Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-19
KLAUSS BALKS
AT BEING GOAT
FOR OLDGUARD
Auditor of State Flatly Re.
fuses to Draw ANY More
Illegal Warrants.
EXTRA SESSION RESULT

EXTRA SESSION RESULT
The true story of the conference held
Wednesday afternoon when it was de-
eided TO call the special session of the
legislature, reveals that Senator James E.
Watson, Gov. Goodrich. Warren T. Nc
Cray. the republican gubernatorial nom
inee, and E. N. Wasmuth. republican
state chairman. were opposed strenuously
to summOning the lawmakers together.
1t was only after Otto L. KLAUS. au-
ditor of state, reiterated his determine
ton not TO draw any more illegal war
rants for the state Institutions that the
old guard leaders reluctantly admitted
that the only way out of the difficulty
was 10 summon the assembly into what
will be the second extraordinary session
oonvoked by Gov. Goodrich.
Although both the governor and Mr..
KLAUS have said repeatedly the laws of
80 state were being violated by support
Sng the institutions from the general
fund reports from the secret confer
ence attest that Senator Watson and Mr..
McCray exhibited strong opposition TO
converting the legislature on the eve Of
the campaign.
VISIONS OF
DISASTER LOOM Up.
Visions Of the disaster that overlook
the party in 1908, when a special session
was called in campaign year. are said TO
have somewhat obseured their vision rel
alive to the continued alleged law vio-
lations
They are said to have prevailed strong
~ upon the auditor TO continue his
course until the next regular assembly
is convened and according to some re
ports from the conference they even as
sured him that they would see that he
ran no unnecessary risks.
Mr.. KLAUS, however. stood on the
ultimatum he delivered several weeks
ago when In a public statement be de-
elared that when the present institutional
appropriations were exhausted he would
not issue any more warrants for the
Illegal expenditure OF the general fund.
Owing to the Overwhelming desire Of
the last republican legislature 10 make
an economy record the appropriations for
the state benevolent Institutions We're
far too small and at the present time
Mr.. KLAUS has drawn warrants not
alone for the regular institutional ap
preparations. but has exhausted the gov
ernors emergency fund and has drawn
on the general fund for some $4,000.
WISHES ACTION
LOCALIZED.
It is his desire to have the assembly
leganze his action in overdrawing the
institutional appropriations and to pro-
vide enough money to carry on the in
stitutional work until the 192O-1921
funds become available On Oct /
Inasmuch as the special session viii
be convened for the one purpose of
helping Mr.. Klaus close observers OF
the Goodrich regime are wondering why
the governor did not permit the Iegis-
lature to perform this act when the
one-day suffrage session was held last
winter
They declared the governor and Mr.
KLAUS were well aware OF the states
financial condition at that time and that
the necessary appropriation acts cou,d
have been passed without trouble within
the single day. If the governor had in
eluded them in the call
To his great delight the one-day plan
worked smoothly and then he began to
talk about another session. This time
he incurred .the hostility of the repub-
lican primary candidates AMI was Obliged
to postpone the call. to the great dis
comhture of Mr.. Klaus.
FELT HIMSELF
IN SADDLE.
After Gov. Goodrich forced the re-
publican state convention to indorse his
administration he felt that he was once
more in the saddle and that he couIs
absolutely control the legislators. The
governor is no longer afraid that the
lawmakers viii run away with him: lie
Is confident they win prove tractable
It is said however. that he lent 4
ready ear TO Mr.. AcCray's protests, for
they have become close friends since the
nominee allowed the governor to write
the tax law plank for the republican
state platform.
Mr.. KLAUS determination however, left
the governor with no other alternative
but to promise to summon the assem-
bly,.
Under acts OF 1919, it is pointed out the
auditor could be tried for overdra wing
the institutional funds and on conviction
could be fined not less than 500 and not
more than 81 900 to which might be
added Imprisonment on the penal farm
Of not less than thirty days and not
more than six months.
The auditor is also expressly prohib-
tied from drawing a warrant upon the
treasurer Of state unless there be money
in the treasury belonging to the fund
upon which the same is drawn to pay the
same, and in conformity to apprOpria-
tons made by law -
WHAT LAW SAYS
ON WARRANTS.
Also, the treasurer Of state, "or any
deputy or person in his employee" is
prohibited from paying out any public
money in any other manner than is pre-
scribed by law"
Violation of this statute is punishable
by fine OF not less than $50 and no
more than $500 and Imprisonment in the
county jail for one year. In addition,
it is said, officials who are deemed guilty
OF misdemeanors may be imDeached.
As it is, the long expected special SEES
sion probably will be held within a short
time to rectify mistakes made by the
Goodrich administration
1t will be purely a republican party
session, as far as the G. .. 2. leaders
are concerned, and Will be called with
only the one purpose in view-of avert
ing a scandal in the auditors and treas
urer Of states offices.
WORD CLOUD To
BEFOG ISSUE.
Gov Goodrich has a number Of other
matters he will bring up In his message,
hut those who are familiar with the
regime feel confident they are being in
jected in order to cloud the real issue
Aside from correcting some Of the
mistakes made by the last session rela-
tire to the county unit road law anC
few other matters no actual con
structive legislation is being planned
II will be purely a partisan session.
1t Is said on good authority that
Senator Watson and Mr.. McCray acqui-
esced in the convoca ton of the assem-
bly, only on the promise OF Gov Good
rich that he would not allow the in.