The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-24
DARST ANSWERS
MANY CRITICS MS
STATE AUDITOR EXPLAINS POSI-.
TON IN BIDOINGER CASE.
States That He Only Wants TO Know
His Duty Under the LAVA
Case for the Courts.
Cha rleston. ". va.
Sept. %. 1913

Charleston. ". va.
Editor Intelligence:
Sir have refused to give a pub
lie interview on the question OF the
claim allowed Buy -. Biddinger by
Judge William s. O'Brieu for his ser.
vices as nonresident witness in the
prosecution OF the various bribery
cases Al Webster Springs. for the reas-
on that from the time these claims
were placed I'm my hands, up to the
present. | have earnestly endeavored
10 satisfy myself Just what INV duties
We're IN the matter. regardless OF the
balance or public sentiment on either
side.
! now think the public IS entitled to
brief statement from me. 7 shall
not attempt to discuss the merits or
dement's OF these claims. but sfrply
give what my position Is and has been
relative 10 their payment. as state
onicer. and one that is charged with
the duty 20 pay only such claims as
are warranted BY Law. ] received these
claims al the closing hours OF the Of
fee. on SATURDAY, the 9th day OF Au-
gust. 1913. ON the following Monday
morning 1 looked over them, and was
undecided as 10 what action 10 take.
as the amounts allowed were 80 much
larger than any similar claims pre-
fented 10 me FOR payment during my
term OF Office. ] had In mind and was
familiar with Section 1912 of the COde
~ 1905, and that part Of II which is
aVplicaOle 20 This case. which reads
as follows
a person residing oct Of the state
VINO attends court therein as a Wit.
ness shall BE- allowed by said court a
proper compensation for attendance
and travel TO and from the place ~
his abode. the amount OF the saur. 10
be nNef by said court"
Reading this section of the law
alone. b would seem that the auditor
would have nothing 10 do but TO pay
the amount fixed ~ the Judge in this
case. Any private opinion he might
have As TO the Justice or In sfatice of
d. would make no difference II would
seem aR though tho legislature had
lett u 90 the judgment % the court
DE amount ~ what he considered a
proper compensation
also had ir mind sci, q. az 3D.,
ole, Nhirf rrads 4u Dart re- follow
'.s~fZ i~fsNU claiming 10 receive
-,,on's'D IRON, The treasury ~ no state
.'sil nrpiy TO- frr auditor fpf 20 warrant
'.r sam" rmd ''r- .suoit0r snail thes..
F''h fNainihe ihr claim. 500 the fn..i
- 'eri.fi s'""~ md evidence. ~ aus.
'Infi thereof - DO rIa, f.r.t To- be i.-stf.
NIT hl TIE tate 2 ra. mont fffreur d.
q ,h"ris~a h' is~. 'rd there hs sr, ,t
pt"lI ~ 'o7i f"' sVts -'ei or o. pir~d o.f
Issue iIa r4ffarf go
F~a'lrE Int- -srfI.u alone No. r..Ii
-" NJ Va Hp FL" ffs '.f.... q.
- "1e WhHf Constituted t fessoH.tEI.
orr go stf'"u frr the srrt f-e. sf F.. ......
LHTias" Hi'ne-s. r~Es-fis.- 90 gro
smo.n. st rH,h tr~ ,oHft ms. have
rHi- claim. - have lated si.,t. t.
'nr On ururrsl rus. sud uIfr tho above
- f.0-~ ~ isu lefors mo. des.rsd Ir
fr~ firrf pls.e u. kr0o q T-f sr. .r
10 have fhsu 7 desired ~ -e..fre Ill 'tt.
f7f0F NATION UrHsi bile IurfnrIru a. item.
iSfd Tfafsrnfnt from fhr Judge. Co., es,h
cafs rnakinE ~ Tho totals in order ffrt
might pass on those claims .s trt.ffi.
gently 80 possible
. then directed The following letter Co.
Hon. 4 4. LILY. attornev rener,i.
lion 4 \ Lilly. ATTORNEY ,.srersi 'i,,
rear ~ y an eu"loHiru tnf ortfa-a
'i mo oourf ~ W"Letrr county made
O'Hrisn. for Guy ~ pdfinssr rb, ,..
witness IN the foil0riur eaaea Il o. ~
hhgdsa. Zen 4. srnifh. lave Uu r,ft
buff ard o. p Asbury
would Ike fu have vofr orf-fa.
Nhrther rr not these claims ere rr1a. r.
ciaims to DO paid by ne -fafe
rfffiffd n CONS lrrf.n FROM ffa
attprney GENERAL REVERSING the rass 80
words
@ have coma Co the conclusion ,t,, ID,
y eNtfh"tdinsfy and stortifart sud fh7t
yoi a. guardian % che trsasurr ana st
ste-En'fdlnE the Peoples tights sha.If
hot rat o.
tslfnsiI
a. 4 LILLY Atorr-. General"
~ 10 -lbt ~ tie Affrrrst g.rsr.I.
lfit-f "fa ffIIi r.HutuIat urda. llled
- 49, r'r.f'r. H4 tr- ufoin nation
a H