The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-04

land commission and the state
banking board today filed formal an
swers to charges submitted in various
resolutions introduced in the legisla-
ture. The replies in each instance
with the exception OF the Cook reso-
luton, is addressed to Hon. J. w.
Smith, chairman of the committee on
special investigation named by the
house OF representatives
Replying to the complaint filed by
Representative Lester A. Maris, COW
ering certain expenditures of public
funds Governor Haskell says:
Reply To Maris Charge
Yesterday received from you a
copy Of substitute for house resolu-
ton number one, by Durham and at
tached thereto statement signed by
Hon. Leslie A. Maris, member OF the
honorable house OF representatives,
purpogting to be a complaint against
several expenditures made out OF ap-
propriations heretofore made by the
legislature for the governors office
In answer to said complaint: First
as to the expenditure of the five
thousand dollars appropriated TO pay
the expenses of investigating the af-
fairs of territorial government, prior
10 statehood and from which the COM
plant Is made as to the expenditure
of about two thousand dollars Of said
sum, desire TO say that / am pre-
pared at the earliest date your com
mittee may find it convenient to hear
the testimony, 10 show that all said
expenditures Out of said fund were
economic, correct and proper and that
the results have been vastly beneficial
to the people of our state In at least
two respects. F,rst-It has occasioned
the collection and turning into the
state treasury Of about eleven thous
and dollars in cash, and Second-lt
has disclosed methods OF territorial
government, disereditable TO the per-
sons who participated therein and
which never have been and never
will be approved by either of the great
political parties of this stale, nor by
anyone desiling honest, economic
government, and those facts | am
ready TO present to your committee at
It's earliest convenience, and ! espec-
tally will make ii plain upon such
hearing that tbs complaint filed in
the name of the Honorable Lester A.
Marris is not of his own knowledge,
nor of his own inspiration, but was
chiefly inspired and encouraged by
those outside your honorable body
whose connection with territorial af-
fairs were seriously reflected upon
by the disclosures through this nyes-
tgation.
The second complaint relates 10 The
sum OF about thirteen hundred and
ninety dollars and which we are ready
TO show by the eyidenc. was a prop
er expenditure of money and for a
purpose vastly beneficial to the state
OF Oklahoma, and the same Is true as
10 the expenditure of eleven hundred
and seventy-fiye dollars under com
paint Number 3, paid to 0. T. Smith
The same is true as 10 the eXpendi
lure OF five hundred dollars to w. T..
Hutchings, under complaint Number 4.
The same is true as to the payment Of
a total of six hundred dollars to j..
w Flenner, under complaint Number
j The same is true as TO the expen-
diture OF three hundred dollars in pro-
curing the services of Jean p. Day,
in complaint Number Z. and that in
each OF every of said instances it
was proper, lawful and right to en-
ploy each and every one OF said per-
sons TO pay them the compensation
and expenses which NJ. Maris com
plains of and their services were bene
fetal TO the state in a degree great
ly in excess of It's cost and at no time
wele any Of said sums paid to any ol
said parties for services performed
for anybody except in the public serv.
ice of the state of Oklahoma
Private Secretary
The sixth complaint Is that w. B.
Anthony. a member of the leg g'sla'
tnre, during The time when the legis-
lature was not in session. has been
employed in the governors office and
paid for the service rendeted and the
complaint is that this is unlawful. My
answer is that the employment Of Mr.
Anthony was not unlawful, that | had
perfect right TO employ him as nc
has been employed and to pay him as
he has been paid; that his compensa
ton has been reasonable and fair and
his services have been beneficial r.
the state, vastly in excess Of the com
pensation paid therefor.
| again ask for an immediate pub
lie hearing, where witnesses may b'
summoned, sworn and their testimon!
taken, and that may be present n
all such hearings and be permitted I;
introduce witnesses and TO examine
and cross examine witnesses. AM
that your Honorable Committee ma,
not only give the fullest investigation
into the matters complained of by tn
Honorable Lester A. Maris. but tha
| may be permitted. by proper evl
dence to show my charge that thi
sinformation ana Deiiel recited b
the Honorable Lester A. Maris, wa