The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-23
Proposes TO Answer Criticism
Hurled BY Opponents.
REGARDING SOME VOUCHERS
Anent Methods Followed BY John A.
Johnson; Statement From State
Auditor IveRs0n.
From Saturdays Daily.


Governor Eberhart, in letter to
be issued within a day or two, ad-
dressed to the newspapers, will reply
to attacks made upon his admins
tration by W. e. Lee, rival candidate
for the republican gubernatorial nom
ination. He will pay particular at
tention to Mr. Lees charges with
reference to the use of the contin-
gent fund placed at the governors
disposal by the legislature.
The Governor reached this deci-
sion yesterday afternoon after con-
paign is to be as free as possible
from attacks upon other candidates
and replies to their accusations, he
believes that the statements made
by Mr.. Lee, in the course of his
campaigning within the past Few
days, have been too reckless to go
unchallenged.
The Bertha Clausen expenditure.
for which the Governors office was
attacked by Lee, probably will be
dealt with again in the governors
letter. Ralph W. Wheelock, secre-
tary to the Governor, issued brief
statement two days ago replying to
Lees charges in this connection, but
Lee reopened the case yesterday
afternoon in telegram from Willmar
tn hn hn n9
the message follows:
Answer Sent WheeIock.
Governors explanation of the Bsr
tina Clausen expenditure does not
explain the feature criticised. The
voucher is not itemized and does
not mention the reason the state paid
it. 1t is not certified by the Cover
nor, who alone can expend contin-
gent fund. The criticism vast OF the
method, not of the purpose OF the
expenditure. I have criticised many
other vouchers. Why does he at.
tempt to explain this particular enc?
Does he hope the purpose of the ex-
penditure will furnish excuse for bad
methods w. E. Lee"
The voucher complained of by Mr..
Lee with reference to the Bertha
Clausen case is on file at the state
auditors office. 1t cites an expen-
diture of $115.03 to the A. E. John
son steamship line for the transports
ton of Bertha Clausen, an insane
woman, from New York to Duluth
Wi oft ha nj
signature was affixed by Martha A.
Pfister, former employee of the gov
errors office.
Same Methods BY Johnson.
Governor Eberhart said yesterday
afternoon that this same method of
certifying vouchers for similar
amounts had been customary for
many years and that Governor John
son in certifying railroad transpor-
tation had adopted the same course.
State Auditor Iverson said that if
Mr.. Lee is criticising the method
by which the payment was made in
the Clausen case was sufficiently
have been directed at the auditors
office and not at the governor.
81 consider that the voucher in
the Clausen case was sufficiently
itemized," said Mr.. Iverson. There
was no violation of the law and If
this office had deemed it necessary
that the voucher be further itemized
should have made such a request
upon the governor; do not believe
that it is necessary for the COVER
nor in person to sign vouchers for
an amount not larger than this. We
shall continue to pay vouchers where
just such method was pursued"
Mr.. Wheelock would make no fur
Their comment upon the Lee charges.
He said that the other vouchers men,
toned by Mr.. Lee in his speeches
equally trivial matters.