Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-23
Especial to the Journal-Miner.)

] PA NSlNNAA VI llLE SlulC SOllellNy OlAN time candidate for governor and sec retary-treasury of the Aubrey Invest ment Company of Prescott For Sen ator Johns is one of the principal stockholders of the company to which the Commission of State In stitutions has addressed q letter turning down a claim involving an alleged contract for $22,47864, which was sent in against the state.
 This contract represents an attempt on the part of the Aubrey Co. to dispose of some 68 head of veteran mules and horses which were so old and decrepit and so spawned and ring boned and knock kneed, accord ing to the reports of the state veter- inarians as to be of no possible use to the state, together with a lot of road grading equipment including large quantities of old chains and scrap iron of doubtful value except as junk.
 Come and get your old mules, we don't need them any more" says the commission in effect in turning down the Aubrey Investment Company's claim. As matter of fact this stock is estimated to have cost the state in feed alone since their acquisition something like $6,8OO for the 100 days they have been on the boarding house rolls of the highway depart ment, with but little return in the way of service from the animals, it is said, although they were repre- sented to be strong and serviceable. The $22,000 deal for the disposal of this stock and equipment was put over, it will be remembered in the closing days of the Hunt adminis- tration. It was easy enough to have the equipment and stock o. K.ed as a good buy for the state by a state engineer that didn't care especially what he was handing his successor, and 1t was easy enough for Johns in person to fix the matter up with the old commission of state institutions and to sign his name to the first claim for $3,000 on the deal, but it has not been so easy to get money out of the commission appointed by Governor Campbell. This commits sion had to be shown. It was not willing to act in haste A thorough investigation, including an examina- ton of the stock was ordered and ob- tained. These findings were then placed before the Governor, and it was upon his approval and suggestion as we'll as that of State Engineer Tom Maddock that the claim for $o, 10o75, alleged to be due March 1 has been turned down and the contract res cinded by formal resolution of the commission.
 The Black Friday" letter which Tony Johns and Jack Trenberth president of the Aubrey Investment Co.,, will receive is short, sweet and to the point. It reads as follows:
 Phoenix, April Y. 1919. Aubrey Investment Co.,, Prescott, Ariz.
 Gentlemen: We herewith return vour claim dated March 17,l9l9, in, the amount of ten thousand three hundred and sixty seven dollars and eighty nine cents, ($10,367 .89) which this commission has rejected. The inclosed resolution was adopted and made part of this commissions min utes this date, April r, 1919. We desire that you advise us immediately where you will receive the stock and equipment referred to in the rcsolu- ton.
 Very truly yours,
 Commission of State Institutions,
 (signed)
 ANDREW BAUMERT, Jr,
 Chairman.
 The resolution adopted by the com mission today rejecting the property covered by the alleged contract reads as follows;
 WHEREAS. The Aubrey Invest ment Co.,, of Prescott, Arizona, has presented claim in amount of Sl0,- 376.89 as an amount of "onc half bal ance due on contract of purchase un- der date of December Fist, l9lS," and the commission having fully investi gated the matter referred to in that claim, since the date when the claim was presented, (March Y, 19l9) and which investigation has been con tinued since that date and with the utmost diligence, that the facts per taining thereto bc fairly ascertained as a guide to action of the commis- sion upon the question of an allow ance or disallowancc of that claim, and has included an examination of the files and records of the commis- sion, an inspection of the property which is the basis thereof, and other investigations respecting the whole i matter thereof, and from which iti appears to the commission that the | state of Arizona is not liable and . should lot pay the above mention ed claim nor any claim at all based . upon the same transaction.
 It is therefore resolved: That the 1 claim be rejected and not allowed. !
 Also Resolve: That the property | which is referred to in the claim so