The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-09-23
We Would IKE 70 KNOW"

Ed
gets wrathy and wants to know
whether or not Nool made accounts
for the warrants he drew from the
contingent fund on his trips tol
Washington.
Fred. Sullens takes him to task,
and in his edition of the Jackson
News of recent date in an able
editorial, gives q full explanations OF
tho amounts drawn out by Gov.
Noel, and the manner in which they
were expended.
This also served rs apple sauce"
to ask a few questions of tho Ga
zette and other Vardaman followers.
The following are some of the quer-
les that were asked in regard to Mr..
Vardaman's disposition of the con-
tingent fund, about which the peo-
pie of the state are awaiting enlight-
eminent. Here are the queries:
We would like to know what be
came of tho William J. Bryan
scholarship fund of $500, which
disappeared from public view for a
period of three years, no interest
being paid thereon, to be paid for
the education of some deserving
Mississippi girl, as intended by the
donor, tho sum being turned over
only after MI. Vardaman had been
requested to do so.
I'VE would like to know what be-
came of the "hold out" of $1,000
from the Meridian cyclone relief
fund, for (which Col. II. NJ. Street
speaker of the Lower House, has
been vainly demanding an explana-
ton.
"We would like to know why, on
sixteen separate and distinct occa-
sions, as shown in the contingent
fund report, Mr.. Vardaman drew
double pay for visiting state institu-
tons, first lreimbursing himself in
amounts adequate for all legitimate
expenses from the executive contin-
gent fund, and afterwards drawing
additional amounts from the institu.
tions.
We would like to know how Mr.,
Vardaman succeeded in spending
1925 on a visit to Columbus tc
attend the national guard encamp'
ment, when his railroad fare, if ne
paid any at all, was only one cent
per mile, and the Hotel Gilmer Gid
not charge for room and lodging
This amount was drawn by MIR
Vardaman on August 9Th, 1907, Con.
tingent Warrant No. 40, Treasury
Warrant No. 1914.
"On August 9Th, 1908, one year
later, Gov. Noet also visited the
national guard encampment, and
his expenses amounted to only $ll.
assshown by the contingent fund
report, Pay Warrant No. $50, page
10. How was it possible for Mr.
Vardaman to get away with $125
between Jackson and Columbus
when a similar journey cost Gov
Noel the paltry sum of $1l?
eve would like to know why
Mr.. Vardaman drew 800 out of the
executive contingent fund, and $75
out of the prison warden's special
fund, a total of $l75, to pay the OK.
pense of a three-day trip to Lathrop
Mo-, to buy mules for the peniten.
tiary, when the expenses of othe1
members of the prison board, fol
the self same trip, amounted to only
$25 each.
"We would like to know why 8
recapitulation of eleven warrants, or
page 10 of the contingent fund re.
port, show a difference of $342 be.
tween the amount of the contingent
fund warrant and the treasury war.
rant-the difference being against
the state, of course.
We would like to know wha1
sort of an explanation can be mad,
of that exhibit on page IL of thu
contingent fund report, showing
5 1890 drawn out, to quote the Ian.
guage of the expert. accountant EN-.
bodied therein, where explanation
is unsatisfactory"
These are but a few of the mys,
teries connected with the contingen'
fund scandal which Mr.. Vardamar
has utterly failed to explain, and i
the Magnolia Gazette will come t.
his defense, enlighten the peopl
1t A-- -----Ha--l - -.