The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
MILITARY COURT
 OF INQUIRY BEGINS Expense Account ot Second
 Regiment Examined L. V. CLARK IS PRESIDING Items Considered Were Charged at Selma, Daphne and Birmingham.
 Examiner Brooke Criticses
 Certain Expense Items.
L. V. CLARK IS PRESIDING

Montgomery, January 2S-(Special )-The validity of certain expenditures of the Second regiment. Alabama National Guard, while in practice camp at Selma, and at target practice at Daphne, will be determined by military court of in- quiry which assembled at the capitol to- day. Col c. R. Bricken, In command of the regiment, holds that there were no times of expense charged to the state that are not legally so, while H. Y. Brooke. assistant state examiner of public accounts, takes a different view as shown in report made to the governor some time ago.
 The court is assembled at the orders of the governor, through Adjut. Gen. Bibb Graves It is composed of Gen Louis V. Clark of Birmingham, brigade commanders Gen. Robert E. I.igon, Mont gomery, of the military board, and Col w. H. McKleroy of Annston, colonel of the Third infantry. Maj. A. c. Sexton of the brigade staff, is recorder, with Pat McCauley stenographer. l., s. Green and John Crowel of the Montgomery Blues are orderlies. Examiner Brooke is in attendance. as is also Maj. Ben Noble of the cavalry squadron and Capt. J. Hunt Taylor, commissary of the Sec ond regiment. Adjutant General Graves is looking on.
 No Separate Accounts.
 The first items to be taken up were those of the Selma encampment of July, 1907. There were two funds at that camp, one from the state and the other contributed. It was shown that they were combined, and that expenditures were made from the total separate account being kept Colonel Bricken ad- mittted that there were many expendi- lures not chargable to the regular state fund, but held that they were proper charges to the contributions of the people of Selma. Such things as cigars, under certain conditions, are all right as q cost to the state, but liquors, beer and in- vitations to balls were not, and ought to be laid to the special fund.
 There does not seem to be any doubt but that there enough legitimate vouchers to cover the use of the state fund, those not being a valid charge to this being cared for by the special fund. However. as the two funds are thrown together it is impossible to tell which Is which. The governor is said not to have wanted the vouchers not allowable by law to be in the archives of the mili- tary department. For this reason is this effort to have the question settled and the papers not properly a part of the state records removed.
 Daphne Troubles.
 The troubles of the Daphne meeting for target practice are about the same as arose in Birmingham. Many things are charged that the examiner thinks are not allowable under the statutes. The law says what shall be paid for and what not. and no matter how much the need for them, it is not thought that the bills can be paid for anything that is not a part of the legitimate charges as laid down in the book. There Is also this point about the Selma encampment: Should the state pay for the extra day spent there for the funeral of Senator Pettus? MT Brooke thinks not. How ever it is thought that the payment may be made as military expense, which is not a part of the general encampment fund.
 It is shown that $694 is the amount said to have been improperly charged for the Selma encampment. This Is being worked out item by item, Colonel Bricken sit ting by and answering questions when 1t is necessary to elucidate any point Gen eral Clarke. who is the president of the board asks the questions generally, though both the other members get in at times and put inquiries. It looks now as if it will take several days to get the testimony in, as there will have to be a number of witnesses examined.