The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-10-24
PUT THE CLAMPS
TO THEM BOYS !"

put the clamps on everywhere"
was the order given by governor Hay
as ommander-in-chcf of the Wash
ington National Guard, in his letter
to Adjutant General Geo. b. Lamp
ing when the latter reported that
Denton NJ Grow, custodian of the
Arinory at Spokane, was short in his
accounts.
Suppress the news. DO not let the
people know the facts. This has
been in. policy OF Gov. Hay. The
case of State Oil Inspector Clark fur
nishes another instance in proof of
this, Hay tried to protect him until
it was no longer safe to do so. He
protected him until private parties
at their own expense had dug up
proof of forged and raised vouchers
and the STAGE Board OF Inspection
had come to the rescue by backing
up this proof
Some weeks ago Hays letter TO
Lampng was given considerable pub
lefty and Hay defended Grow, say
ing that but a small amount was
involved and that the trouble arose
because Grow was Il poor bookkeep-
er. Grow has been a member of
the bar number OF years, has been
deputy prosecuting attorney of Spo-
kane county. and there is a state
law which requires every person col
Letting money Tor the state to turn
it in to the state treasury each day.
The records of the state bureau of
inspection sh owthat from June |,
1909, Grow did not pay over cent
of armOry rent collections to the
state until November Is, 1909, when
he turned in $500 and not cent
additional was turned until April.
1910. when the Hamilton expose was
made. Grow was kept on the job,
alt hOugh the facts were known to
Hay. And it was not until a legis-
lative committee. not bound by the
Keep the clamps on" order, forced
an investigation, that any steps were
taken to get back the money that
had been retained by Grow. Finally
aided by relatives he paid back to
the state Feb. 10, 1911. 81 ,020.55.
Another matter that should not es-
cape public notice is the manner in
which mileage on railroads used for
the benefit of the state officials has
been saddled onto the taxpayers. On
April. 20, 1910, Gov. Hay put through
voucher for 1925 on which he Sc
cured 5000 miles OF railway mileage
at the expense of the state. This
was charged against an appropriation
of s 900 made by the legislature for
the term ending March 81. 1911" to
enable the Governor to attend the
National irrigation Congress, hte
TransMississippi Congress and other
National Assemblies
1t will be noticed that tn period
for which hthe appropriation had
been made had expired month be-
fore, the mileage was paramount. and
therefore it could have been used for
the purpose for which the appropr-
alton had been made But no check
is kept on railway mileage. SO the
the approaching primary campaign
made it a handy asset.
The legislature of 1909 treated the
chief executive very literally. pro-
viding fund of $4,000 for incidental
travelling expenses and 50 800 for the
entertainment OF visiting officials.
aside from his 81 900 for the pur-
poses stated Evidently the Cover
nor wanted to make sure that it
would all be used.
While discussing the reckless use of
the state 'smoney. attention may as
well BE- called to the item of 81. 374
the Governor drew froom the state
treasury to reimburse himself for
money he had expended without
warrant OF law for the constru ction
of cememnt walks around the Cover
nor's mansion. The Governor had
the work done without authority nd
therefore was personally liable for it
| under the law.
| The legislature of 1911 took stand
against the payment of any def
| cheney claim. but in the general APP
preparation bill of the session. which
specifically covered only the fiscal
term beginning April |, 1911. and
ending March 81. 1913" provision was
made for the construction of side
walks" OF course none of the mem
bers understood that this could b.
or would he applied toward the pay
ment for work previously executed
| Illegally. Old claims were covered
: by relief bills in other instances. But
| Hay had worked the scheme cleverly
and as soon as the money was avail
able he presented a claim to the
! state auditor and personally drew
the 1914. He carefully saw to ii
that the date when the work was
done was removed from the receipt
he took from the contractor.