The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-02
CAN'T AUDIT
WHITMAN FAIR BILL
Thompson Inquiry Expense,
Also Out Of His Province
Woodbury. Holds.
DRINK ITEM WAS SOUGHT

ALBANY. MAscA i@6taee comptrune'
Travis has no power To audit s1psnd>-
lures Of the Panama-Pacihc connie
sion o. Of the Thompson Public Ser
vice COMMITTEES. Attorney General wood.
bury held In TIVE opinions mads pubi;c
tonight
Tho question Of ne Comptroller.
commissions expenses was raised b.
Edgar r. Bracket OF Saratoga. In a
letter to the Comptroller Mr.. Bracket
asked for an item,zed statement OF :hs
liquor expenditures made during t1e
Governors trip to the exposition. ;
COMMITTEES headed b. Henry l.. stinsr
also asked tho Comptroller TO maxi
public az accounting Of thu slieseH
liquor items.
Attorney General Woodbury. In RS
opinion referred to the section OF tho
act OF 1911: providing 100000 for t,c
expense Of the State's participation IN
tho exposition. which directed tho Comp
troller TO pay the moneys appropriate
upon a requisitlon signed by the chair
a and vice-chairman OF the Panams
Pacific commission" II wac further
provided that this reauisition should b.
accompanied BY estimates OF the ex-
penses for which the money was TO "
applied and that within ninety da.r
after the close OF the exposition q yer
ned report, Of the Disbursements shou,
he aled with the Comptroller. Uncx.
pended balances were To- bo turned into
the State Treasury.
Has tho Comptroller any power g.
question tho commission as to It's eS
penditures?" the Attoreny-General's
opinion reads.
Il don't find hat he has. Il VAS his
duty to draw a warrant upon the Treas-
urer In favor OF the commission for H..
payment OF moneys appropriated by th'
act Whenever a rcauisition signed by III.
chairman and vice-chairman WAS pro
sented to him. accompanied by the cst!.
mate required by the act. The act its.l.
gives the Comptroller no AUTHORITY
whatever. II Is a special act complete r.
itself. providing "A complete plan Tor ia
accomplishment OF tho purpose t. uIic.
the state was committed by its pasSar
No provision Of any general Law reil;H E
Co the power OF the Comptroller can So
extended 10 cover the transaction % IT,
commission.
Il am unable to discern that lac lac
any power. He cannot compel the tiine
Of any vouchers. lie cannot ,etc' an,
vouchers offered Tor filing IN his Office
on the ground that they are improper .!
that they disclose any iInyronrr eN
pend!turc Of the S,ate's fund. lie he
no discretion. lie has TO power 10 ~
view the eApend lure OK the commissions
discretion"
With reference to the audit o: the ex-
renditures OF the Thomp-ou committee
the A~ttorney-ieneral point- oIt that the
legislative Law prescrip.s ta.it the dU',
OF determining wh.thcr the 'Np.us.s o
a legislative commute" we're actual an
necessary has b-ea placed not upon the
Comptroller. but upon'the chairman OF
the committee and the pg"sid irr Office
of the house appointing such COM
mittec.
THE initial appropriation for Tho
Thompson "onlmltte'. the opinion re-
cites. made pursuant 20 q Sendt. reso-
luton on January -. 1918. was 5000
to De paid from Os funds appropriated
for contingent expenses OF tie Leg!s-
laturc, =. the Treasurer or the Uarrtn
vf tho Comptroller upon \ c"rtinca'-
Of n, chairman Of such COMMITTEES 70"
the expenses OF such committee and H.
inv~es;igat!or.' Each Subsequent oppro
prtation FOR the committee contains IN.
same provision"