Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-02-20

atss
A Friend Of Ex-Gsv. Merrill in hits Ne.
fenses
We have published the report of the /
committee on the Rankin Investigation
and II animadverts somewhat upon
other parties than Mr.. Rankin. We
therefore publish below a defense by
a friend of ex-Gov. Merrill. We think
tho defense we'll taken; indeed, we
never could see how the Ex-Governor
could be blamed in the mattel. The
custom has been, for many years, Of
putting the Governor of tho State on
many of the Boards OF Trustees as
kind of honorary member, when It
was not nor could not have been ex.
pected that he was to perform the ac-
tive duties Of the Board, or to be fully
conversant even with the business Of
the Board. The Legislature, this VIM
ter, seeing the folly Of thus using the
Governors name, have abolished the
practice, and they have done Just right.
We do not see the remotest chance for
finding fault in the least with ex-Gov-
ernor Merrill In tho Rankin defalca-
ton. We think, because we cannot
find any other reason therefor, that
criticism Of Mr.. Merrill in this matter
is begotten Of personal or partisan
spirit:
EDITOR REGIsTEA IL have read with
great interest the report of the Inves-
tigating Committee In the Rankin case,
and while have no doubt that most
of the conclusions may be correct, yet
cannot see why ex-Gov. Merrill
should be selected as & target for spe-
cial charges of neglect in the matter
of the Agricultural College bonds, SC.
So far as the testimony in the case ia
concerned, it shows that his official
correspondence cautioned the active
officers and members of the board of
trustees of the Agricultural College Of
his doubts on bond, &c. He also, it
appears, had written q private letter
or private letters to some officer or Of
| ficers on the subject. The bond of
1870 was the result Of that caution,
and who wonders that after the active
officers Of that board had been eau
toned in relation to bond, &C., that
Gov. Merrill supposed all the interests
of that institution would be'protected.
Even If he did say "innocently," what
the report states at the interview of
1872, who wonders at it? The board
had been cautioned, they had acted on
that caution, and Gov. Merrill could
not have supposed that the officers in
immediate charge of all these matters
would have neglected to keep these
| funds protected.
But know it has been said in sub
stance, in the report aud elsewhere,
that because Gov. Merrill was er-o0i-
clio Of the board of trustees, he there
fore should have attended to all these
matters constantly. What were the rest
of the board made for? What was
their duty? What was the duty of the
active officers who really had the i'm
| mediate control of all these funds,
their daily security, their daily man.
agement and daily expenditure.
The Governor Of this State, at that
time, and SO up to the 'samendments" OF
this extra session, was and has been
cr-o6icio one of the board of trustees
of nearly every public institution in
this State. This was indirect injustice to
that officer, whoever he may be. II all
things went right the Governor receiv-
ed no praise, if any officer in an insti
tuition failed in his duty, the Governor
received all the blame for the neglect,
mal-feasance or non-feasance of the
Office. For one, protest against this
as unfair and unjust.
1t would be impossible for the Gov
ernor to keep track Of all the bonds,
accounts finances, contracts, &C., &C.,
of the Fl. Madison Penitentiary and
its officers and trustees. or Of the pro.
posed penitentiary at Anamosa, or OF
our State institutions ct Mt Pleasant
Independence, Vinton, Iowa City,
Council Bluffs and "the Lord knows
where" under unr "scatteration" poll.
cy Of the location of public institu-
tions. No Governor or any other man
could do IL. Tho Governor and all
the rest of the RtAte depended in the
main on the officers, and boards active
ly engaged in these institutions, fol
the proper management of them, and
for the protection Of the money which
had been appropriated to them, tor the
money received from all sources by
them, including board, labor, lands,
ETC., etc. No one else could do this
understandingly and promptly, and for
the best interests of ell concerned, and
from day to day, week to week, month
to month, and year to year, as the bust
ness occurred. It was the very bust
ness that the resident boards, officers
and trustees were expected, in the
main to attend to.
So again protest against what ]
deem an unfair charge of neglect
against Ex-Governor Merrill. His
fair fame as good officer and an hon.
est man should not be furnished in a
case where he seems to have done his
duty. A CITIZEN.