The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-08-10
COMMENCE TO ASK
sCRUGHAM WHY
Complaint Comes From Within
Democratic Party Concerning
Expenditure of Money For
Questionable Purposes

to the Journal, Senator James T.
Boyd last night handed in an argu-
ment on the question of the en-
ployment of George B. Thatcher
and his associates by the state en-
gineer's office in connection with
the litigation attending the settle
ment of water rights in Nevada.
The Journal on Tuesday carried
a history of the litigation in con-
nection with the coming hearing of
objections before State Engineer
James G. Scrugham next Monday,
and Senator Boyd takes exception
to some of the statements con-
tanned therein.
The communication from Senator
Boyd follows:
"By what authority did State
Engineer James G. Scrugham en-
ploy the law firm of Hoyt, Norcross,
Woodburn, Thatcher & Henley to
counsel him in his official capacity?
An article published in the Nevada
State Journal Tuesday morning
would seem, by inference at least,
to attempt to justify this move.
"The people of the state of Me-
vada are entitled to know the truth
and it is not necessary to go beyond
the records of the legislature to
ascertain what the truth is. The
legislature of 1921 turned down an
amendment prepared by George
B. Thatcher, member of this same
firm and himself a former attorney
general of the state of Nevada, pro-
viding for an appropriation to cover
the expense of outside counsel. The
amendment was killed in committee.
The law passed without any such
provision, yet on June A, 1921, a
few months after the legislature
adjourned, $1,000 was paid to Geo.
B. Thatcher and was entered on
the books of the state controller
against what is noted as an 'adjudi-
cation appropriation Where did
this adjudication appropriation
originate? Who authorized it?
Thereafter and on the first of
each and every month from July to
September, inclusive, $500 was paid
to George B. Thatcher and charged
against the so-called adjudication
appropriation. | am basing this
statement on what the records in
the office of the state controller
show.
"And that was not all that was
paid to Mr.. Thatcher since June
A, 1921, according to these same
books of the state controller. Other
items which go to make up an ag-
gregate of $4,000, the last payment
of 5000 having been made on the
third day of this month, are listed
on the controllers books as follows
i October 8, 1921, $500; Novem-
Der l, 1921, $500; December 1,
1921, 5000; December "a, 1921
]. 5000; January 80, 1922, 5000; Feb
urary %, 1922, $500; March 20
1922, 5000; April 25, 1922, 5000
June 2, 1922, 5000; July 20, 1922
5000; August 8, 1922, 5000.
i "The facts are, indeed, a sac
commentary on the methods prevail
ing at the state capitol in the
handling of public funds.
; "The article published in the
Journal referred to above states
During the legislative session o1
that year the supreme court Of
| Nevada, however, declared the law
defective in certain verbal par
, ticulars that were readily cured b,
; amendment passed at that 'sessoir
and which was drafted by George
B. Thatcher and approved by At
torney General Fowler
"The certain verbal defects
pointed out were the declaration
of the supreme court of the state
of Nevada that the sections under
which the state engineer was at
tempting to proceed were uncon
stitutional. The amendments pre-
pared by former Attorney Genera
Thatcher aimed to correct the criti
cism leveled at those sections b!
the supreme court.
"The amendments were prepare,
! in the form of bill which was in
troduced by Mr.. Lockhart of Whit,
Pine county January 25, 1921, an,
was referred to the committee oil