The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-13
SAYS he Can ONLY ALLOW AC'
TUAL EXPENSES.
50 WRITES TO PEOPLES
Comptroller-Gener Jones Stands by
his Position That He Cannot Hon
OF Attorney General Peoples Bill
Against the State Treasury for a
Smoker He Gave Visitors.

Comptroller General Jones, reply
ing Tuesday afternoon to Attorney
General Peoples reiterated that his
reason for rejecting the claim OF
about $500 for expenses incurred by
the Attorney General during the re-
cent Charleston Convention was that
the law only provides for, the pay
ment of the actual expenses. His let
s ter follows:
eEHon. Thomas H. Peoples, Attor-
ney General, Columbia, S. C.--Dear
Sir: Absence from the Office on eth
cial business has prevented an earlier
reply to your letter Of July rs, with
reference to your claim for expenses
of entertaining the Convention of At
torneys General in Charleston.
"I cannot return this original claim
as it is now record of this Office. II
you wish copy of the same will
have one mailed for you.
"My reason for declining to draw
warrant for the claim as presented is
that the appropriation does not pro-
vide for the payment of the expenses
so-, entertaining this convention, but
only for the payment of your actual
expenses in attending the convention
stYou quote my statement that the
expenditures of the appropriation is
: within your discretion, and so rec
ognize, but you did not quote me in
full It, is a legal discretion which
does not authorize the diversion of
the appropriation to other purposes
than those for which it is made.
ct also an a constitutional and
bonded officer Of the State and re-
sponsible to the people for any di-
version of public funds which I may
{ knowingly permit. Before issuing my
warrant T must be able 70 put my
hand upon an Act of the Legislature
specifically directing the payment OF
the fund in question.
eff such an Act does exist and has
{ been ignored by me, the claimant has
his remedy in the Courts, and may
obtain writ of mandamus to compel
my compliance Of the law.
.tYou say you do not know that /
have the right to question any war
& rants that you may draw and present
to me for payment. II you desire en-
lightenment on that subject, you can
probably obtain it from the Courts,
or from your own examination into
the statutes. have nothing whatever
to do with the question whether or not
Z it was proper for the Legislature to
: provide for the entertainment Of this
convention, or whether it was desira-
: Bile that they should do so; nor am
to be affected in the performance OF
my duty by the advice and wishes OF
the hcspitable people Of Charleston.
Before can pay for the entertain
ment Of the convention, the Legisla-
c-tareo so direct.
'tI note that you state you will have
the claim discounted at one OF the
banks and present it to the next Leg
islature for payment. This is matter
with which I have no concern what
ever, but desire to call your atten-
tion to the Act creating the board OF
claims-2s Statutes, page 199, and If
you will allow me, would suggest
that you submit the claim to that
board, Of which you, the Secretary OF
State and myself are mebers. The in
tention Of the Legislature in creating
this board was to have these claims
examined into and reported upon be-
for their meeting, and the report of
the board is to be submitted to the
ways and means committee of the
House Of Representatives ten days
before the convening Of that body.
Respectfully,
A W. Jones,
Coporfro11er General -