The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-02-28
noel REPLIES
TO CHARGES in
BURKITT REPORT
ISSUES STATEMENT FROM HOME
IN LEXINGTON EXPLAINING
EXPENDITURES.
NOT AFRAID OF COURTS
Invites Fullest investigation of His
Use of Contingent Fund, And
is Also Willing to Face Any Legal
Proceedings.

Lexington, Miss, Feb. 2S.-Ex-Gov.
E, F Noel yesterday made reply n q
ISLANDERS, insinuations and inrl
contained in Capt Frank Burl
port on contingent fund expen1
adopted after a bitter debate in the
lower house of the legislature yester-
day.
The former governor prefaced his
formal statement with the deN|nurm
tion that he courts the most sd
ing Investigation of his account
the legislature. is willing to "shou i
books at any time, and is also quite
ready and willing to face any legal
proceedings that may be instituted in
the courts in event the legislature
feels that there has been any misuse
or misapporpriation of public fund.-
The former governors statement is as
follows:
Statement.
"The report emanates from a COM
mittee of extreme partisans. 1t Is
self-condemned by its violation OF
every rule of courtesy which should
characterize a legislature in speaking
of the official action of the executive
department, which department is in
dependent and coordinate, and en-
titled to be credited with the same
honesty of purpose which legislators
should expect for themselves. If a
governor could so far forget every
feeling of propriety, he could doubt
less arraign this legislature at the
close of it's session. or its predeces-
sors, with a more truthful and severe
criticism of their use of the legislative
contingent fund. However, the limit
of authority of legislatures is to make
laws and appropriations and to in
yestigate officers with view, if dere-
lection be discovered, of instituting
impeachment, or court proceedings.
Except in impeachment and dealing
with its own membership, it can try
no one and neither impose nor dis
charge any personal liability. Even in
impeachment, their action does not
prevent courts dealing with the same
person and subject.
The accounts and vouchers pertain
ing to my dealing with the executive
contingent fund, are in jackson. A
four-weeks' term of the circuit court
opened today. I am connected with
nearly every case of Importance.
have not the time, nor would even
those papers fair enough to accord
hearing to both sides give the space,
for more than a brief refutation of
some of the items of assailment as
illustrative of them all. The report
begins by criticising my payment of
SAP to an expert accountant to audit
the executive contingent fund. S20.-
600 from 1909 to 1911, both years in
elusive, and then compares my ex-
penditures with those of my predeces-
sor which it fixes at $17,49S.66, out OF
100000, appropriated, when the senate
"a 1cNO, po6C OGs pIOtGS NY
predecessor reported expenditures OF
$24,ssS.65, out of $27,5O0, appropriated
This did not include over 81 900 of un-
settled obligations against this fund
which were paid out of it by me, after
my term began. The expert a.
ant that l employed, was tfI
man that the legislature of f<8
lected to audit financial dealing Is ~ !lll
state officers. | instructed him to
audit the governors office strictly re-
jecting every item the validity OF
which was doubtful. His audit and the
receipts in the governors office, left
there subject to the service OF de
committee, prove. that when left
the governors office and took from
Governor Brewer, receipt for about
$500. the amount l reported on hand.
the state owed me 1898 for private
funds expended for public purposes
which was not deducted from the mon
ey ] turned over to Governor Brewer,
because nearly all OF that money was
the 1911 appropriation and the ex-
Continued on Page Four.)