The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-01-22
Auditor Anderson De-
fines Position on
Spearfish Incident,
GAME NOT STUDY
Hence Money Cannot be Paid
for Its Expenses-Regent
Hitchcock Explains.

Special action of the Legislature
will be necessary before the athletic
teams of the SpeHrfish normal school
can be returned the money they
turned into the state treasury as a
part of the schools local and endow-
ment fund. This statement has been
received by The Republican from
State Auditor Henry B. Anderson IN
reply TO articles appearing in vaYto.s
newspapers of tho state.
According to the statement made
in the case by the Spcar1lsh Matt. the
normal school athletic teams have Il
fund raised by the individual efforts
of members. which was deposited
with the state treasurer under the
impression that it could be drawn
out on vouchers Tor expenses incur
red by the teams. Later, Auditor An
derson ruled that the money could
not be paid out, as baseball and foot
ball bills were not legitimate eXpeil-
ses OF the school.
This matter has appeared in the
papers in different parts of the state
in. various forms,' said Mr.. Anderson,
" hen asked by The Republican for a
statement. and the true status OF
the cas- has never been told. Now |
the state auditor does not collect any
funds from amy source and much less
has this office taken any money from
the Spearfish normal boys.
Regent Advised Team.
The trouble in this matter is that
some time back the president OF the
board of regents advised the nthletic
team that they had better pay this
money that they had in the club
treasury into the state treasury AMI
have it credited to The local or en-
dowment fund of the Spearlish nor
NAL, the same as amy other collection
that was credited to this fund.
This money had been in this fund
for several months before we were
aware OF the fact that the Spearfisn
normal athletic club had alty,inoneN
in the local and endowment futd o,
this institution, and o until after
the voucher WAS presented for pay-
ment and rejected as an improper
charge against this fund for the reu-
son h football was not a course OF
study taught in this school, and the
state auditor was sustained in tho
matter by the attorney general in an
opinion rendered and filed N The
auditors office July Il, I&l3.'
acknowledgements Railing.
The attorney general is Gt,5,lG ~
Mir. Anderson to tho cnect tl.5t ht.s-
ball, expenses for which vol;chcls had
been presented prior to July. lsi&.
was o one OF the objects and pur-
poses OF the institution. The opinioli
OF the attorney general. which was
signed by Royal c. johnson, further
states that there is absolutely no au-
thority OF law for the payment OF
such claims by the state and that he
would advise that the vouchers be
disallowed and returned as an inn
proper charge against the state.
II am satisfied" continued Mr.
Anderson, that when the prone,
time comes the legislature will return
this money that belongs to the Spear
fish athletic club, and l will go furth-
er and say that ii / am here when tlle
1915 session %conenes, that | will use
all my influence with the Legislature
that this money be returned to these
boys, as it should be.
THE mere fact that this mones
had been illegally paid into the state
TREASURY is no good and valid reason
why the state auditor should pa,
this money out again without author
ity OF law. Over the act of the state
treasurer in receiving this money,
have no jurisdiction
MOI Fair to Students.
That the auditor should have givci
the normal school athletes theil
money without II hesitancy, is tn,
opinion Of A. e. Hitchcock, presi
dent of the board of regents, whei
interviewed upon Mr.. Anderson
statement.
I'm fairness to the students" h.
declared. 1.-THE auditor should hav,
returned the money. All this lega
sophistry is not necessary. The au
ditor ought to be a trifle liberal
which he could be without violating
the statute, and return this none
without inviting trouble