The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-01
GOVERNORS. STATEMENT.
Continued from Page ~

to be kept by the auditor is easily OBJ
tainahle.'
In 1916 the present bank commits
sioner reported to the legislature as
follows:
81 have checked up the vouchers in
the auditor g office and proved the trial
balances for each year and found them
correct -
He further goes on to say that the
business of the treasurer s Office and
the auditors office has so greatly in
creased that further assistance ought
to be afforded him for his examination.
In 1904 the committees on claims of
the house and the senate, acting joint
| lv, examined the Office and reported TO
their respective houses, among other
| things:
eve have checked with these books
and examined carefully all vouchers
and papers, approximately 100000 in
number, covering the past biennial pc
riod and we find a receipt for each or
der drawn according to law
| They further say:
! "There has been a marked improve
ment in the system of filing vouchers
beginning during the ineumhency of
0. NJ. Barber and continuing until the
present time. The present system of
bookkeeping, originated somewhat by
Mr. Barber, and perfected by Mr.. Ora
ham to the extent of personal ex
pense to himself is all that can be
expected under the present appropria
tions
If my memory serves me correctly
l ho
of the time of the session
| Again in 1906 the committees on
claims, acting jointly, examined the
Office and reported, among other things,
as follows:
1--WE have examined report sheets
and vouchers and we find he has re-
ceipted vouchers for all bills paid as
the law directs.
They further reported: "We find
that the books are kept in a most in
teHigent and up TO date form and much
credit is due to the auditor of ae-
counts and his assistants for the i'm
proved methods in use
am now under indictment for
grand larceny and emhezzlement for
all the money drawn by me, item by
item, since April. 1915 to January,
1917, when / left the Office and for
this reason | shall make no statement
about these items except at nv trial,
as | prefer 20 try out the matter in
court rather than attempt to do so in
the newspapers.
| am further charged with receiving
money from the state for services in
a professional way, while auditor of
accounts, before the act of 1908 This
| admit willingly and say that l rem
dered the service, have been paid for
it and had both legal and moral
right to the pay.
| am further charged with having
received from the state since the Act
n of 1908, the sum of 1919 If | remem-
Der the matters correctly, over three
: fourths of this amount was for my
services as a referee with the late Mr..
Plat and Judge Taylor in a cause be-
!, gun back in 1905 or 1906 and as a mem
6 her of the board of appeals upon rail
road appraisals. The balance, except
q [ believe So, was paid for completing
services begun and partly rendered he
fore the Act of 1908 took effect Since
1908 i have had no civil law practice
: worthy of the name, but have devoted
/ my time exclusively to the duties OF
the Office and have given to it the best
t that was in me.
In conclusion / wish to saw that
the practice of making advances to
state officials, so far as / know, was
begun by the late L. Henry Powell
who was auditor of accounts from 1875
to 1892, and has been continued down
d to the present time.
HORACE F. GRAHAM.
Montpelier, Vt.
II Dae ~ 1919 s-~