The Nevada Democrat., 1857-01-28
The state Treasurer.


The affairs of the State Treasury are begin
ming to excite considerable interest throughout
the State. A feeling of distrust in regard to the
honesty ofthe officer having charge of the State
funds is fast gaining ground, and this feeling
has only been increased by the discussions in the
Legislature in relation to the manner in which
our financial affairs have been managed for the
past year. 1t is contended by the friends of Mr.
Bates, that be acted in perfect good faith in ma
king arrangements with the Pacific Express
Company for the payment Of the July interest;
that be has done this for the purpose of saving
the credit of the State, being fearful that the
Legislature would make some other disposition
of the money, should it come to their knowledge
that it was in the Treasury; that the law did not
specify any time for the Treasurer to make tue
necessary arrangements for the payment of the
interest, and that the act of sending on the mon
ey for that purpose, although irregular, was
not illegal.
The Treasurer has as yet given no satisfacto-
ry explanation, either to the Legislature or to
the public in regard to the matter, and his con-
tinued silence cannot but have the effect Of Gre
ating prejudice against him in the public mind.
1t has been charged in the Legislature, that the
Sl24,O0O was taken from the general fund, and
If such is the case, the act cannot be considered
legal. Whether the money was given in charge
of the Pacific Express to be delivered in New
York as freight, or whether it was merely de-
posted with that company to be used until such
time as it should be needed to pay the interest,
is not known. In the meantime, the Attorney
General has commenced a suit in the 18th Dis
trict Court, San Francisco, to annul the con-
tract, and enjoining the Express Company from
sending the money out of the State. In the
complaint it is alleged that the amount with
drawn from the State Treasury for the payment
of the July interest, is some $4,000 more than
sufficient for that purpose, and that no sufficient
security has been taken from the company that
the money will be applied to the payment Of
the interest.
Many idle rumors have been circulated, some
of which have found their way into the papers
One is that the money was loaned to Palmer
Cook u Co., by Mr.. Rowe, of the Express Com
pany. mortgage which was given to Mr.
Rowe, by some one connected with this banking
house, would indicate that there is some founda-
dation for this report; but Mr.. Rowe has stated
that the mortgage in question was given for an
other purpose. He has not stated however
that we are aware of, whether the money is
now in the possession Of the Express Company,
or whether it has been loaned out TO third par
ties. A Sacramento paper mentions report to
the effect that the $4,000 which was found in
the State Treasury by the committee appointed
to count the money on hand, did not belong to
the State, but was borrowed for the purpose of
deceiving the committee. This report appears
10 be made without any foundation, and of
course is not worthy of credence.
Since the present Treasurer took charge OF
the State funds everything connected with our
financial affairs has gone wrong. lie is either
q very weak-minded man, or else dishonest In
place Of depositng the money with banking
house for the payment of the July interest Of
1885, he should have sent 1t direct to New York
Ivy one of the Express companies aud after the
failure of Palmer. Cock Il Co., to pay the inter
est, a suit should have been commenced imme
diately to recover the money. AS far as il
known, no effort was made to recover this mon
until the 9Th of the present month, when, accor
cordng to the statement of Mr.. Bates, suit
was instituted Had the suit been commenced
as soon as the fact became known that the in.
terest was not paid the money would, in all
probability by this time have been collected.
The two houses of the Legislature have ap
pointed committees to investigate the affairs Of
the State Treasury, and the matter will doubt
less be sifted to the bottom. If it should turr
out as now appears quite probable, that the
State Treasurer has been using the funds of the
State for speculative purposes he should be i'm
peached at once, and removed from Office
Nothing short of this will satisfy the people.
We shall look with considerable interest fol
the reports of the Legislative committees, trust
ing that the real facts will then be brought tc
light. The credit of the State abroad, has been
very much injured by the laundering, or rascal
ly acts of the present Treasurer, and it is time
the affairs of his office were looked into by the
representatives of the people.
EPISCOPAL SERvIcE.-On next Sunday, and on
every Sunday thereafter, Rev. Mr.. Cooper, OF
| the Enscopal Chm oh will hold sorvina nj tbo