Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-07
Salem, Ore, March 7, 1916.

published relative to the report men.
toned.
My annual report, which is on file
with the state treasurer shows that
there was feceived by the secretary
from all sources $5O,377.10, for the fis.
cal year ending December l. 1915. There
was disbursed during the same period
$42, l69.l1, leaving credit for the state
FAR fund Of $S,20SOS. This includes
$o,9S2,l4, which was on hand Decem.
Der l, 1914. My report, which is pnblic
property, shows that there was exnend.
ed, by authority of the board mem.
Ders, during the year of 1915. the snm
OF $I6O7.40 for permanent improve.
ments, such as pavement, water system
and equipment men s rest room alta
In addition to this | paid ont Of tbo
lchas as, received in 1915, an old judgment
OF $366'47 to Mr.. L. B. Tongue. and n
oaiance ON the new pavilion, of $1,000.
%, making a total paid out for tho
permanent improvements, including the
judgment the sum of $1O,O42.67
ihere was received from the 1015
legislature an appropriation of $6.93f.-
o., and a donation of $1,000 by the
state board Of control, from the FLAW
Iund, making a total Of $7.93l37 Over
ana above this sum, there was $2ll0.SO
expended for permanent improvements
winch amount was paid out of the gen
eral fair fund. There was on hand Do.
cember !, 1915, to the credit of the
state fair fund in the state treasurer ,s
oftlee, $S,208.0S. These figures sbou
the simple truth in this matter The
state Fair Board has not told no wb,,
they spent the taxpayers money mn.
necessarily in the employme1t Of
FGHiand experts to 60 over my books
%hen they could have learned the trutb
Tor themselves in a very short fine
ny appointing an auditing committee
or two members Of the board (which
had always been done in former vearsl
to compare the books and nv report
which had already been audited nv tho
state treasuer's office and found cor.
rect. W.
At the time the new secretary wac
elected, Nj. l.. Jones made a motion that
my books should be examined. and he
talled to get second to the motion
ana It looks very much like he is the
one chiefly responsible for the mislead.
ing report which has been published
was informed that, on the day the re.
port was given to the public. a renorter
gained admission to the rovprnor g
private tffice his office bov being
absent the governor explaining tb9
rePett to him reclested him to place
great stress on the item clnming there
was a deficit o. sl,GH2s9 under NV
regime. '
In keeping the books 7 used the same
system that Mr.. Meredith had used the
previous five years, and continued to
use that system until the end of the
tlscal year, December l, 1915. At The
time introduced an entire change i n
the system Of bookkeeping, which shows
for itself, and, in my estimation serves
every purpose that q system of hook
Keeping is intended for. [ am NOT M.
tempting TO say how rotten the system
was, but l discovered, immediately mn.
on entering upon the duties of the Of
nee, that the system Gin nv opinion)
was very inconvenient, incomplete. and
unsatisfactory. and I so reported il 10
members Of the board and thew autb.
oflzed me to introduce a more conplete
and convenient system and put
same IN operation at the beginning of
the next fiscal year. December iq1
rms was done and used the new svs.
tenn two months when was deposed for
reasons sufficient and satisfactorvj
as stated in a communication. bv MI
Jones, to the fair board. Be b,e moe
informed IN the public what he considers
sufficient and satisfactory reasons u,
nut, as this report Of the Portland ac.
countants was given to the ppblic tbo
next day, | am led to believe that tbis
report was intended to convey tbis in.
formation. If they intended 10 no fair
why did not Richardson mention in bis
report that ] had introduced nov, co.
TEN. | explained this system to bin
the first and only dav he wos in tb.
otflce; Richardson's 3 criticism regard.
ing the system Of keeping accounts
SHOWS that the accountants understand
mat they were to hand in report nm.
favorable to me.
deny that ever entered into anv
unauthorized contracts for the sate
falr board. was authorized bv The
proper members to enter into every
contract made. From their report
the accountants would have tae pnblc
believe that there were admissions 10
the fair grounds that were not account.
ed for by me. This is untrue ana mis.
leading, as ! turned over 10 nv snc.
eessors receipts from every ticket sell.
er for every ticket he received. and. n
turn, receipted every ticket seller for
every ticket he returned unsold Riobt
mere desire to reply to the commpni.
cation Of NJ, L. Jones to the fair hoard
ana which appeared in your issue of
even date, in reference to the Turner.
slmpkins gate scandal, in which he as.
serts that "he and another member
OF the board presented the matter IN
District Attorney Ringo." He tells the
public this, leaving US 10 infer that h
was for the purpose Of having them
prosecuted. Now District Attorney
klngo informs myself and others tbat
when these two members called ON him