The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-02-26
UGLY CHARGES
Against F. r. Brinker, Commits
sioner of School and
Public Lands.

Pierre, Feb. 26.-Evidence seriously
rejecting upon the affairs of +. f.
Brinker, co nmissioner of school and
public lands has been presented before
the committee assigned to the investi-
cation of state affairs. 1t is officially
stated that the showing of .niscon-
duct is so definite that impeachment
proceedings will be instituted against
Brinker unless he adopts the easier
method and hands in his resignation.
A couple of days before the commit
tee commenced its work advices came
to Attorney General Johnson of irregu-
%lsritits connected with the salary of
Blinker's automobile driver. The
vouchers relating to the situation were
secured by the attorney general and
placed before the COMMITTEES at its first
session.
Through the cold facts presented in
these vouchers, supported by the testi-
mony of Grauel, the automobile driver,
it was shown that meo had been
securing a rakeoff of $40 a month from
the drivers services. Grauel had been
receiving an actual salary of $40 a
moath. paid to him by the personal
check of the commissioner, while the
state had issued and paid vouchers to
the amount of s110 per month for these
same services.
Grauel testified that the endorse
ments on these vouchers purporting
to be made by him were ~forgeries.
The personal checks issued to him
and letters exhibited by him TO the
committee suhstantiste his testimony as
to the salary that he received.
Other employees of Brinker's Office
were put on the stand, but there was
no showing that any of them gave up
any portion of their salaries to the COM
missioner.
1t has been a matter of current Cos
sip around the state house, as well Ms a
matter of record. that the public land
commissioner and some other depart
ment heads laised the salaries OF their
employees to prevent any portion of
their appropriation from going unex-
pended.
Some question has been raised as to
the land department handling of
expensive timber interests on recently
acquired state land, but the commit
tee has not reached that subject in
its investigations. A bill emanating
in the department was recently passed
by the senate removing the restrictions
as TO the amount of timber which can
be sold in any one year. The claim
was in circulation early in this session,
and a move had been made to make il
the basis of Investigation. that state
school lands had been sold without be-
ing properly listed.
The department headed by the com
missioner of school and public lands
has grown into one of the most expen-
sive departments of state government.
In 1890 the salary and expense allow
ane for this Office was So, 953 for the
year. and the estimate made in the
general appropriation bill repotted to
the legislature a few DAYS ago was
for an allowance of 500, 40 a year.
During the two years of 1909 and
1910 the actual expenses of this de-
partment were $40. 760.
Around the state touse it has been
u matter of current gossip that the
commissioner perceived that he was
not 5oing to consume the appropriation
allowance made 10y the last legislature
aud raised the salaries of all of his en-
ployes to meet the situation. This
raise is a matter of record, but it is
now alleged that the members of the
force only partially benefited from the
apparent liberality of the department
chief, as those affected l n this
were expected to show appreciation by
turning over part Of the raise to Mr..
Brinker.
In addition to the opportunities al.
legged in manipulating salaries evidence
is said to exist to show the commits
%sioner's connection with contract work
for sidewalks in tine capitol grounds
and for work done at the Indian school.
During the early days of the session,
Senator B b. Bowel. of Lake county,
indicated to a number Of persons that
he was going to present a resolution
causing an Investigation of the com
m~issioner's office. Mr.. Bowel had
such a resolution prepared, awaiting
Mr.. Drinkers return from Washing
ton. ID. c., but he never introd uced
the document.
Senator Bowel and Commissioner