The Marshall republican., 1910-09-09

his itinerary; and he had cut Qut SI1.3.
reported as expended for railroad fare,
and 55 cents for buss and street car
fare. Cn July 81 the auditor enclosed
to Mr.. Tolerton his check on the
treasury for these amounts, referring
to them as accounts withheld lat your
request" and as paid lat your request
and because OF an itemized itinerary
duly sworn to-" (The original bill OF
Mr.. James had been duly sworn to.)
80 1t appears from the auditors own
letters that the "cut" made with the
auditors pruning knife in the salary
claim was made at the request of ar.
Tolerton and restored when both he
and the auditor were convinced thai
the items suspended were Just claims
against the fund maintained for pay.
ment of the per diem and expenses OF
the game and fish commissioner and
his deputies-a fund that does o
come from taxpayers.
Mr.. James presented a receipt from
the Florence hotel at Brunswick for
81 where the auditors spy claimed he
had spent but so cents. Notwitnstand
ing this, $3.50 of this cash expenditure
Is still withheld by the auditor. The
proprietor of the Henrietta hotel al
Chillicothe stated that no such repori
as the auditor claimed to have re
ceived concerning Mr.. James bill
there had been made by him or his
hotel and gave Mr.. James a receipt
for S.. The other dollar of the $500
claim at Chillicothe was spent FOR
meals at a restaurant there. The fact
that a Republican committee meeting
was being held at Chillicothe on the
day of Mr.. James visit there may
have ~prejudiced his claim for Sc ex-
penses. Mr.. James obtained from Mr..
Phillips, a merchant at Bowdry Cut, a
receipt for 81 paid him Thy james, for
meals and assistance in official duties
and also a testimonial that doubtless
removed all doubt in the auditors
mind as to accommodations furnished
travellers at that wide place in the
road" and as to what good citizens
who know Mr.. James think OF him.
The auditor allowed only so. cents OF
this item Of $500, however.
The auditor has finally paid all but
$40 of the expense account filed by
Mr.. James, and for $3.50 of that
amount Mr.. James has filed receipts
as valid as any. travelling man could
present for money expended. For the
balance he cannot we'll obtain receipts
for 1t was spent for meals, and other
expenses incident to 'travel-such ex-
| penses as are generally included in
travelling. expense accounts without
vouchers but verified by the oath or
the claimant. If the auditor does not
1ay this balance the game fund will
nave ten dollars more than II Is enti-
led to and a poor man will lose 1t.
The taxpayers will derive no benefit
whatever and that much boosted prun-
ing knife of the auditor will bear a
adsty spot On it's shining surface.
Democratic papers that have been
asserting with emphasis that the aud
tor has been using his pruning knife
on the accounts of the game and fish
commissioners department are re-
minded OF the fact that Mr.. Tolerton
does not deny that he spent $4,000
last year and s51, 900 the first six
months Of this year in propagating
and protecting game and fish. In or
der that the public may know to what
extent tie auditor has used his prun-
ing knife on the accounts presented
by Mr.. Tolerton and his deputies II iS
stated that of $50, 900 in claims filed
less than s25 remains unpaid, includ'
ing the $40 withheld from Mr.. James
flor $3.50 of which valid receipts were
presented). 1t is not admitted by Mr.
Tolerton that the auditor had any
right to shave these accounts. They
are such al any reputable business
house would be glad to allow and pay
a travelling representative. The only
just criticism concerning the account
4 Of Mr.. James Is that his original
sworn statement was not itemized as
fully as 1t ought to have been
amounts paid for help and other Incl
dental expenses not having been sep
arated from payments made specif
ically for hotel expenses.
Out OF the $4,000 expended by Mr.
Tolerton $4,000 was spent for equip
ping a game farm-the best game
farm operated by any state In the
Union, and the only one ever estaD
iished In Missouri. When he tool
charge Of the department there wal
a balance Of only s74.sS In the game
and fish fund and there was NO ofic'
furniture, printing or supplies avail
able for the use OF the department
u The old law. which had been enacted