Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-08-10
LIGHTFOOT PLANS TO
KEEP OFFICE RUNNING

Austin. Tex. Aug attorney
General Lightfoot has made plans for
running the Attorney Generals OF
flee after the close of this fiscal
year. Aug. 81. until the meeting OF
the legislature next,aJnuary.
He gave out the following state
ment today
\ careful study OF the condition
which confronts the department sug-
gests two courses open TO my sue
cessor. Mr.. Walthall. who will be-
come Attorney General August 81.
Under the provisions of the appro-
priation bill the Attorney General is
given authority to employ such as
sistants as he may deem necessary 10
run the office, not exceeding seven IN
number at any one time. II also
provides that he may employ special
counsel and ether help when the
same may be deemed necessary OV
the Attorney General. These provl-
sions of the law are sufficient to au-
thorize the Attorney General TO EN-
plov assistants. sepcial counsel ana
other help. whether there be any ap-
preparation TO pay them or not ana
will be authority for the next lesls-
latur, 20 make provision TO pay the
salaries of all such help, in case the
Attorney General sees III 70 adopt
that course.
Most Rigid Economy.
.Ou the other hand We have eN-
ercised the most rigid economy III
disbursiug the current appropriation
and will have lett therefrom prac-
tically enough 20 pay the salaries oil
the force until the next Legislature
conyenes The appropriation niil
provides that the Attorney General
NAV use so much OF the item Tor sal
aries usually and the remainder o'
the item can be- used for costs IN eva
cases. travelling expenses, procurluE
evidence and Tor the enforcement o'
any and an laws of the state and ioi
tho payment OF any and all expenses
deeue nedcessary In the prosecution
and defense OF suits and for the en-
pioyment OF special council aud oth
or helu. Under the authority OF ih'
maudsmus case OF Terrell agalns
sparks. the Supreme Court held ina
statute providing an appropriation
ior the enforcement OF any ana al
laws was broad enough 20 authorize
the Attorney General to employ sper
ial counsel. and under the authoril!
Of that decision the Attorney Genera
would clearly have the right TO em
ploy the assistants IN the office a
other hclu and pay them out OF tn
remainder of the appropriation lei
over after Sept ! lnasmuch as tn
remainder OF the item Is ayailabl
for the urposes specified al any tim
during the Two years II tn" Attor
nov General concludes 20 follow tn
course. those employed would prob
ably not have the technical title O
Assistants. but would serve MIN a
special counsel and other help unit
the legislature could again make pro
vision for the employment OF assis
tauts.
While either OF these courses vi
necessarily hamper the department
y,r r b. the best that can boz don
under fhe conditions existing. al
-rataed that We have been able {
save enough 90 keep the departmer
soInr until fuller provisions can D
mad, ty The next legislature.
Contracts may be- made with "a
The employees IN the department VII
viii remain, Elective until Januar,
My resignation was made etfecti'
Aug 80 SO that the incoming Alto
uey General could qualify Aug 81,
time 90 make these contracts befoi
Do close of this fiscal year