No. 4. 1844. To the President of the Senate: AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR-In obedience to a resolution directed to me in reference to the settlement made with William R. Thompson, late commissioner of internal improvement, I submit the following copies of awards of the board of state auditors, on file in this office, to wit: (No. 1.) "Upon an examination of the claim of William R. Thompson, late acting commissioner of infernal improvement, and the evidence by him presented, it appeared that while he was commissioner as aforesaid, he paid out upon the public works in drafts, post-notes and par funds, the sum of $198,573 76. That he disbursed of the above sum upon the Clinton and Kalamazoo canal, and to contractors upon the Central railroad and other works, probably the sum of $55,073 76, at par; $40,000 at a discount of 23 per cent, and $100,000 at a discount of 3 per cent, and that he paid out $3,500 in Calhoun county money, which was returned upon his hands, and upon which he probably lost fifty per cent. Therefore it was resolved by the board, that he be allowed upon the $40,000, 2 per cent, Upon the $100,000, 31 per cent, And also for his expenses to and from the city of Wash ington, on business of the state, Making an aggregate of $933 33 3,500 00 1,750 00 $6,183 33 250 00 $6,433 33 6,736 85 $303 52 Which, deducted from the balance now charged against him upon the auditor general's books, of Leaves a balance due the state, of "The board had no precise data to govern them in arriving at the foregoing conclusion, on account of the loose manner in which said Thompson's accounts were kept by him, and the indefinite nature of the testimony by him presented to the board, but fixed upon the different allowances, after a careful and mature examination of the claim and evidence, as what appeared to them as probably most just and equitable between said Thompson and the state. (Signed) "R. P. ELDREDGE, "Chairman Board of State Auditors.” The above award, numbered one, not dated, but filed in auditor general's office January 4, 1844. (Award, No. 2.) Detroit, January 18, 1844.' "Upon a settlement with William R. Thompson, late commissioner of internal improvement, and upon an examination of his claims against the state, there was found due to him, after discharging the amount charged against him upon the auditor general's books, the sum of four hundred and forty-four dollars and nine cents, for which this certificate is hereby given. (Signed) "R. P. ELDREDGE, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, E. FARNSWORTH, Attorney General, State Auditors The only "description of the claim" made by Mr. Thompson, of which this office is advised, is contained in the awards of the board of auditors. I have no knowledge of the rejection of this claim by any of my predecessors, or of the reasons of any such rejection, if one has been made. I respectfully refer the Senate to act No. 12, session laws 1842, for my authority to carry out the award of the board of auditors, only remarking that all the power vested in the auditor general, and all that 1, as such officer, have exercised in this settlement, consists in obeying the mandate of the legislature, by drawing warrants in conformity with the directions of the board of auditors, as certified to me in their awards. All which is respectfully submitted. C. G. HAMMOND, No. 5. S 1844. To the President of the Senate: AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE. SIR-In reply to a resolution of the Senate, inquiring into "the settlement made with Levi S. Humphrey, late commissioner of internal improvement," I would respectfully refer the Senate to the documents accompanying, and printed with, the governor's message, dated January 2, 1843, page 36, where may be found a full statement of the settlement made with Mr. Humphrey. No " reasons induced me to receive a draft of the Michigan state bank," for none was received by me. The board of auditors received a draft, as is set forth in the statement referred to, but whether or not it had been "rejected or reported against by a committee of the Senate," I am not informed. The draft was paid to the state, by the bank, in state warrants, in part, and a note against said Humphrey, which has been paid in land, by said Humphrey. All which is respectfully submitted. C. G. HAMMOND. Auditor General. |