The Republican journal., 1910-09-01
DIFFERING HONESTLY.
The Falsity of the Democratic Cry Of Graft
in State Affairs.

Speaker Cannon said in Kansas speech:
81 believe in two parties-one to watch
the other. There ought to be we'll or
ganized minority to hold the majority in
check. have high respect for man
who honestly differs with me on govern
mental policies"
Mr.. Cannon's reference to the men who
honestly" differ from him is worthy of
consideration. ~ We, too, respect the men
who honestly differ from US politically,
some of them are our best friends, but
we have little respect for those who dis
honestly differ from us-those who make
unfair statements and unjust claims by
which to carry their point.
This applies particularly to the claim
of graft in the management of our State
affairs-the most senseless claim of all.
for the men who manage the business OF
our State are honorable men, men wib
are trusted in private life and with whom
their constituents are glad to do business
and who can be relied on.
Under existing laws the State treasur-
er can pay out money only for purposes
for which IL was appropriated. To illus
trate: Some years ago certain publishers
had claims against the State for adver
Using. There was plenty of money in
the treasury, but as no appropriation had
been made by the legislature to cover
these bills the publishers were compelled
to wait until the next legislature con-
vened before payment was made. These
publishers cannot be made to believe that
State money is paid out promiscuously.
The fact is, it is expended in accordance
with the vote of the people, representa-
tives Republican and Democratic) in
legislature assembled.
More than that, if officials were disposed
to be dishonest they must get by the State
auditor Several instances have occurred
which show that the auditor believes in
keeping the law to the letter and will not
allow even small errors to pass. He has
devised an elaborate system of expense
reports and every official or State en-
ployee must make oath to his expense
account In making up one officials ex-
pense account a clerk by mistake made
the railroad fare between two points 80
cents each way instead of 80 cents for
the round trip. The error was detected
in the auditors Office and the item cut
down. 1t was only last week that we
announced the auditors refusal to allow
Coroner Martins bill on the Cyr inquest
because it was held outside his jurisdic-
ton.
One Democratic paper made claim Of
graft in work done for the State, in
ferior material being used or work being
poorly done. AS we 60 between our home
and office we cross bad piece of con-
crete sidewalk and pass to private walks
which are badly broken. 1t might be
claimed that this defective walk was the
result of graft, but it isn't it the result
of frost, and what has occurred in work
done for individuals or towns may have
occurred in work done for the State, but
the paper mentioned above didn't specify.
The facts we have stated should con-
vince fair-minded people that the oppor-
tunities for graft in State expenditures
by State officials or employees, even if
desired, are small. and this being true
the men who make the claims of graft
are not doing it honestly but to gain their
end. -Piscataguis Observer.