The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-11-06
CLEMENTS REASONS.

Iull pardon TO former GONeTuOF II.
Graham who was ON Thursday senten
ced to five years Imprisonment for
embezz ement while holding the office
of auditor Of accounts, stated that he
took that course because Of the for
mer governors distinguished service
to the state and because he felt that
Mr. Graham had been sufficiently pun
ished through the suffering he had
endured In connection with the
order restoring the former governor
to full citizenship, Governor Clement
sent the following communication to
Mr. Graham
IN 1902 made a speaking cam
paign throughout the State of Yer
mont, and on several occasions called
attention to the improper methods of
handling the States business which
existed at that time. Again in 1905 |
went into that matter more in detail
and explained to my audiences that
the system OF making advances from
the state treasury, to numerous state
officials was wrong and would BRING
disgrace and dieaster upon the state,
'-'s During an the period,. from 1902
to 1917, you were the auditor of ac-
teoufrs OF the state, and as auditor.
you were continually making such ad
yanccs. Your action was, however
well known to the chief executives
of the State, and to all the legislar
lures which convened during that
period and to those officials who made
examinations Of your office, incud-
ing Frederick S. Platt. Luther A.
Cobb and Frank c. Williams.
Under No, 20 of the Acts of 1903
there was a commission appointed
which consisted Of Yourself Joseph A.
DeBoer ard Olin Merrill, authorized
to examine into and install a system
OF auditing state accounts That com
mission made a careful examination
and report in approval OF the system
in operation.
The committee on claims of the
Senate Of 1896 reported al 70 lows.
We have examined the biennial
report of the Auditor Of Accounts and
find same to be substantially correct
as shown by the books OF his depart
ment, Ave have examined report
sheets and vouchers and we find he
/ has receipted vouchers for all bills
paid az the law demands Personal
expense accounts are subscribed to
under oath and are accompanied by
prOper vouchers
We find that the books are kept
in the most intelligent and uptodate
form, and much credit IS due to the
Auditor Of Accounts and his assist
ants for the improved methods in.usei'
"A report OF a joint special commit
Tee to investigate the method Of aa,
counting used in your Office Is as toll
lows: Z
Your committee believe that this
report shows very salts factory meth
Cd of transacting the work OF the
/ Auditors office and that the Auditor.
+ is 10 be highly commended for the inn
provements which he has made in the
methods used.
That report is signed by w. J. Van
L; tten, chairman on the part of the
! Senate, and IUnn A. Mead. chairman
OF the part OF the House.
Again in the campaign OF 1918, at
Itention of the voters was called TO this
system of mahing advances; and the
1 Legislature OF 1919 authorized
/ change. which was made effective in Y
first of that year. whereby no adj
vanoes ere made from the state treas
NY to state oGicials dome away with
tie plan Of conducting the states
bus ness Whiel ras caused unuhlc H.
tic past
When you finished yoCr t. m Of
eff &c as lnditor OF accounts, in 1917
there was balance cot moneys due
from you 90 the state OF Vermont, as
apreared b. the record uHlr the books
o. the an litoF which IeClr0, ] un-
dergta Ad % has not been ~ ClgsE nned
ald which fwauce has sins heen paid
Ivy rcu
Il have lriefly callod you. atten-
1 tiul tc the condition Whi.I listed
l dunEg Your torn of Ojjrq as auditor
|f0f accounts OF The Stale. because the
| knowledge OF what was ec'Lg IN by
the public by the legislcdtcs tld by
l';tatc '"nicit Is generally has Tearing
grrnG enc QUESTION of ycIr II tot and
lupm the seton which en- now TAX
ing
I'm the fall of 1918, you we're elect,
ed Governor. the highest office in the
gift of the reopie Of Vermont A
few weeks after Won assumed the
duties of that office, Vermont, with the
hother states of the Federal Union,
was engaged in the great World War.
incident to the part which Vermont
Mayed in the war a tremendous bur
den OF duties came upon you but YOU
were indefatigabe in the performance
of those duties. You enrolled Is 600
of our hoys who went into the serv-
ice of the Federal Government to
fight our battles. You were in con.
slant touch with our soldiers.