South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-01

DaSSauOr at washington, mas bld
farewell 10 the United States and is
on his way home, where he will take
over the duties of a high office. Am
bassador da Cana will be me new
Brazilian minister Of foreign affairs.
in 1917 and s22, 46S.O5 in 1913 more
than it did in 1916. In his defense.
the governor attempts to justify
this increase by the charge that
during the Ralston administration
the fees for examining insurance
companies were paid directly to the
examiners and therefore did not ap-
pear as a charge against h auditors
office. This assertion IS absolutely
without foundation. The reports
of the auditor Of states Office. dur
ing years 1913. 1914. 1915 aud 1916
will show that these fees were all
paid into the state treasury and that
the examiners and special eXamin-
ers were all paid by vouchers. and
that this expense was charged TO
the auditors office. The governors
explanation Of this increased ex-
penditure thus fades away. The in
timation made by the governor that
Mr.. Crittenberger, while auditor of
state, was at fault for the failure
TO collect $4,000 in reciprocal fees
from insurance companies is not
justified by the facts. The facts are
that the insurance companies either
resisted the payments of these fees
or made reports as TO their bust
ness which did not conform to the
law. The state succeeded In collect
ing these fees only after it had won
the suits instituted against these
companies during Gov. Ralston's
administration, and the fees collect
ed as the result OF this litigation
came into the state treasury during
the term OF the present auditor. Mr..
Crittenberger is not deserving OF
criticism in this regard.
Reporter OF Supreme Court.
The governor claims there has
been a saving in this office. AS a
matter OF fact, Mr.. Zoercher. the
democratic incumbent, discontinued
in part one position in this office,
/ dAln WI uaill lot dOlAE III SdAAAC
thing. The present reporter Of the
supreme court has so managed his
office that during his incumbancy OF
nearly two years he has published
only three volumes Of the supreme
and appellate reports. while Mr..
Zoercher. during the same period.
got out eight volumes. The cost of
getting out these three volumes was
practically the same as what IL cost
under Mr.. Z~oercher's to get out
eight volumes. This certainly can
not be characterized as economy or
| efficiency in the present administra-
ton Of the office. AS a result Of
the present reporters delay, the de-
cisions Of the supreme and appel
late courts are being published
nearly two years after they were
rendered.
While the office of the reporter is
in this condition, the reporter him
self found time to travel as a
messenger Of the commission TO
register the soldier vote for which
he received from the state treas
ury s336.99 10 cover his expenses.
/ During this time he was away from
his office but his salary as reporter
was going on. The governors pri-
vate secretary. Frank P. Litschert,
1 although the governor was in
/ capaCitated by his injuries and away
from his office, found time 70 go out
! on this same work and he drew his
expenses from the state treasury.
Maintenance Of State House.
The governor. with much pride.
points out a saving IL the engineers
department of the state house. In
. actual figures there was a saving in
this department in 1919 of ~$525.66.
compared with the expense OF 1916.
while in 1917 there was an increase
! Of S1.727.34. In the custodian's
I branch of this department, how
ever. in 1915 there was an increase
Of S"2.9S5.17 over the expenditures
for 1915. Any person, who is &C
ouainted with the condition OF the
halls and room OF the state house
/ during the last year and a half
= knows that they have not been as
we'll kept as they were under the
I former custodian. although sass
II more was expended in this de-
partment
The General Fund.
Mr.. Goodrich. in his defense,
points out that the general fund in
the treasury on oct. I. 1918. would
/ have been much augmented IL the
inheritance tax had been paid into
the general fund instead OF into the
highway fund As a matter OF fact
there Is now in the general fund
$4,000 which, under the act OF
1917, should have been paid into the
/ highway fund. II the transfer had
been made. the general fund would
have been reduced that amount. In
the MANAGEMENT OF the state treas
Jury, the present administration has
from the very 6rst violated the pro-
vision Of the tax act OF 1913. which
provides for the levy OF a special tax
for the support Of the penal and
J benevolent institutions OF the state.