Semi-weekly herald., 1910-10-17

tration. The long appropriation bill
In the session laws OF 1909. contains
the following salaries and expenses
for Attorney General Barnett's office
for the biennial term:
Attorney general $40 900
Deputy attorney general ...... 5000
An assistant attorney general 5000
An assistant attorney general :. 1000
Law clerk ................... 2.400
Stenographer ................. 2,400
Stenographer ................ 2,4Oe
Emergency fund for travelling
expenses, court and fees. 1000
Contingent. for the employment
of special counsel under the
direction of the attorney gen.
eral for all Offices, boards, bu-
reaus, and departments Of the
STATE -. 1000
Iotai ............ ........ Sal 200
But this was not enough. The long
or general appropriation bill of 1903
also contained an incidental and con
tingent fund of $4,000 for the Shat
roth administration, and out of this
sum the attorney general was allow
ed $4,000, making the total s45, 700
Tor his department. Mark the play
on words to obtain these extras for
the attorney general has for the pres
ent biennial term, an emergency
fund of $4,000; and an incidental
fund of $4,000.
But even this vas not enough. A
special act was passed in 1909 au
thorizing and directing the attorney
general to investigate the acts of the
federal government in regard TO the
public lands of the United States In
Colorado, and, as to the waters of the
state; and to institute such suit o.
suits to protect the state against any
unlawful achments of the fedora
government; and, also to appear il
the prosecution or defense of any pri
vate suit Or criminal case wherein
any such questions may arise; and
also authorizing the attorney general
to retain COUNSEL to assist; this bill
appropriating 100000 therefor. Add
ing this to the appropriation with it,
salaries, emergency" contingent
and incidental funds aggregatinl
$45,7O0, the grand total amounts tc
$65,7OO, all of which is under direc
control OF the attorney general. Dur
ing the present "uxtry' session. a
| resolution was adopted in the senate
requesting a report as to what hao
been done, with this $4,000 The mes.
sage sent in reply by Attorney Gen
eral Barnett shows that there ha6
been paid to George II. Thorne, ST..
| 6G664, and 81 900 each to Fl. NJ. Teller
Charles s. Thomas, H. A. Hicks, E
G. Stimson and Milton Smith, for lie
gal services. which, with other lesser
expenses, gave total of S8,613.99
that has already been expended out
of this 100000. and no results of def
| mite character yet obtained. Don't
| forget the "99" cents in the afore
said sum OF $S,6l3,99 and also the gen
eral partisan like manner of the dis
tribution of the fees ioe legal sery.
| ices.
But the explanation as to the pay.
ment of the $1,66664 to George II
Thorne is of interest. In his report
to the senate, the attorney genera
| says: The several payments to G
| II. Thorne were made to him as spe
cial counsel, he being employed in my
office in part, on matters concernins
the several state institutions, which
now have no counsel, and in part OIL
the questions arising under this act
The payments represent so much o.
his services as have been given to
subjects covered by this act"
What subterfuge. Note the word
ing of the long or general appropria
tion bill wherein 1T says, referring to
the office of the attorney general
contingent, for the employment O,
special counsel under the direction OF
the attorney general, for all of the
officers. boards, bureaus, and depart
ments of state" there was appropri
ated $4,000 Here is an appropriation
of $4,000 for special counsel for sev
eral state institutions, and under that
provision, Mr.. Thorne becomes a mem
ber of the attorney generals staff
but is also paid 81 ,66664 out of this
$4,000 appropriation. The attorney
general explains Mr. Thorne's position
officially as lin part this and cir
part that. IT Tweedle dee and Twee.
dle-dum for the taxpayers, but patien'
taxpayers. this is not ALL An act was
passed in 1909. relating to the publi,
revenue, and the inheritance tax. This
new law provided that the state, fo
collecting the inheritance tax, shal
be divided into three districts tina,
the attorney general shall appoint ono
appraiser for each of these districts
The salary of the appraiser for dis
trict No. l, shall be s2,4OO per annum
and that for districts Nos. . and 3.
the salary for each shall be $1,000
Under this act the attorney general
1