The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-10-23
STATE CERTAINLY
Fine PROVIDER;;
GOOD EATS and
SLAVES GET 0. K.
No "Small Town" Stuff for
Members of the Social
ist Administration
BOX COMES HIGH,
BUT HE'S NEEDED
State Auditor a Boastful
Chap, But He Doesn't
Seem to Know 1t All

Bismarck. N. D.. Oct. 23.-Its a
wonderful thing. this thing Of living
on an expense account. especially If
the state is paying the bill.
That. at least. must be the con-
clusion drawn from a perusal Of the
records in the office of State Audit
or KositzISy, especially as they re-
late to the maner in which the North
Dakota Council of Defense so quick
Iy disposed of the $4,000 appropri-
ated for It by the state legislature;
the $500 additional appropriation to
1t from the state emergency funi,
and the S20. 900 collected by the
council in addition fees from the ex-
hibition of war films.
For instance. the state pays for
shaves of members of the council of
defense; it pays full time for sun
day service. and a little thing IKE
$3.50 worth of food in one day for
one official of the same council isn't
a thing to worry about. And 1t also
buys newspapers for the defense
council members.
Lynn J. Frazier. who went into the
governors chair on the promise and
pledge of Saving money for the
state" and whose administration
cost North Dakota $364.000 more for
year than 1t did the corresponding
year in the last previous admins
tration. personally approved of such
charges against the state by mem
ber of the council of defense.
Carl 5oastfuI
Not only did Governor Frazier ap-
prove of such items. but State Au-
ditor Kositzky. in his annual report,
boasts that just such things are not
permitted by the administration. In
other words, Mr.. KositZky, the Nom
partisan state auditor elected with
the backing of the Socialists. con-
bv his o. X. of the expense accounts
in question, approved.
On page II of Mr.. Kositzky's re-
port it is stated: During the year
1917 and up to Aug. l. 1918, the
state auditing board has refused to
pass on any claims against the
state. viz: tips. shaves. newspapers" "
However that NAV be. Mr.. Kositz-
| ky apparently has overlooked Youch-
er No. 1913, ,299, for $3.50. in favor OF
Dorr H. Carroll. of Minot, and APP
| proved by the state auditing board
of which Mr.. KOsitzky and Govern
| or Frazier are members. Mr.. Car
roll was and is. according to latest
| available reports. a member OF the
state council of defense. and the
voucher listed carries claims against
the state for Expenses attending
council of defense meeting and Cor
poral Smith, although just what
connection Corporal Smith had with
the matter is not apparent.
Voucher No. 3 attached to the
claim shows that Mr.. Carroll started
from Minot to Max. driving his own
frt1 hn Fsh
the state $6. The rail trip from Max
to Bismarck cost SO more. while the
return trip shows a cost OF IS. a
total Of $14. for travelling from Minot
to Bismarck. and Bismarck to Mfnot,
Room rent is listed at $3.50, while
meals at one Bismarck hotel are
listed at $1,000 while lunches" list
ed outside of the hotel total $40
more.
In addition to all of the foregoing
charges. however. are these: June
13, barber, 25 cents: June IA, barber,
25 cents: papers 20 cents. June IS,
paper. 20 cents. The claim doesn't
specify whether Mr.. Carroll was
shaved on the 18th and again on the
l4th, or whether Corporal Smith
was benefited by one of the shaves.
The 40 cent item for papers in two
days suggests a cor1mendable desire
for current news. However, the
state paid for the shaves and the
newspapers. ..
And Then Mr.. Box
Mr.. Kositzky, in his report, boasts
(page I'D that the state auditing
board has refused to pass on claims
for services rendered on Sunday.
Voucher No 192,981. and voucher
No. 193,059, approved by Governor