The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-04

mad the reporter for The Searchlight
mentioned the fact to Gov. Burke and
asked him If he knew how Commits
sloner Gilbreath had disposed of that
$4,000 the governor would not doubt
have furnished him with that type
written copy, and he could then have
gone to the state auditors Office and
verified the statement by examining
the receipts for the money paid.
The Searchlight is not aware of the
fact. but 1t is nevertheless true that
in 1909 Commissioner Gilbreath made
exhibits at the following named
places:
In Wisconsin, Fon du Lac, Madison
Milwaukee. Elkhorn and Beaver Dam
In Illinois: Urbana and Springfield
In Indiana: Indianapolis and Fort
Wayne.
In Iowa Des Moines. Marshall
town, Eldora and Sioux City.
In North Dakota: Grand Forks
and the National Corn exposition held
at Omaha. Neb All these points
were practically one week stands, ex-
cept Omaha where an exhibit was
kept for nearly thirty days. These
made a totaal of fourteen fairs and
one exposition.
Two grain contests were held, one
in August and the other in November.
at Bismarck, and prizes awarded. The
first was held for the purpose OF Sc
surfing the best possible samples of
grain on the stem, and the one in
November to secure seed grain. The
prizes paid aggregated in round num-
bers $1,000, which was paid out of
the $4,000 previously referred to, the
purpose being to pay the awards i'm
mediately after the judges rendered
their decisions.
1t cost about $500 to prepare new
cases for these exhibits and it neces-
STATED the construction of an entirely
new outfit for the Omaha exposition,
as it was different from a county or
state fair and the men who did the
work had to be paid promptly and
would not wait until the auditing
board met, which was sometimes an
uncertainty Here was about $500
more expended. In addition to this
there were new jars to be brought,
printing to be had, advertising mat
tiers to be gotten out, freight to be
paid some additional seeds to be pur-
chased, of a better quality, express
charges, advertising in eastern news
papers, space at fairs to be engaged
and part payments made in advance,
postage, ribbons, signs, hardware and
sundry other items aggregating ST.
600.
In addition to this the commissioner
issued crop bulletins and paid the re-
porter of each county 81 for each let |
ter received, and had these reports |
printed and circulated. He received
about 200 letters. The sums Of all
these different items enumerated made
an aggregate grand total of $4350. |
leaving the balance to assist in defray- |
ing the expenses of the exhibits. at |
the different fairs.
Commissioner Gilbreath submitted |
his itemized report of expenditures to |
The Bismarck Tribune for publication,
out 1t was found upon making an es- |
innate that 1t would take two pages |
Of that paper to contain it, and the !
expense would be too great to pub |
fish. Any one who desires can see |
the report, as there has been no Eff /
fort to either conceal or misrepresent |
rs to how the money was spent, as it |
Is we'll known to the governor and +
state auditor and so far no objections
have been found by either Of these |
as to the commissioners meth
DDS or his expenditures.
Those who desire to investigate the |
accuracy Of these statements will be |
given access to all the books and pa |
pers in possession of the commission |
ed. Furhther, it will be found that ev- |
cry voucher presented to the auditor
for the issuance of az warrant bears
the signature of the president Of the
board.