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- A complete biography of COL Henry H. Artz will take some time to complete. The Garden City resident was forced to resign after "examination of his books and charges of irregularities." Some contriversy surrounded Artz appointment and confirmation in the Senate.
- Artz had been appointed to the position by Gov. Lewelling and was described as, "an old soldier and is the man who placed Lewelling in nomination for governor at the Wichita convention," according to the January 2, 1893 Weekley State Journal.
- Upon accepting Artz's resignation, Lewelling appointed his his close friend, Major Albert J. Davis, to the position of Adjutant General. Artz reportedly moved to Arkansas.
- Additional newspaper articles regarding the incident can be found below:
- Retired Under Fire
- Adjt. Gen. Artz States His Case and Tenders His resignation to the Governor
- Garden City Sentinel, March 3, 1984. Page 2
Topeka, Kan., Feb. 26. -- Adjt. Gen. Artz has resigned under fire, but whether the Governor will accept the resignation and let the matter end there, or will formally remove the officer and leave further steps to the proper officers, cannot now be said.
The report of the expert draws attention to voucher No. 13, $163.81, for express, freight, postage and telegraphing; voucher No. 9, $199.44, for work on arsenal and repairing arms, tents and cannon; voucher No. 2, William Baker, $80, for salary, and says that they are irregular. He also says that there are several vouchers given for drayage that seem to require explanation. He also found that it had been the practice to charge the G.A.R. 15 cents for the use of tents to cover drayage. If all tents sent out were paid for the receipts from that source would amount to $286.75. The expert found, he says, from the bills of lading, that drayage on tents for encampment purposes amounting to $16.50, had been paid by vouchers drawn on the state treasurer.
On receipt of the expert's report Gov. Lewelling addressed the following letter to Adjt. Gen. Artz:
Topeka, Kan., Feb 1894
- H.H. Artz, Adjutant General:
- Some days ago on your return from Iowa, you were informed that a complaint had been made to this office, charging you with irregulatities in the financial management of the office of adjutant general. You freely and frankly invited an investigation and Mr. W.J. Stagg, accountant, was thereupon appointed as special agent and together with Mr. J.B. French, chief clerk of this office, your books and accounts were carefully examined.
I herewith hand you a copy of the report of Mr. Stagg, and while I regret to say the result of this finding is not satisfactory to this office, it is my desire to suspend judgment in the hope that you may be able to make a satisfactory explanation.
Yours respectfully,
- L.D. Lewelling, Governor
Artz's Reply
Topeka, Kan., Feb 21
- To Hon. L.D. Lewelling,
- Governor State of Kansas
Sir:
Your communication just handed me has been carefully read and considered and I now have the honor to reply. As I have not been asked to make any explanation heretofore concerning the charges against me, I herewith submit a statement of my account, which I hope will explain to your excellency everything satisfactorily.
In regard to vouchers 9 and 13 mentioned in report of Expert Accountant Stagg, the amounts respectively $162.81 on voucher 13 and $199.84 on voucher 9, were by me drawn out on June 10, 1893, as shown by said vouchers, amounting in all to $362.65, for the expense already incurred the sum of $222.45, which was paid out, leaving a balance belonging to the state of $141.20 which is now in the hands of W. H. Biddle, the state treasurer, for safe keeping, subject to my order. These amounts were drawn from the treasury for the reason that part of it had already been expended by me in connection with the office, and there was no appropriation for the years 1894 and 1895 for arsenal repairs and no fund of which such expense could be drawn.
Voucher No. 2, drawn February 23, 1893, was drawn in favor of Mr. W. H. Baker for services rendered in connection with the adjutant general's office. During the legislative trouble, I had employed four men, three days, February 15, 16 and 17, to do extra guard duty in and about the state house and arsenal for which I paid $3 per day each making a total of $6. I employed four men three nights at $3 per night, making a total of $36. I employed Mr. Baker four nights at $2 per night, amounting to $8. Not being acquainted with these men, except Mr. Baker, and they wanted their money at the close of the trouble, I paid them out of my private funds and put the whole amount in Mr. Baker's voucher which he signed and the money drawn as shown by voucher of which Mr. Baker received $8 and I received in return the $72 I had paid out.
As to furnishing tents to the G.A.R. encampments, the amount of fifteen cents per tent was fixed for the reason that there is no appropriation to defray such expense. This amount is not only used for defraying for packing and checking in and out, but it is frequently necessary to make trips to encampments and see that tents are taken down, packed and shipped immediately after closing of the encampment, that they may reach the next encampmentin due time, also to do certain repair work on the tents for which there is no appropriation. The total amount I have received for tents is $254.50 out of this amount I expended $176, leaving a balance of $78.40. This amount is also in the hands of W.H. Biddle, state treasurer.
This is my defense and is correct and I desire to add that, having come into possession of my office amid a cyclone of opposition and my official voyage having been made daily and hourly tempestuous by enemies and heartily wishing to relieve the administration and myself of any further unjust criticism, I hereby tender mt excellency my resignation, to take effect at the earliest possible date that will afford me full opportunity to make thorough inventory of all property belonging to the state now in my possition or under my control.
H. H. Artz
Adjutant General
- Garden City Sentinel
- March 10, 1894, Page 2
- "Adjt.-Gen. Artz, who recently resigned pending charges against him of misappropriating state funds, later, in the presence of the state treasurer, took from his box in the vault of the treasurer's office the package he deposited some month's ago and opening it counted out $400 which it contained. This was the money he stated to the governor that he had drawn but held it in the treasurer's safe. This made good the alleged deficiency." -- Garden City Sentinel, March 10, 1894, page 2.
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