The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1911-03-24
LIGHTFooT WINS IN CON
TROVERSY WITH C0LQUITT
Opinion Holds Governors Ap-
proval of Vouchers Is
Not Necessary

ion of the state supreme court in
the Lightfoot-C Colquitt contro-
versy, is victory for the attor-
ney general. In an opinion hand
ed down today, the court grants
Mr.. Lightfoot a mandamus fore
ing the state treasurer to pay the
vouchers out of the appropriation
of $4,000 for special assistant at
torneys general. Every conten-
tion of the attorney general is
sustained.
Governor Colquitt's approval
of the vouchers is not necessary,
the court holds. The action Of
the Thirty-frst legislature, the
decision says, is within the limits
of the constitution, contrary TO
the contention of Mr.. Colquitt.
The appropriation, says the court
is for a specific purpose as re-
quired and the attorney general
and Governor Campbell had au-
thority to employ special counsel
70? the state. The contract be-
tween Assistant Attorney Gener-
al Terrell and the state is held to
be binding on the state.
Vouchers Held Valid
The vouchers are declared to
be regular and valid and the opin-
ion holds that State Treasurer
Sparks had no discretion in the
matter and should have paid the
vouchers
This appropriation has been
the subject OF some spicy com
munications between the attorney
general and the governor and the
opinion of the court is decisively
for the attorney general on every
point
Assistant Attorney General
Terrell was employed by Mr..
Liehtfoot 10 prosecute alleged
frauds IN the state school lands.
The expenses Of these prosecu-
tions was provided by the spec
ial appropriation of $4,000 al
lowed under the administration
of Governor Campbell and with
the approval of the latter
Subject of Spicy Letters
shortly before his Inauguration
Governor Colquitt i'm a letter to
Mr.. Lightfoot announced that he
would not approve of the vouch-
ers. Mr. Colquitt contended that
the appropriation was not for a
specific purpose. that 1t was not
necessary and that. i'm the inter
est of economy. the expenditure
should not be made. In the gov.
eronr's Judgment special attor.
ney for the land commissioners
could do more effective work
Attorney General Lightfoot re.
Piled to the governor S letter that
he would not be bound by the adj
ministration policy and declared
the whole movement on the part
of the executive was one OF petty
politics.
The action of the supreme
court today in sustaining the con.
tention of Attorney General
Iightfoot in the controversy with
I the governor as TO the eNpendl.
mre of a special appropriation of
$4,000 for tn employment ol
special counsel is the sole topic
at the state house.
When seen about the decision
Governor Colquitt SaIo Nh'
court has passed on the question:
that settles it,.
This was the only comment
governor would make.
Lightfoot said: The opm 'u
sneaks for itself This opin d
snstains my contention. / ia t'
now been sustained by the mr n
er court and both branches of p
Legislature.
state Treasurer Sparks. agaii 4,
whom the mandamus rs direei'
said 81 have not as yet read tNI
opinion. hut if the mandamuS
awarded there is nothing left i''
me hut to sign and pay the wa
rants.
The court in awarding the ma n
damus through Chief JUST,
Brown. says that the language
plain and distinctly defines Gu
duty of governor The court sa T
Neither the voucher nor u.
warrant required the approval .
the governor. The warrai
, drawn in this case was regula
: and the treasurer had no diser'