The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-07
BROOKE REFUSES
 ID ALLOW BILLS Charged In Expense of 1909
 Military Encampment MAJOR SMITH EXPLAINS Necessary To Make Hotel Charges From Fact That the Regiment Was Short on Tents and Also Had
 To Care for Army Officers.
MAJOR SMITH EXPLAINS 5


 Y. Brooke, state examiner of accounts, has refused to allow an item of sl40.b5, spent by Maj. J. Q. Smith of the artillery corps for hotel bills at the 1909 encamp- ment. He has also disallowed an item of 800 for rents for the Third regiment, in fantry, though he thinks 1t charge that ought to be allowed, even if 1t cannot be under the acts The only other objection he finds is the practice of drawing the military fund from the treasurer and de- posting to official account. His criticism lies in the fact that in this way every item of expenditure cannot be passed upon by the auditor and the governor. as the law anticipates.
 The total cost of the last two encamp- ments have been less than the appropria- tions by s7O00 for which the officers are given credit The First regiment was maintained on the most economical basis. There has also been marked improvement in keeping the accounts of the depart ment There is too much difference, how ever, in the number of servants used by the various commands, and the examiner thinks it should be more nearly uniform. The money spent by each officer is given in the following table:
 Col. R. B. DuMont, First infantry. 1908. s750; Col. G. J. Hubbard, First infantry, 1S09 $2350; Col. c. R. Bricken, Second infantry. 1908, s75O; 1909, s3sS5; Col. w. H. MackLeroy, Third infantry, 1908, s750; 1909, s3253.16; Maj B. E. Noble. cavalry. 1908, $1975. 73; 1909. s179S .45; Maj. J. Q. Smith, ar tilery. s1soS, SIPS; 1909, s16S6.Se; target practice by General Graves, 1908, s25s5 or; 1909 s1456.97; by D. W. McIver, 1908, $60l. .3S; 1909 s9O2. .75; by Captain yanliew, 1908. $40O; signal corps, by J. H. Patterson, 1909, s505 .S7; transportation, by Barry Holt, $3252. 49; military expenses, by s. E. Wash burne, 1909. S200.56.
 Major Smith explains the hotel charge by saying that he had no tents, there be- ing not enough to take care of the men, let alone the staff. He had two of- ficers of the United States army with him and they had to be cared for. He as- sures the governor that it was impossible to have taken care of the staff in tents, and that they were forced to go to the hotel
 Maor Smith Explains.
 The following explanation of the hotel charge is sent in by Major Smith of the artillery:
 Birmingham, January {, 1910. 'B. B. Conner, Governor State of Ala
 bama, Montgomery
 Dear Sir-Your letter of January to hand with reference to report of State Examiner H. Y. Brooks, charging to me $40 50 improperly expended for hotel bill for myself and staff during the summer encampment of the First battalion of field artillery, from July 23 to July 29, 1909. inclusive.
 T have this explanation to make of this expenditure of sl4O.5 for hotel which the examiner claims is an improper ex- penditure:
 Myself and staff arrived in Mobile on the night of July 21 last to prepare for the encampment. and being In advance of the artillery battalion and no tents or other provision made for us, we reg istered at the Cawthon hotel until the troops arrived on the morning of July 23, this battery reached Mobile in due time without the tents. I had been furnished 22 conical tents to be divided between Batteries and D, which was done. Bat tery B had 1O4 men and 4 officers Bat tery D had 119 men and 5 officers. so you can see that there wasn't enough tentage for the two batteries, let alone the stan and hospital corps.
 I Immediately wired the adjutant gen. [ in Montgomery, but at Anniston On the evening of July 27 l received one large tent which I turned over to the hospital corps, which was absolutely necessary, and two small wall tents. which l gave to the five officers of Bat tery D, who had been sleeping in the tents with their men up to the time of the arrival of the tents referred to. Cap- tain Todd, Battery B, brought two small tents for his four officers, which were used by him and his officers, so you can readily see that myself, staff and hos pital corps were without tentage also had with me two officers of the United States army, who were detailed for duty with my battalion who were supposed to be taken care of.
 Under the above circumstances myself and staff continued to stay at the hotel during the encampment. hence the hotel bill.
 T would be glad If you would confer with the adjutant general and have my statement verified by him. I am sure under the facts in this case the expendi ture for hotel bill was very necessary and l don't feel any responsibility or liability to pay tins amount so charged to me.
 q hope that when this report is made public you will let this statement go with it, in justice to myself Respectfully,
 "J Q. SMITH. Major Commanding First Artillery.
 Alabama National Guard"