Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-04
Nebraska
WAR BREAKS OUT
IN RANKS OF DENIS
Treasurer Hall Says Governor Is
Asking Him Plainly to Violate
the State Law.
CALLS EXECUTIVES TALK BUNC'
R,rom a STAFF Correspondent

CAlLS EXECUTIVES TALK 'BUNC'
From Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN. Sept. S-(special. )-Har-
mony among the states democratic Of
ficials was further augmented this morn
ing when state Treasurer Hall issued the
following statement In answer to the one
give nout by Governor Morehead. which |
criticised the treasurer for his action in
refusing to pay out money not appropri- ,
ated to maintain the food department OF
Nebraska. Treasurer Hall says:
The constitution and laws of Nebraska
provide that no moneys can be paid out
by the state treasurer until first appro-
the legislature. These provisions of our
law are for the protection of the taxpay-
ers. The last legislature appropriated !
E,OOOOOO to run the state government for
the present biennium. The governor and
few others here at the state house now
some money in connection with the food !
commissioners office not appropriated |
cannot do this because contrary to my !
oath of office, contrary to law, and likely |
to incur liability on my official bond.
Governor Is at Fault.
Under the law the kovernor is the food /
commissioner. Those running the depart |
ments are his deputies. Also under the
law Ii Is the duty OF the goVerno rto /
recommend to the Legislature, not only |
the passage of needful laws but also to |
recommend the appropriation OF needful (!
funds to carry on the business of the I
state. Maybe the last legislature didn't |
intend to make further appropriations |
further appropriations and forgot to do |
so, the bome rests upon the governor |
equally with the Legislature. He should
nave seen to it that ample appropria- |
lions were made.
The governor says that II I pay out
ture, it win only be a technical violation
OF the law. few years ago the funds
not turned over to- to the state treasH M ne
but were kept by the food commissioner
and the expense of the department paid
not being satisfied with this way of do
Ing public business, authorized these
funds to be paid into the state treasury.
the legislature having first appropriated
them, would be only a technical violation
then 1t Will be no more a violation of the
law II the governor himself, as food com
missioner will keep these funds and pay
out of them and not paw them to the
state treasurer at all. This according
to his reasoning. would only be techni-
Let MOrehead Do It.
If violation of law can be defended
on the ground that it is only a technical
sponsloility Of violating the law and not
try to load it off onto me. These funds
now go through his hands into the state
treasury Let him Intercept the funds and
Keep them, and out Of them pay the run
1rJns eNpenses or his Food department.
This would be In direct violation of law
but no more a violation than he is asking
me to be guilty of.
Inc governor speaks Of reformers with
oeTlSlon. do not claim to be reformcr
All l want to do is to be true to my oath
Of office and protect the taxpayers of the
state. But whatever may be said OF re-
formers, there is one class OF fellows
worse worse than reformers and they are the
s2n ne one else to pull their chestnats out
Up to John II. Morehead.
II he now wants money in the office of
the state treasurer paid OUT although
not appropriated. then he should have
seen to it that the Legislature first MADE
me appropriation. If he wants the law
Violated and this money paid out without
tlrst being appropriated, it is plainly up
70 MN to violate the law. If he wants
70 call special session of the legislature
70 make proper appropriations let the re-
longs. The governor says he likes the fell
low who is willing to have house clean
ing when il concerns himself and thereby
set a good example to others. / like the
Fellow who will assume responsibilities
tnat peiong TO him and not try to load
MS mistakes and disagreeable tasks off
onto, someone else.
The governor last winter asked me to
sWitch appropriations, contrary to law,
and to pay out moneys from one appro,
prlatlon and charge them to another
was asked by others to advance money
out or the treasury to pay the expenses
OF the legislature until it should make
the proper appropriation. | was told that
was asked still by others to advance diff
terent officers salaries until they could
get their warrants, and was told former
treasurers allowed this privilege Now |
am being asked to pay out moneys which
the legislature never authorized me to
pay out. All of this 1 have respectfully
declined, and because / am trying to
safeguard the public treasury a few
short-sighted politicians are heaping
abuse upon me. But notwithstanding their
clamor ! shall continue to do nv duty
as / see it and not allow the public money
to be hawked around in any such illegal
manner.
Just Political Bunk.
l have repeatedly asked the attorney
general and the governor to have the
there is any doubt about nv position
put they have all the time refused IL
nave such an action brought The fact
courts Is evidence that they themselves
pelieVe my position to be right The
state treasury has too often been raided
IN the past and all am trying to do is
TO follow the law and protect the tax
payers or the state. The criticism that Is
being heaped upon me because / am
aolng TINS Is political bunc, pure and
Harman Quite Perturbed.
When the treasurer's statement was
read by Food Commissioner Hartman he
gave out this statement:
Governor Morehead is out of Tho oit,,
Tor the day and hold no brief to speak
Tor him, put knowing all the facts in
the case as do, beg to say that in nv
opinion, Mr.. Hall has made a rather
lame attempt TO set up the facts and
put up brave front 10 back up a weak
position.
If Mr.. Hall violates the law in paying
out warrants for the food Commission
ST OF po the on fees x on dep deposit with him
been violating the law heretofore on