The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-01-19


failing an additional expense of
"a per day. or a total Of 500. The
mileage from Helena TO San
Francisco and return Is not In exs
cess Of $500 miles by automobile.
This expense account shows an
expenditure Of S37d I'm excess az
the expense necessary had the trim
BEEN made by rail. Chapter 10,
section 3. Laws Of Montana, iDa3,
provides "that In no case shall an
automobile be used as herein pro-
vided If suitable TRANSPORTATION can
be had by railroad" Ii would
therefore, appear that the claim
filed and as allowed and paid was
Illegal In the sum Of at least S374.
Furthermore, there are no sup
porting vouchers or explanation
whatever as 10 the excessive mile.
age.
Repairing" the Dome
II appears from the evidence
without question that on June 4,
1888. one X. II. Won thinner, also
known as thinner. resident of
the state Of Idaho. entered into a
contract with the state board Of
examiners for certain repairs 10
stained glass in the capitol build
ing.
Az the meeting of the board of
examiners. there were present two
members Of the board. to-wlt,
Governor Cooney and Secretary of
State Mitchell After a full dis-
cussion. Won thinner preaented a
contract which he had drawn, sub
mitted II to the two members of
the board. who signed II on behalf
Of the state Of Montana This
contemplated an expenditure In ex-
cess Of five hundred (S600) dol.
lars, and az the time these state
officials signed the contract they
were fully advised they had no
legal right TO contract In excess
Of five hundred (S600.00) dollars
without calling for bids. This con-
tract was never submitted TO the
I attorney generals office, the legal
advisor Of all state departments.
Copy Of this contract attached and
marked exhibit a..
The evidence diacloses that
shortly after the prtaent governor
took office that the statutory
duties Of the capitol custodian
were abrogated bv executive or.
der. and the Secretary of State
Sam Mitchell, was designated az
the superintendent Of public build,
= ings and grounda. and was assured
that Governor Coonev would ap,
: prove any action taken by him.
Mitchell Takes Charge
Within few DAYS after Won
thinner commenced work on ths
stained glass. Secretary Of STATE
Mitchell. as superintendent Of pub
lie buildings and grounds, EN-
ployed Won thinner TO repair the
capitol dome, No further contract
appears 20 have been executed
and apparently. with the eonaen
Of the majority of the board o.
examiners Won zimmer'a werI
upon the capitol dome was agree,
to on the same basis as 10 com
penaation and cost of material a
outlined In the stained glass con
tract. Upon the return Of Attor
ney General Magic. IL appears tina
he Immediately gave orders d
stop this work. claiming that Il
was illegal. Much confusion re
suited thereafter, the work btin
started and stopped al various IN
) tervals. Finally, the work com
TO an end by reason of an opinio
\ delivered TO the state auditors OF
flee bv the attorney general, al
ylsing the state auditor that III
Won thinner claim for material
was Illegal and must not be pale
Ignore Purchasing Agent
y No effort was made TO purehaf
these materials through the stat
- purchasing agent as required b
law. nor was he ever consulted {
y asked 10 check the prices paid Il
~ materials purchased. II Ia re
quirtd by law that the eapito
custodian must check all in-eomin
and outgoing materials for use ,
~ the capitol building. We find thI
at no time did either the past [
present custodian ever check an
materials purchased bv Won Zin
mer, but as before stated the pre-
ent custodian did approve d
claim as stated.
We find that men were employ.
by Won thinner at a cost 20 d
- state OF si.2b per hour on SUI
ample duties as waahing window
a duty which could have been W.
| performed by the present ianit
force In the euatodian'a office,
The amount already paid by b
state of Montana on the Won IN
mer transaction Ia almost 5000
and on the basis OF the deductio
- from the paw Of the men worlsli
for him and the padding Of !
cost Of materials, II would be ga
/ 10 say that one-half Of this amou
must have gone 10 Won zimmtf
The action of the governor a
the secretary Of state In aignii
= the Won Zimmer contract and
V.f.tst,atfttaa him "a xgaVE AN ~