Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-27
representing James NJ. Pierce and also
attorneys representing the commission.

representing James NJ. Pierce and also
attorneys representing the commission.
Ralph Bolton. OF Des Moines. a
member OF the commission. told the
committee that vouchers were fur
nished by the commission to account
for all expenditures except two items,
one an item of $50 and the other SIS.
which expenditures were for some
work done by itinerant painters from
whom they did not get receipts. He
said these were fled with the execu-
tive council together with the final re-
port, accounting for all expenditures,
in January. 1917, Since that time
however II develops some of these
vouchers have been lost, The reports
have been gone over by representa-
tives of the state executive council and
the retrenchment and reform com
mittee of the Thirty seventh general
assembly and IL is thought possible
that some of the receipts have thus
been misplaced.
While on the witness stand Miss
Smith testified that much of her time
At San Francisco was taken up trying
to get vouchers or receipts for various
bills paid.
The typewriter, the check to the
Iowa News Bureau. the matter OF con-
cessions and the accounts in general
were the matters particularly inquired
into by the attorneys in the case yes
terday with Miss Smith and Mr.. Boil
ton as witnesses. These were matters
on which charges by Pierce largely
hinged
Miss Smith testified that the type
writer in question was purchased of
the Remington agency in Clinton for
the commission and used by the COM
mission in its offices there and was
never taken TO San Francisco. She
says SO far as she knows 1t Is in the
officers of the Greater Iowa committee
yet.
Mr. Bolton testified that the check to
the Iowa News Bureau paid by Mr..
CTum and which Pierce charges was to
pay a private debt. was for publicity
work done by Mr.. Bales Of the bureau.
He declared the commission received
no money for concessions. As to the
accounts. he said when the fifth final
report was placed in the hands of the
executive council the accounting firm
of Van Horn. Cluett and company was
employed to check 1t. It's report was
to the effect that while II did not find
any evidence OF wrong use of funds 1t
believed the money had been expended
carelessly and not in accordance with
the statute.
Members OF the committee manifest
ed some Impotence yesterday over the
reiteration Of testimony already
brought out and would not permit any
Qu!hblinS among the attorneys. How
ever as was expressed by Senator
Kimball and by the resolutions adopted
the members were anxious &c give
ample opportunity for all witnesses to
be heard
With Pierce acknowledging that he
did not know the fifth report had been
filed in which the final expenditures OF
the commission were accounted for
his admission that he did not write
any Of the articles in his publication
The Homestead personally and had
not done so for ten years and that the
only charge which he himself had per-
sonally paid any attention to and that
only with the cooperation Of Austin
Haines his charges narrowed down
only to the s45 expenditure to the Iowa
News Bureau which he charged was
the payment of a debt by Woodwork
Clum with public money. He believed
that this was for news service rend-
cred to the Clinton Advertiser. IN
which Woodwork Cfum was at one
time interested. Ralph Bolton how
ever said that this was for publicity
work.
Hence while the committee will hear
other witnesses on Its reconvening
July sth the resolution adopted indi-
Gates that its work will be principally
to try and settle this question Of mis-
sing vouchers, after which it will be
in a position to make its final report