The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-03-04
LEGISLATIVE NEWS

BOISE, Idaho.-Charging gross
wanton and criminal disregard O
the sanctity of state funds" and thei
misuse by former Governor Alexan
der and former Adjutant Genera
Moody the special legislative inves
tigation committee which has beef
going over the affairs of the adjutan
generals office during the pas
month, made lengthy report to tn,
senate and house Monday afternoon
Four out of five members of thu
committee submitted the report
while Representative Hoff of Beal
Lake county, Democrat, submitted 9
minority report.
The record shows that fifteen men
were called before the investigating
committee. Prominent among these
were former Governor Alexander, c.
s. Moody, State Treasurer Eagleson,
former auditor Clarence Van Dusen
and Ex-Attorney General T. A. Wal
! tiers. In addition were the three
members of the supreme court.
According to Senator w. H. Witty
member of the committee speaking
in the senate following the majority
reoprt, the supreme court members
were asked to testify to the truth
OF statement made to the commit
tee by Moses Alexander, when the
former governor said that at meet
ing held in April, 1917, which was
attended by state officials and men,
bers of the supreme court, it was de-
cided to make many of the expendi-
lures now questioned because of the
peculiar conditions brought about by
the war. According to the Bannock
county senator the testimony of
supreme court judges and other state
officials fatty contradicted that of
the former governor.
The report claims large number
of expenditures with mo warrant of
law" 1t calls attention to the fact
that $4,000 was appropriated and
practically all of this has been ex-
pended altho there was no militia.
Referring to the certification of
claims by the former adjutant gen.
eral and auditor it calls attention to
the fact that making of false certi-
fication is felony.
"The board of examiners was a
farce" it says. Going on, the docu-
ment calls specific attention to an
extra allowance of salary of $40 per
month for General Moody and $25
per month to Major Burns and makes
reference to the Illegal trips of
Moody and Alexander.
A computation Of mileage paid out
for railroad fare and in the purchase
of supplies for the former adjutant
generals automobile the investiga-
tors say would show mileage of
1000 miles. It charges that funds
were used for "the political and sell
fish purposes of Governor Alexander
and Adjutant General Moody" Re-
sponsibility Is placed on the board of
examiners by the majority report.
Moses Alexander was the head of
this body. Recommendation is made
that the attorney general and prose-
cutting attorney of Ada county review
the evidence and take such action
as deemed best.
In his minority report Representa-
tive Hoff says in part: $50 far as
have been able to gather the facts
there appears to be no evidence of
doing on the part of the
adjutant general-and no irregular
tiles worthy of mention. | am I'M
able to agree with the conduct of the
Investigation. The adjutant general
was denied the right to have counsel
and to cross examine witnesses and
this Is not in accord with the spirit |
Of our institutions and certainly not !
in accord with the idea of fair play
which occupies so important a place
IN the American mind.
In an impassioned speech before I
members of the house following the
and adopting of the majority
report, c. s Moody, member of the |
house from Bonner county and |
'ormer adjutant general, charged
hat he was the victim of politics and
aid he had never gained one cent
hru incorporation of funds.
A deep probe into all accounts,
'ecords and expenditures of every de-
'artment of state government cover
ng a period of four years during the
of former governor
Noses Alexander, promises to be the
lirect result of the Moody investiga-
ion when the special committee
laid the blame for con-
litions in the former adjutant gen.
rails office to the board of examin-
RS.
Provision for an appointment Of
pecial legislative committee, for the
firing and paying of accountants, |.
tenographers and clerks for the
robe, is made in the last measure
Introduced into the senate Monday. |;
he bill carries with it an appropria-
ion Of $4,000. Two senator's and ,
ne member of the house will con-
titute the probing committee should
he bill pass. They would begin
york Immediately after the adjourn
1en tot the fifteenth session.
At the close of the fftieth day of F.,
he Idaho legislature a total of ASS
ills had been introduced. It was ,
he last day that measures could
ONE into the senate without sus-
ension of the rules and twenty
even measures were introduced. OF
he total number Of suggested legis-
alive measures 275 were introduced