The Van Buren press., 1912-09-21

/ NIStPNCO lllllH F'NPNS'h'N
The commission was willing TO DO
the first, but Martineau and Griffin
wanted to do the second The com
mission finally told them II they were
not satisfied with the first PROPOSE
tlon. some one else could be found
who would be, and then they agreed
/ to the third.
The propositions were not mine,
says Mr.. Gates. They were the I'M
animous and emphatic judgment Of
| the entire commission. Any intima-
tion or statement made to the con
trary by any one is unqualifiedly
false.
1T was the plain duty Of the com
mission to have adopted arrangement
No. 1. We would thereby nave saved
all quibblng and would have avoided
the possibility of the states paying
more than it should pay for clerical
| force But We were human and let
the financial conditions of the parties
concerned outweigh our better judg.
ment.'
Mr.. Gates says his son was employ
ed by Commissioners Brown and
Burge; he had worked for the state
two years on credit and was aC-
knowledged the most efficient man for
the place.
Complaints About Griffin's Work.
Mr. Gates says the work done by
| Mr.. Griffin on the railroad assess
ments of 1911 was so full OF errors that
complaints were received from almost
every county, and the lists had % be
carefully rechecked. AS early as Janu-
airy, 1912, the three commissioners
agreed that a competent man must be
employed to do the work that had
hitherto been entrusted to Griffin
Errors were found in the lists of every
county through which the Iron Noun
tain runs, although Griffin had seven
months from August l in which u do
nothing but verify his figures
]
commission" says Mr.. Gates, land
it was unanimously agreed that Grif-
fin was absolutely unfit for the work
and should be replaced. When inform
ed by Chairman Burge, he went al
most into tears and pleaded that it
would ruin him il he were removed
He did not deny his incompetency and
asked to remain until January /, 1913,
| agreeing to have some one else do the
railroad assessing and pay for It him
| self"
Through sympathy for him, the
commission agreed to this except that
it should select the man to do the
work, having no confidence in Grif-
fins ability to select his assistant
S, NJ. Gates, who had not been con-
nected with the commission for nine
months, was selected by Messrs
Brown and Burge, although he did not
want the job, having been offered a
more congenial position at better
salary. In conclusion, Mr. Gates says:
Commissioners Unanimous.
Il have no unkind feeling toward
Mr. Griffin. had no desire to ad-
yertise to the world the fact that he
is incompetent for the position 10
which my vote elected But his state.
ment from beginning to end is un,
truthful The truths he has told are
told in such a way as to make them
untruths, My associates on the com.
mission will verify the truth of every
statement | have made. Mr., Griffin
very generously in terms absolves
Messrs Brown and Burge Of any
wrong doing in connection with the
transaction OF which he complains.
When, however, it Is considered that
am but one Of three, and that what
he terms as the yilest blacKmail'
could not possibly have been accom-
plished by me unassisted, IT will be
seen that in spite Of his statement to
the contrary he makes Brown and
Burge particeps criminls' with me.
| am not finding comfort in the fact
that others, If Grlf(ins implied threat
Is carried out, will be in trouble with
me, but It must be conceded that II
anything actiouablc has been done, I
! had two ablebodiod companions In
crime"
Mr. Gates offers TO submit the
question OF the legality Of the pro.
ceedings to Attorney General Nor.
wood, and II that official says the
contingent fund was illegally depict
ed or replcnished, he will himself re.
fund the $500 paid hIs son for work
actually done, Or he will consent to
a case being made up and carried
through the supreme court TO deter
mine the question,
This proposition Ia made regard
less Of the fact that my son by honest
and efficient service was conceded by
all TO be absolutely necessary, and
that the other two commissioners were
win me equally Responsible Tor the
$500 being drawn from the contingent
fund SO far az the transactions IN
the summer Of 1912 are concerned
Mr. Griffin has not paid any Of the
amount he agreed 20 pay The com
mission has not and doee not intend
IN any manner TO try to hold him tt
hiB agreement The expenses incur
red Og result Of his inofticcncy will
be- met by me ana the state viii not
be asked TO make II good Tnat IL d
matter Of which he now has no further
cause TO complain"
aHaHHa
Government 10 Build Railways
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