Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-04-08
Exposure OF the speculation Of the
Late state Treasurer.


Especial correspondence of the Chicago Times)
DEs MONIES, March 81.
The Legislature which has adjourned
de scrves credit for at least one act of it's
protracled aud somewhat profitless SEES.
sion, however reluctantly it may have
been performed. ailude to the exno.
sures made BY the Committee on Ex
penditures in the House, on the last Jav
of the session, Of the spec ulation of the
late State Treasurer, John w. Jones
with the funds OF the Ste. This com
mittee, constituted Of some OF the
best and most experienced men in the
House and all the political friends O.
Mr.. Jones, was charged early in the SEES.
sion, With the inves:ig atious Of certair,
charges, which we're whispered. rather
than openly made, against him, of i'm
properly tampe'ing with the pu,lrc
funds viii e under his control. with
power to send for persons. papers, &C.
The committe iabored diligently during
the session, taking tor a starting point
Tor their investigation the Is. IF Nav.
1852, being soon after the ad ournmen,
OF the extra session OF that year. al
which tune it VAS known there was san
600 10 gold in the treasury "A portion Of
which, It was expected, would be used
by the Treasurer to pay the interest on
the State debt. The committee eYnrass
the opinion, however, that but a small
proportion OF the interest, il any of it.
was paid In specie. The testimony ia.
Ken Zone OF the witnesses being Jones
deput, } showed that he was in the habit
OF taking gold from the safe and sub tin
ting d, maud notes and state bank paner
On one occasion, when larger amount
than usual was distracted in order to
make the deception more complete. he
directed his deputy to supply the place
OF The coin taken with two empty oyster
cans, adrollly covering and surrounding
them with gold pieces, that no change
IN the appearance Of things in the safe
lett open during the day-might be an.
parent. 1t was in evidence Also betor.
the COMMITTEES, that Jones not only car
RED on an extensive brokerage in ooId
but operated pretty largely with tho
state funds, through an outsider, in tie
purchase Of war aud defence fund war
rants, buying at discount, being sbI.
to control the market to a great eytept
oy a system of preference adopted in the
order OF redemption, and receiving a
share Of the profits. Az the period EN-
braced by the Co nmittee in it's inyesti- |
gsrcr exteaded only from LIST of Nav
1907, to the lst of January, 1863, when
Jones went out Of office, il is not known
o. course, for how long . time, nor to
"ssG extent these speculations bad been
gong on. The investigation imnI;ca,ss
2 eooody bat the ex.Treasurer, who aE
lords but another example of the =, a.
sa'ent corruption Of the day. He va.
during, his term Of Office a.
:. 90 omc.ai sans reproche, and COLO, I'd
tue conndence OF his political friends ~
IN unlimited extent; but he learned liz
o. ot1cal Integrity and mo Il
honesty in bad school, and followed e
example set him by those occupying ! :
''"oas OF graa'cr trust and resDons,b;i, y
" MS own political i, not financial ~
motion made 10 print the te.tim.
.o"' together with. the feport Of II
Ip''n''tee, was voted down hv
ios,ruc,,n, , !. : i.s.o'ntion was ADOPT
C.as..l - ~. .us "ossrnor aud Attorr
usnsfal to take such im,neiia,a ..c
Inc matter a. the public iu,s,s" .eps 4
1aHeasd'a'f theydo their duty ~ =
prem'sea. . iuA dsvelopemeut of
esis swlii, nosdsAbt, bssnade. -