The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1916-03-16
GOVERNOR MAJOR ANSWERS
KELLY q KELLY.
The Truth About the Sale OF the
Capitol Bonds.


Of Kansas City, Missouri, has
mailed circular letter to a num-
her of papers and people through
out the state, setting forth that
his firm was entitled to a commits
sion for services rendered in the
sale of the Capital Building
Bonds, and that there had been a
violation of contract or breach
of faith with his said firm in re-
lation thereto.
This is to say that Kelly & Kelly
are not entitled to single cent
from the State, of Missouri. There
was no violation Of contract or
breach of faith with said firm in
any matter. This firm undertook
to force it's services upon the State
by suggesting this, that or the
other. claiming that the firm pos
sessed abilities not possessed by
anyone else to dispose OF the
bonds but at no time rendered the
State any service, and the State
was never obligated to the firm
legally or morally. These gentle
men were long on voluntary
plans and conversation, but short
on everything else. From the
very first | refused to have any
thing to do with this firm.
A number of people tried to sell
the bonds, but failed to do so. The
bonds were ultimately sold, by
authority of the Fund Commits
sioners upon contract, to the Mer-
camille Trust Company, and for
the best price the Commissioners
could obtain from anyone. These
bonds were not sold by me, but
by the Fund Commissioners by
record duly made and contracts
duly executed by the Fund Com
missioners and the officers there
of. No one could sell these bonds,
or have authority to sell them,
save and except such authority be
given by affirmative action of the
Board of Fund Commissioners.
During the last legislature kel-
ly & Kelly secured an appropria-
ton from the Legislature to pay
said firm $780, Tor expert ser-
vices, etc. The Legislature sup
posed the firm had rendered the
service, but knowing this fri had
rendered the State no service
whatever, and feeling that any
thing paid them would be do
nation or gift from the State I
vetoed the appropriation and re
fused to permit them to draw the
money. The payment OF this
claim was also protested by :he
Capitol Commission. My veto of
this item, when the general a., no.
priation bill was delivered to me
is in words and figures as follows:
"Section 70, the item contained
therein, appropriating the sum Of
$4,000 to William G.. Kelly and
Henry B. Kelly, partners doing
business as Kelly & Kelly, in pay
ment of what is stated as their
plan and expert services, etc. rem
dered the Board of Fund Com
missioners in the sale of Capitol
Bonds. The payment Of this is
protested by the Capitol Columis-
sion and as a member OF the
Board of Fund Commissioners
there is no obligation upon the
part Of the State, contractual or
otherwise, to pay this claim"
Had the State been obligated to
the firm legally or morally.
would have signed the approp.ia-
ton, but as the. State was not OBJ
ligated in any way l protected
the State and the citizens thereof
from an imposition by this i,rm,
aud vetoed the same.
The Kelly letter is sent out now
for the purpose Of campaigning
to secure an appropriation from
the next Legislature, but trust
no succeeding Legislature or Gov
ernor will permit this firm to
draw a single cent from the Treas
ury, because neither the firm. nor
any member thereof, is entitled to
receive a cent. By reason Of the
fact l refused to permit the firm
to be paid the $1G,W on-this In-
Just claim the firm is now wroth
at me-hence the circular This
circular letter is filled will, mis-
statements and is in keeping with
the Judgment / formed of Mr..
Kelly when he first appeared be-
fore the Fund Commissioners
make this statement so US not
to let the false statements 60 un-
challenged, and to also Let the peo-
ia lnnw, that fhsa, FIRM IN. not