The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-02-22
The Bond SWindie.

4 lHc tcCehs iH'eSssS's""o' " ~
ci.l transactions of the Statc officers BY
] comni,,ce Of the House. has brought
TO light degree efzcosrups;oa~ almostsII
unprecedented for its boliness and bare
facedness. The Governor, Charles
Robinson. Secretary John w. Robinson,
and Auditor George s. Hillyer. in con-
nection with that arch Shylock. r. S.
Stevens. a. fraudulent member Of the
State Senate, have swindled our young
and struggling State out of over thirty
three thousand dollars in the sale of
eighty seven ,l,ousanA two hundred
dollars of bonds.
Tie law authorizing the sale Of State
bonds ,coutcmPlies the largest possible
realization in cash. and provides that
they should not be sold for less than
seventy cents On the dollar. But the
said State officers bargsined with Ste
vens for sale Of tho bonds at forty
and sky cents on the dollar. which he
consumma'ed with the Secretary Of the
Interior Department at Washington. at
eigh,v-6ve and ninety five cents on the
dollar. sraa s4j = s..lHiEi s dae A
Mr. Stevens says: my action in the
premises was no, governed by any wish
or intent TO defraud the State Of dollar.
but on the contrary to secure for il tie
largest sum Of money IN safe Of bonds.
as contemplated by ia,c." sag .aifE 4
wesl,avs already stated that the law
contemplated the largest possible reali;
zation in money on the sale of bonds.
NTH an explicit provision that Mey
should not be sold for less sum than
seventy cents on TIE dollar. Now let us
see how honest Mr.. Stevens was in his
desire TO secure to the State "the largest
sum of money on sale Of bonds as con-
templated by law 3sl' lari7e' q =
The scrupulous(?) Stevens sold s3i,
f0C0 Of war bonds for eighty FIVE cents
OH the dollar, or SEQ, 35O-,he amour,
''as contemplated by law" Mr.. Stevens
returned to the State treasury forty
cents on the dollar. or SIC, 400; and
pocketed sl3 95o A nice little specu-
lalion on single transaction!
! Again, the same rion. Stevens. tha.
the State might realize "tIic larges,
sum OF money On sale Of bonds as con
,emplated by law. sold TO the Interior
Department at Washington. $50 goo
of Kansas State bonds for rinc.y FIVE
cents on ihe dollar. or 353 800. He
returned to the State treasury six,y
cents on the dollar, or S33. 72o. while
he lined his other pocket with $40 67o
Now put the $l3.95J and the $l9.-
oIo tosetner. and you nave TIE hand
some little fortune of s33 620- the
amount Stevens l. Co. made by the
sale of S37 300 OF Kansas State bonds.
! Taking these facts together, it looks
TO US very much like Bob. Stevens lied.
when he said that lis "aclion in the
premises was not governed by any wish
or intent 10 defrauJ the State Of a dol
lar :" and establishes in Us the belief
that he cares more for pecuniary gain
lit matters not in what way his ends
are accomplished = than lac does for
the welfare Of the State Such men
are dangerous TO the public interest.
aud should not be entrusted with power.
The Senate ought 10 have vacated the
seat Of L. S. Stevens in that BODY by "A
unanimous vote. II is due to the hon. !
est members. and tn their con:ti. uan,s
that they should eradicate every par.i |
Gle Of the Shiny excrescencc Of political
corruption that hangs ike an incubus
about tia, body; and they should begin
this work Of publication BY ous,inp
B ID. Stevens