The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-02
GOV. GRAHAM 5
statement ON
] MONEY MATTERS
Report of Investigations Brings
0utsRemarks
--------s
ADMITS RECEIVING FEES
ADMITS RECEIVING FEES
Makes No Statement Concerning In
dIctment for Larceny and EmbexxIe.
ment, Preferrins TO Await Trial.

Montpelier. Dec 31-Governor
Horace F. Graham makes a statement
concerning the financial affairs of the
state auditors Office while he was
auditor:
ITO the People of Vermont:
81 have read the report OF Arthur
Young & Company of the examination
of the accounts of the auditor of ac-
counts during my fourteen years and
three months tenure of office.
Il had long ago decided TO make no
statement until my terms of office as
governor had expired and | neither
admit nor deny anything at this time.
However, | cannot permit this report
to so TO the public without word
from me-
II do not know any member of this
firm nor any of their employees and
have never met any one Of the gentle.
men who conducted the examination,
nor have / been asked by them to as.
sist in any way or to make any ex-
planation.
II am first charged with having
over-drawn my accounts every year
but one while held the Office OF audi
tor OF accounts.
"In the fall of 1904 the late Fred
erick S. Platt. inspector of finance, ex-
amined the books and accounts of the
Office and made the following report
to the legislature:
Proper vOuches were exhibited by
the state treasurer and the state audi
tor and the books and accounts of
both officers were found to be cor
rect.
I'm 1906 Luther A. Cobb. Inspector
OF finance, examined the Office and re-
ported as follows:
The books are well and correctly
kept. and the accounts are properly
vouchered'
again in 1903 ~ s'D6b reported
He has performed the duties re.
quired of him by section 39S relating
TO the state treasurer and clditor OF
accounts.
I'm 1910 the present bank commits
sioner reported to the legislature as
follows:
al examined the auditor S accounts
as required by law, and found them
correct. The system of accounting ls
excellent. and full information with
relation to all accounts required by
law to be kept by the auditor is rasi
ly obtainable
in 1916 the present bank commits
sioner reported to the legislature as
follows:
Fl have checked up the vouchers ir
the auditors Office and proved the
trial balances for each year ant
found them correct.
II further goes on to say that tht
business of the treasurer's office ant
the auditors office has so greatly in
creased that further assistance ough
TO be afford him for his examination
an 1904 the committees OH claim
pf the House and Senate. acting joint
ly, examined the Office and reported
to their respective houses amonl
other things:
We have checked with these book
and examined carefully all voucher
and papers. approximately one hur
dred thousand in number. coverin
the past biennial period and we I'm
a receipt for each order drawn az
cording to law
They further say:
There has been q marked improy,
ment in the system Of filing voucher
beginning under the incumbency Of {
NJ. Barber and continuing until tn
present time. The present system {
bookkeeping, originated somewhat b
Mr.. Barber and perfected by Mr. Gri
ham to the extent of personal g,
pense to himself ." is all tn;
can be expected under the presei
appropriations.
If my memory serves me correctl
this examination occupied goC
share of the time of the session.
Again in 1906 the committees {
claims, acting Jointly, examined Il
once and reported, among oth'
things. as follows:
"'We have examined report shee
and vouchers and we find he has 7
ceipted vouchers for all bills paid
the law directs
"They further reported, We I'll
that the books are kept in a most
telligent and up.todate form al
much credit is due the auditor of 9
counts and his assistants for the 4
proved methods in use
q am now under indictment 1
grand larceny and embe2zlement
all the moneys drawn by me. item
item, since April, 1919 to Janual
1917, when | left the Office and
this sreason | shall make no stateme
about these items except at my tri
as I prefer to try out the matter
court rather than attempt to do so
the newspapers.
II am further charged with rece
ing money from the state for seryiC
in professional way. while auditor
accounts, before the act OF 1908 n
admit willingly and say that r
dered the service, have been paid
It and had both legal and mo
right to the pay.
II am further charged with hav