The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-04-23
THE GATE CITY
SATURDAY, APRIL IS.
THE CASE OF THE LATE STATE
TREA6URER. -

TREA6URER.t -
During the recent session of the State
Legislature suspicion was excited that the
late State Treasurer, John. Jonss, had
been using gold in the Treasury, replacing
the amount with greenbacks, and con
reytng, "the wise it cali, = the premium
into his own private pocket.
A committee of members of tue Gene.
eral Assembly was appointed to investi-
gate the matter. and We learn thar, they
made report to the Legislature Just be-
fore adjournment, that the Treasurer had
been operating in that way to a consider
BILE extent, and that be had made some
thing handsome by shaving Warrants on
the State Treasury through outside par
ties, with whom he had private arrange
ment for dividing the profits. And the
Legislature thereupon adopted a resolu-
ton instructing the Attorney General to
commence legal proceedings in the prem
ises against the Treasurer.
The full details of the proceedings and
the testimony before the committee has
not come to hand, the public printer not
having completed the publication of the
proceedings of the General Assembly for
the session but such, we understand, is
substantially the character of the develop
ments in the case.
The General Assembly is entitled to
the credit of doing their duty in the
premises, and we doubt not the Attorney
General will do his duty just as fearlessly
and as faithfully. The proceedings in
this case present a commendable contrast
to those that attended the notorious defal-
cation of James D. Eads. Superintendent
of Public instruction, some years ago.
In that case the majority of the members
of the Democratic party, that elected
Eads, resisted the investigation of his
detalcation at every stage of the proceed.
ings, and strove with great zeal to cover
the matter up and plaster over his gross
derelictions and defaults. They charged
that the movement against Eads was q
party measure, and they exhorted tbs
Democratic party in the Legislature and
out of it to rally to his defence. They
maligned the Governor for his part in ex
posing the defalcation of Eads, and they
made the most bitter assaults on leading
members of the Legislature who sough
to save the interests of the State b,
wrestling the school money from Eads
clutches. They so fired the Democrat,
heart in behalf of Eads that the struggl,
for time assumed all the excitement O
bitter party contest.
In the present case, the members of tn,
party who elected Jones controlled boil
branches of the Legislature by an over
whelming majority, but when their suspi
cions were excited they appointed com
mittee who investigated the charges, en-
tered up the testimony, reported the fact
to the General Assembly, and that bod
quietly ordered the commencement o
legal proceedings. gse
Now, this is at it should be. 1t i
neither TO the interests Of party or Q
the people to apologize for or defend
delinquent public officer, and the party I
which he belongs ought for their ow
honor, as we'll as for their own interests
10 purge themselves by the mos. search
ing Investigation and the most stringen
proceedings against derelict publ
officer. Such an one never has receive
any favor at our hands, aud never will
for he not only betrays our confidence an
the public trust which we have aided i
committing to his charge, bat by hi
wrongful act be defrauds the people {
the State, aud at the same time wound
the feelings and stabs the reputation
the men to whom he is indebted for hi
public position. sl Uns
O,-p Nh, 4,