public accounts. IS
The governor is authorized, when
lhe deems it proper, to appoint an
texpert accountant, whose duty it
shall be. under direction of the
Governor, to audit and examine the
books, accounts and vouchers Of all
officers. State or county, or Of any
lof the State educatonial. charitable
or reformatory institutions, or Of
the officers thereof. or Of any other
institution supported in whole or
in part by the State, the Govern
or commissioned me to perform the
audit.
As to the right Of the Board to
pay for the work, they have the
attorney Generals and the Dis
ltrict Attorneys, as well as: the
county attorneys written opinions
authorizing them to make the pay-
ment, which they have promised to
do at their August meeting.
As to my ever having claimed to
represent any audit company what.
ever. rated or otherwise, other
than myself, that is untrue.
When Gov. Noel issued cons
mission to me to do this work, 4
became the official Examiner Of
Accounts, = and my report is signed
as such.
Section 1890, Code of 1906 reads
as follows:
A commission shall issue to the
examiner, yesting in him authority
to do and perform the duties for
which he may be appointed, and he
shall have authority to issue sub
poenas for witnesses whom he may
wish to examine, administer oaths
to them, and to compel their at.
tendance; and shall have full
authority to require officers whose
books and accounts are being exam
ined, and their deputies and clerks.
to render him assistance and give
him information needed in the
prosecution Of his Investigations.
The examiner shall have the same
powers to punish a witness who
fails or refuses to attend and testi-
Ify before him as conferred by law
on justices Of the peace; and an
officer, his deputy or clerk, failing
to give assistance or information
to the examiner when required,
shall be punished as for failure
or refusal To perform official duty. "
And it was upon the authority
thus vested in me that | made the
investigation.
Had it been the desire of the
Grand Jury or the Board of Super
visors that the Chancery Clerk or
the State Revenue Agent make the
investigation they would have So
requested
1t is true that, as yet, am not
| d citizen of this State, not having
been here quite two years, but I
have come here to stay and will
soon be a citizen; and, besides,
that has nothing to do with the
case, for hardly any Of the public
auditors practicing ii Mississippi
| are or have any intention of becom.
ling citizens of the State: II usually
being desired to get some entirely
disinterested party to make investi-
cations Of this nature.
IT is untrue, however, that I
come as an entire stranger, for +
have examined the accounts Of five
Ior six of the State Institutions, and
Iit was no less person than his
excelIency. Governor &. f Noel.
who sent me to do this work, and
there il no danger OF my silently
stealing away / viii always be
where / can be found when desired.
Nov as to the punctures for the
report
Mr.. Green says The marks that
appear on the licenses over the