Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-03-06
The State Treasury.

w
inquire into the condition Of the State
Treasery have reported, and the results
Of their work fully ju.tides the suspi.
cion entertained by many, that there
was something rotten in Denmark. "
From he..rcport v CLEAN the follow
ing facts: First, That Mr.. Seegcr, upon
assuming the duties Of his Office, found
that Emil Munich was , dofaulter to
the amount Of $4,000. Second,
That the new Treasurer did not dis
Gloss the fret to any officer Of the State,
but undertook to make a private ar
rangement for the repayment Of the
sum embczzled. For this purpose be
caused to be executed a deed covering
large amount Of property owned by
the dcfaulter, and took his personal
notes for other considerable sums. The
deed was nercr placed upon record, and
was, therefore, wholly void as to third
parties. Third, That Much, subse-
quem!y, paid back part Of the money,
and his boudsmsn paid the remainder,
thereby relieving the State from actual
loss. Fourth, Thot Seeger has made
a practice OF dtpositiug the State funds
in banking houses, aud in several cases,
loaned the money to private individ-
uals taking only the personal Of liga-
ton of such to indemnify the State.-
A notable instance Of this kind was
the case Of Auerbach, Finch & Scheffer,
who had at one time $4,000 Of the
peoples money to use in mercantile
speculations, while the only assurance
Of re payment was found in the indi-
vidual due bill Of Mr.. Auerbach.-
Fifth, That he has been in the habit of
taking checks for money loaned from
tie State Treasury, and Of using them,
in case Of investigations, to represent
cash in hand. Sixth, That he has in
many cases called upon County Trea-
surers for, and received, State dues
several months before the same were
properly payable, aud loaned or depos-
tied then, where he "expeeted to
receive t'ur or fve per cent. on all sums
not called for within two months"
while parties who represented institu-
tions that we're entitled to portions Of
the State fund, were put off with the
Ass rtion that there Was emo money in
the Treasury"
Such are some Of the more promi-
nent facts developed by the investiga-
ton, and, while tho people may con-
graduate themselves that they have
escaped the calamity which at one time
impeadcd, they cannot but feel an un-
bounded measure Of indignation on
account Of such gross corruption in the
management Of the Treasury.
With a salary Of only $1,000 per
year and an unsafe place for the keep
ing Of the public treasure, and a per.
sonal responsibility in case Of its loss,
it is not surprising that the Treasurer
sought to protect himself BY system
Of deposits, and to make a decent living
by drawing interest on the money. In
view Of presidents heretofore without
violation, any other course would have
been s,ra'. &c. The State authorities
have never regarded the vault at the
Capitol, as, in any degree, safe place
Of deposit, and the Legislature ha.
felt itself impotent to authorize the
use Of banks for that purpose, becaus.
the Constitution especially forbids thei,
employment as repositories Of State
funds, and there has been a genera
connivance at what was admitted to b,
. technical violation Of law by tn
State Treasurer, because OF false sup
position that it was necessary. A sim
pie amendment TO the supreme lav
would have been the easy and effectua
way out Of the whole difficulty, and
had it been made as soon as its neces
sity became apparent, VIC should hav
avoided the disgrace with which misap
preparation, defalcation and crimina
corruption have now covered US. tn
Legislature should not longer ncglcc
the performance Of a duty SO fearful,
apparent as that Of providing for tn
sale keeping Of the peoples treasure
neither should that body wink at tn
seeming criminality Of the officer llav
ing it in charge. We DO not bcliev'
that the deposit Of the funds in estab
lishcd institutions Of national reputation
for soundness and integrity, or the tax
ing Of interest upon such deposits, is il
any proper sense criminal, because boil
arc rendered necessary by the notorio,,
neglect If the State, but, when upo,
his induction to office, the Treasure
finds a deficit existing, aud, instead 0
making u discovery to the prope
authorities, he conceal. it, and there
after labnrs to prevent its bccomin
known and thus makes himself part
to the crime If embexz'c,ncnt, n gray
case Of nmlseasancc in Office present
itself. The fact once established, u,
duty Of the Legislature ;s plain, n
matter What may be- tho consequence
to individuals, or to parties. t. Ihcn
our sentiments"
.r is supposed that Ex-Governe
Gcsry died from the effects of hair dy'
a., .>-;,o;,ol ;n0rcdicnt Of which