The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-01-28
REPLY IS MADE
T0LEMKE CLAIM
OF MONEY LACK
House Appropriations Commit
tee Resents Language Used
BY Attorney General
PLENTY MONEY, THEY SAY
Alleged Funds of Nearly $4,000
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Want 1t In Journal
PLENTY MONEY, THEY SAY
LEMKE TO APPEAR.


'NOnpartisan members of the
house appropriations committee,
in meeting last night, objected to
the communication of majority
members on the subject of the ap-
preparation asked for William
Lemke. attorney general, and re-
quested that Lemke be permitted
to appear before the committee to-
night and explain the matter fall
ly. ~..c,
The house was expected to have be-
fore it today a statement of the ma
jority of the appropriations commit
tee answering William Lemke, Attor-
ney General, VINO yesterday sent a
communication to the house declaring
that it would have to bear the burden
of any defeats in tax, railroad and
drainage cases for which he had ask
ed money to represent the state, and
which had not been granted.
The answer presented by Chairman
Watt, OF the committee, just before
quoted words from the
Attorney Generals letter assailing
the house majority and which the
committee said were not justified and
were resented.
There Is plenty of money available
to Mr.. Lemke, it was claimed
Amount left him
The committees statement says
that Mr.. Lemke admits the outgoing
Attorney General left him the sum
Of $7,SO5.65, being approximately
one-half of the Attorney Generals
fund appropriated for the year end
ing July l, 1921" Mr.. Lemke in his
communication said this was reduc-
ed several thousand dollars by bills
which came in since he took Office
iFife communication further stated:
"Mr. Lemke, in his communication,
failed to mention the appro-
priatien of $4,000 made by Chapter
8 of the Special Session of the 10th
Assembly. He also fail
ed to make mention of the 100000 ap-
propriated by Chapter 20 Of the same
session. A reference to the balance
remaining in the hands of the state
treasurer in said funds discloses the
fact that there is now available in
said funds, in the treasury of the
state Of North Dakota the sum Of
$9,051.05. He failed further in his
communication to state, that he would
be entitled on proper representation
to the state emergency commission to
receive 10 percent of the appropria-
tion made for his Office for the bien-
nial, in this case the sum of $685.
55."'
Chapter provided for an apprOpria-
ton of $4,000 for emergency ex-
pense in the executive department
and Chapter 20 appropriated $4,000
for special Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral hire. "
X, X. Commission fund
The appropriations committee also
declared there is available in the
hands OF the railroad commission to
apply on expenses of litigation be-
tween the state of North Dakota and
all public utilities companies, the
sum of $15,520.67. 1t also said there
is balance in the contingent fund
of the state tax commissioner Of 49,
1852 which could be used in fight
ing tax cases.
The statement said the senate had
passed the Lemke bill, cut the amount
from $4,000 to $4,000 and passed
the bill without the emergency.
The senate bill, it was stated, takes
precedence over the house bill.
Printed In Journal
Senate bill 25, the budget bill, con-
tained an appropriation of a deficit
IN the Attorney Generals department,
it stated, and there is an emergency
clause on the bill.
In conclusion the committee state
nent said: that the law provided that
,he Attorney General should look az
:er the legal matters of the state and
declared that there is no danger
whatever of the state being the loser
in any action on account of lack OF
funds in the Attorney Generals de-
partment."
Immediately after it was read Rep
:esentative Maddox, Nonpartisan, Of
Benson, moved it be printed in the
Journal. 1t was so ordered.
The members of the appropriation
committee which signed the statement
we're: William Watt, N. G. Olsgard,'
Claude Lackey. John Freeman, d. l..
Peters, Jacob Bollinger. J. d. Root,
Adolph Mikkelson. M. W. Kelly, Paul
Johnson, Joseph McGauvren, Carl B.
Olsen of Billings.
No motion to cxpunge Mr.. Lemke's
statement from the permanent jour-
lal was made, as had been expected.