Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-24
Special Investigating Commit
tee Files Report With Legis-
Naturalization Alexander
and Moody.
HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE
Attorney General and Prosecut-
ing Attorney Urged to Con-
duct Searching Investigation
Minority Report Exoner-
ates Officials.

Illegal and criminal use of public
funds by former state officials in hand
ling the affairs of the adjutant geuer-
ais department is found in the report
OF the special investigating committee
named by the Legislature to probe into
the affairs of that department, and the
recommendation is made that the at
torney general of the state and the
prosecuting attorney of Ada county
conduct a searching investigation to
the end that those responsible may be
brought to trial The names of NJ
Alexander. former governor, and Rep
resentative Moody former adjutant
general, are linked with the findings
of the majority of the committee.
These findings are by the Republican
members The minority member, Rep
rescntative Hoff, exonerates the Off
Gals, holding that use of the funds was
necessary as an emergency existed
the nation was at war.
CONCLUSIONS IN REPORT.
The report covers II pages and was
submitted to both houses of the legisla-
ture. The findings of the majority at
the close OF the report are as follows:
Concluding our report. we feel, from
fair consideration of the whole rec
ord. that there has been gross, wanton
and criminal disregard OF the sanctity
of the public funds of the state; that
Mr.. Moody and Ex-Governor Moses AL
eSander took advantage of war condi-
tions upon the ground, apparently, that
the people would sanction any extrav-
agant and illegal expenditure of the
public funds upon their statements of
military necessity.
THAT the funds appropriated to the
adjutant generals office were largely
expended to serve the political selfish
and personal purposes Of Mr.. Moody
and Ex-Governor Alexander. and we
feel 1t incumbent upon us, in order to
create a proper regard for the public
funds of the state to recommend:
THAT n thorough and searching in
vestigation should be made by the at
torney general and the prosecuting at
torney OF Ada county to the end that
those responsible for wanton, illegal
and criminal use Of the funds in the
adjutant generals office may be
brought to trial and that the people of
the state Of Idaho may be fully adj
vised as Ia the condrct Of its public
officials during the years 1917 and 1918,
and,
URGE TRIAL BE HAD.
I'VE recommend that the attorney
general and prosecuting attorney of
Ada county make such immediate in
vestigation that the people may be
speedily advised of these conditions
and the responsibility for the criminal
use of the public funds be properly
placed.
AS above set forth. the final respon-
sibility of determining what claims
shall be paid by the state of Idaho rests
upon the board of examiners. If the
board continues in the future to pass
upon claims in the same loose, inef-
ficient and unbusinesslike manner that
1t has In the past, as shown by the tes-
timony of two members of the former
board who were before us as witnesses,
the board should be abolished. The
committee appreciates the Importance
and necessity. of this board and takes
this opportunity of calling to the at
tention of the people of the state of
Idaho the fact that the responsibility of
passing on claims against the state of
idaho rests upon this board and that
some vigorous action is necessary TO
bring about a proper discharge of their
duties; and that they should be held
TO strict accountability and be made to
bear the consequences of allowing ille-
gal and unjust claims instead of seek
ing to evade such responsibility and
shift the burden onto under-executive
officers of the state
WITNESSES CALLED.
The report states the following wit.
: nesses were called before the com.
mittee. A. G. Kennard. J. Fl. Mention
C. A. Groves w. A. Oakley. II. n. Ora.
ham, C. S. Moody. Moses Alexander
Chief Justice w. M. Morgan. Justice
Alfred Bulge. Justice ]. c. Rice. State
Treasurer John W. Eagleson. Captain