New-York tribune., 1916-07-28
Brooklyn Young Republi-
cans Seek Return of S2O,-
600 "Waste" on Trip.
TRAVIS CALLED ON
TO BEGIN ACTIONS
Ex-Governor Dix, Norman E
Mack and Controller Also
Spent Too Much, Is Charge.

State Controller Eugene NJ. Travis
must appear in the Supreme Court in
Ulster County on August 10 and show
cause why he should not begin suit
against himself, his wife. Norman Z.
Mack, former Governor John A. Dix
and others to recover $4,000 Of the
states money alleged TO have been IL
legally spent in junkets 20 the San
Francisco Exposition.
The court action was begun yester-
day in mandamus proceeding insti-
tuted by the Brooklyn Young Re-
publican Club. Notice of the clubs in
tention was formally served on the
State Controller last Tuesday. The
Legislature appropriated 100000 for
the expenses of the State Exposition
Commission, and it is alleged that this
body itself not only made unnecessary
expenditures, but took to the eIposi-
ton, at the expense Of the state, men
and women who were in no way con-
neeted with the commission.
Spent Too Much, Is Charge
The Young Republican Club wants
the Controller TO sue for this money
spent by persons not members OF the
commission and for the unnecessary"
expenditures Of the commission itself.
The $4,000 spent By Governor Whit
man and his party is classed In the
papers with many other expenditures
which proper audit and appropriate
proceedings can redress.
Norman Z. Mack, state Democratic
leader, spent 81 ,065 in two trips to the
Exposition, the Young Republican Club
alleges, of which it demands Controller
Travis sue TO collect 1915 which was
unnecessary"
Controller and Mrs. Travis's trips
to the Exposition, combined with those
of Miss Helen Travis and two friends,
are alleged TO have cost New YORK
se4O. The Young Republican Club
wishes all of this paid back into
the state treasury, asserting that none
of the persons had legal right TO any
of the money used. The sum OF s44.I5
is TO be collected from former Governor
Dix, another person who 1t is alleged
had no right to have his expenses PAID
by the state.
The committee of ten of the Brook
lyn Club has made repeated efforts in
the past TO induce Controller Travis TO
investigate the expenditures contracted
by numerous Office holders, legislators
and politicians, their families ana
friends during the California Expo
sition.
Controller Ready to Act.
Controller Travis issued the follow
ing statement yesterday from his ONCE
in this city:
"The legal adviser to the Controller
is the Attorney General, who has ad-
vised that the Controller has not the
power 10 investigate the Panama-Pa-
cifc Commission. and that that power
rests only with the Legislature. Inas-
much as some lawyers doubt the
soundness of this legal opinion, not
withstanding that the courts have in
every other instance supported the
opinion of the Attorney General, the
Controller welcomes the application to
the court and assures the state that he
will gladly and Immediately proceed to
audit the affairs of the commission
should the court so decide"
The Controller added that at the time
the opinion of the Attorney General
was rendered ne endeavored 70 have
the Legislature create a law giving him
the needed auditing power, but was un-
successful.
The mandamus petition points out
that the Legislature, in 1912, in author
izing the appointment Of the Panama
Pacific Commission, specified that the
members should be entitled TO their
actual necessary expenses incurred
while in the discharge Of duties i'm
posed upon them" The petition states
that il "appears by vouchers and rec
ords on file in the Office of the Con-
troller Of the State of New York that
the commission in divers ways wasted
and misappropriated the funds Of the
state TO the amount of thousands OF
dollars, and paid such funds out to va
rious persons who had no right TO re-
ceive the same"