The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-07-20
Says Warrants We're Dr0wn and Claims Filed
in Which No Details are GiUen--- Governors
Office is also Included in Those Charged
With Lax Bookkeeping = Murray Emu
merated as One Who Was Paid With
out Detail of Service Rendered.

Guthrie, Okla, July 20. y Several
weeks ago Charles Taylor state ex-
aminer and inspector of public ac-
counts, made a report to Governor
Haskell on the condition of the state
liquor agency, or dispensary, in which
Taylor criticised Robert Lozier, SUI
perintendent; Charles West, the state
attorney general, and F. S. Caldwell,
the state prohibition enforcement at
torney, for the payment of money with
out giving the names of the persons
to whom the money was paid or the
details Of the manner in which the
money was expended. Taylor declared
that he was unable to find receipts
from persons who got the money.
The report brought attacks upon
Taylor, because of the inference that
might be drawn by the public that the
moneys had been improperly used.
Governor Haskell appointed special
committee to Investigate Taylor's re-
port, and the committee exonerated
Lozier, West and Caldwell of misap-
plication of funds Governor Haskell
and the committee attempted by ques-
tions to get Taylor and one of his as
sistants to explain further concerning
the report. Both Taylor and his as
sistant, however, stood firm and said
that nobody has been accused of pc
culation and that the report was the
best evidence Of what has been found.
That Taylor was not changed in his
determination to call attention to what
the records disclose was shown yes
terday in his report on the condition
of the state auditors department from
November 16, 1907. to April 80, 1909
The examination was made by Colin
Valentine, an assistant to Taylor, and
the report was approved by Taylor
The conduct of the auditors depart
ment Of state funds by Governor Has
keu, West and Caldwell was no less
harshly criticised than were the az
fairs of the state liquor agency.
Early in the report attention is call
ed to an official opinion by the state
attorney general, Mr.. West, to the
state board of public affairs dated
May IL, 1909, concerning disburse
ments made by r. w Dick, warden
Of the state penitentiary, in which il
was said that Dick must give under
oath. a statement in detail of how ev-
cry part of the money was spent.
IN very many instances. reads the
report made yesterday. Il find the
warrants have been drawn for claims
filed in which there is no detail OF
itemized statement given Of what the
money was drawn for. Simply the
claim filed for lump sum. l find nc
detail furnished afterwards of how the
money was spent In the matter OF
the state agency accounts, this is es
pecially SO, and particularly in the
case of warrants drawn to R. E. Loz
ier. Charles West and F. S. Caldwell
can see no way in which the details
can be got at except through these
men personally"
West and Caldwell, as did Governor
Haskell. gave as a reason for the alb
sence Of names of persons to whom
money was paid for detective work
when the state agency was on the grill
that publicity would cripple or defeat
the purpose for which the work wa'
done.
| C. A. Lawler is a detective whose
home is at Oklahoma City. He wai
employed by the state attorney general
Mr.. West, when he was in controversy
with Governor Haskell over the at
tempt of the Prairie Oil and Gas com
pany to lay pipe lines in public high
ways. and later Lawler entered the
employment Of Governor Haskell. Par
Of the money paid to Lawler at the di
rection OF Governor Haskell wai
drawn from $4,000 appropriation
The total amunt paid to Lawler from
all public sources by Governor Haskell
was ss,4Os.e0. Some Of this none,
was paid by Lawler to an assistant
who received 81 a day and expenses
while Lawler got SO a day and eK