The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-03-02
TIE ELKG INDEPENDENT.
WEDSEsDAT. MARcH =. isss.
nsrs.s-sy D.a.ie.hS s-..er n..ar'a1-s

over hundred thousand dollars, Is n dttins
GiiDax 20 the rule Of the corrupt politician.
vho hare owned the people of the State OF
EsradA for ten yeAn- II this defalea.ior
could be attributed TO any one individual, as
his ct alone, something Of the bitterness Of
the disastsr might be assuaged. bat the fact.
shov such . combination Of individuals en-
gAeed in specializing on the peoples money.
indicating such widespread corruption among
the principal men Who have blown the horn OF
RsdicAism in this State. that the responsible
ity necessarily attaches TO the entire orEaniz.-
ton which they have represented, and 'stin
represent.
The examination Of the books, which vas
lately made, only goes back to the Isl Of jan
ue-y, 1853. What q further examination Of
the records prior to that time may disclose re-
mains yet to be determined. The commence
ment is certainly anything but suspicious
The facts, constantly sccumnlating since the
defalcation has become public, 30 TO show that
the real defAleatiOn is not Of recent date
that il goes back one, two and possibly more
years; and that il has been hidden from the
pablo only through the successful connivanoe
Of several Of the Leading otice-holdsrs Of the
State, who If not accessories before the fact
were certainly such after the fact.
There can be no escape from the conclusion
that the Treasurer was not alone R,rnor has
linked his name with long-continued OPEN
tions in connection with the bank Of Califor-
mia, and associated him with financial disas-
tiers in stock operations, and with eItravagan-
eies Of living. which are almost necessarily con-
current With personal and official bankruptcy
butonitting everything but reference to these
notorious Circumstances, q consultation Of the
statutes OF the State relating to the duties Of
the Board Of Examiners. shows such an ouis-
sion on the part Of the Governor. Secretary
Of State, and Attorney General, that It NOR
Ally eonEiets them Of being pdrtieeps erin.i,is
in this outrage upon the State
The foloEing isA copy of sections Que and
two Of the act Of 1885, relating to the Boa.a
Of Examiners, to define their duties and pow
ers, and to impose certain duties on the Con-
troller and Treasurer:
SECTION !. 1t shall be the duty Of the
Board Of Examines, consisting of the Cover
nor, Secretary Of State and Attorney General,
- OALch - II Dc OEct1Gu proper, To exam
Inc the books OF the Controller and Treasurer
the accounts and vouchers in their Office, and
20 count the money in the treasury, and for the
purpose OF dischnrging the duties imposed on
II by this Act, the said Board is authorized TO
demand. and the Controller and Treasurer are
hereby required TO furnish the said Board,
without delay, such information as it may de-
nAnd. touching the books, papers, vouchers,
or matters pertaining TO or cognizable IN their
oheeS respectively; pT0rided, that the count
ing o. the moneys in the treasury shall take
place a. least once q month, without the said
Board giving the Treasurer any previous mol
hce Of the hour or day Of the said counting
SEcTIos 2. Said Board shall, at least once
N e6th month, flo an affidavit in the Office Of
the Secretary Of State. showing the actual
amount Of money in the treasury at their last
counting prior thereto, and shall cause a copy
Of said affidavit to be published In one daily
newspaper Published at the Capital; protided
that il no daily newspaper be Published at the
Capital. then such affidavit TO be published in
such other daily newspaper as shall be des-
ignAted by the Board.
Whete are he monthly reports Of these Of
fcers? None have been made. Months at
least, and probably years. have slipped away;
moneys were constantly being paid into the
treasury, ard yetno account has been rendered,
no statement made, to show that these three
highest officers Of the State have performed
the duties imposed upon them by the laws of
the State; the most important duty which they
could perform. This neglect of duty occurred
while suspicious were aAoat all over the State,
and the belief was general that something was
wrong with the Treasurer, when even Rhodes
bondsmen were endeayoring TO get of his Off
cial bond, for fear OF responsibility.
The letter Of B. H. Meador, State Senator
in 1865, shows much light On the early history
OF this defalcation, showing that Il is no late
thing, but that II has been going ON for years,
Mt least as far back as 1867. II demonstrates 10.
tho satisfaction Of any unprejudiced taxpayer
that the Board ofiE1aminers were strangely
connected with this Transaction, 10 say the
least, and win require striking irrefutablc ev-
idence to remove the impression that they
were not themselves individually implicated
in the fraudulent use Of the public money or
In the attempt TO keep IL from the knowledge Of
the public. Norman can read this letter of Mr..
Meador, In connection with facts no,oriou, in
this State, and MOI feel that a. a citizen he has
been made the victim Of combination of of
HsiAi freebooters, who in the name of loynlty
were lesgued together for the plumber Of The
stsse. The following Is Mr. Meador's letter:
CAnsoS CnI, February 81, 1870. 1
Ems. ENTEHPRIss: The white Pine News NJ
the 18th instant charges or worthy Governor
with neglect OF duty" and consequent fsil-