“And the Secretary?” added Wingo.
“Oh, you can leave us out,” said Ballard.
“Pardon me, Gove’nuh,” said Gilet. “You stated that yoh difficulty was not confined to Mr. Wingo or any individual gentleman, but was general. Does it not apply to yo’self, suh? Do you not need any bill?”
“Oh no,” said Ballard, laughing. “I don’t need any bill.”
“And why not?” said Cawthon. “You’ve jist ez much earned yoh money ez us fellers.”
“Quite as much,” said Ballard. “But we’re not alike—at present.”
Gilet grew very stately. “Except certain differences in political opinions, suh, I am not awah of how we differ in merit as public servants of this Territory.”
“The difference is of your own making, Mr. Gilet, and no bill you could frame would cure it or destroy my responsibility. You cannot make any law contrary to a law of the United States.”
“Contrary to a law of the United States? And what, suh, has the United States to say about my pay I have earned in Idaho?”
“Mr. Gilet, there has been but one government in this country since April, 1865, and as friends you and I have often agreed to differ as to how many there were before then. That government has a law compelling people like you and me to go through a formality, which I have done, and you and your friends have refused to do each time it has been suggested to you. I have raised no point until now, having my reasons, which were mainly that it would make less trouble now for the Territory of which I have been appointed Governor. I am held accountable to the Secretary of the Treasury semiannually for the manner in which the appropriation has been expended. If you will kindly hand me that book—”