The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-16

FUNDS TAMPERED WITH BY THE HIGHEST
OFFICIALS OF THE srATE-A STATEMENT By
GOVERNOR KELLOGG.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. Is, 1875
The report OF the House Commission appointed to
investigate books of the State Treasury show that
$9S 900 of the fund had been diverted but
subsequently restored After long account OF
the details Of transactions at the Treasury the com
mission say
No direct loss TO the State can be traced from all
these Irregularities and in fairness to the Treasurer
your commission beg to state that the cash balance
hand the LIST OF January, 1876 in conformity
with the books. The investigation reveals however,
the startling fact that the public funds have been
tempered with by the highest officials Of the State
The evidence shows plainly that a heavy pressure
brought TO bear upon the Treasurer by william
PITT Kellogg, Governor of Louisiana; by Henry
J. Dbble, Assistant Attorney General OF the State
kns Judge of the Superior District Court OF the Parish
of Orleans; by Alfred shaw the Attorney for the Me-
tropolitan Board Of Police; and by j. H ogesby the
fiscal agent and that under their combined influence
the Treasurer succumbed. But although your commits
inclined to look upon thus pressure palla
tive extent Of the Treasurer conduct yet they
do not believe that he plead it In extenuation
OF his Official acts Wore such q departure
from the duties of public Office countcnanced danger
Gus precedent would be established that would open
the door to violations Of the law by unprnciped men,
who would thus abuse discretion and power at their
pleasure Your commission, therefore, though salts
fed of the guilt OF Antoine Dubucet, believe he
handled a instrument by other parties, ready,
II
the entire odum OF tho transactions Your commits
SION have accumulated sufficient evidence TO establish
the fact that Antoine Dubucet who has thus disposed
OF the State funds without State warrants is less guilty
than William Pitt Kello the originator OF the whole
scheme; than Jacob Hawkins Judge OF the Superior
District Court of Orleans, used his
influence to encourage tho nefarous deed than
Henry c. DDbIe, then acting Attorney General, who
advised unlawful acts when he should have guarded
the interests OF the State less guilty than j. H.
0glesby, the financial agent OF the Metropolitan Board
Of Police and president OF the bank depository OF State
fund VIII To n n mi
OF which he was keeper under tho law and II will
appear received pccunary compensation of 900 for
interest and commission on q loan made out OF tho
State funds by the State Treasurer After careful
animation Of the acts OF each and after weighing
honestly and deliberately the evidence adduced,
majority Of your commission have reached the follow
ing conclusion
they are satisfied that Antoine Dubuclet has vio-
lated the Law and that he should be mpeached for tho
following reasons, TO witt
FIRST, because he did in the month of October 1874
ISSUE without proper warrants from the Auditor and
In violation OF section So of the Revised Statutes the
following checks against the State funds, TO witt
Here follows list OF the checks numbers amount,
dates drawn, Sc
The report concludes as folows:-The majority OF
| your commission are satisfied that William Pitt KEEL
iogg Governor Of Louisiana, has grossly violated the
! law and should be lmpeached because by threat,
promise and otherwise he Induced Antoine Dubuclet
State Treasurer, 70 divert from the interest fund
October 1874 the sum Of $35 600 and in January 1875
the Of $50 600 without the proper from the
Known Is the Funding bill and section $40 Of the Re-
vised Statutes The majority OF your commission
satisfied that Henry Dibbe has grossly violated the
law because in dereicton OF duty while acting At
torney General, he advised the State Treasurer An
tome Dubucet 10 divert from the interest fund Of
Louisiana without the proper warrants, in October,
1874 the sum Of s35, 600 in January 1875, the sum
| OF $4,000, in violation OF section OF act
mo- .so, % 1870 AZ p0s .Ss Rsv ses sat" e
| your commission would suggest that articles Of
impeachment be immediately drawn, the law rec
| louisiana, and Antoine Dubuelet State Treasurer
that by Joint resolution, Henry @. DbbIe, Assistant
Office that A p Field Attorney General be Instructed
to institute criminal proceedings against Alfred
Shaw and j. II. Ogesby for violation as partceps
criminis Of section OF act No. OF 1874
known the Funding bill, and that means
be devised 70 compel J. H. Ogesby TO restore 70 the
Metropolitan Board Of Police the Of So COO lille
! gally charged by him commission and interest
loan OF $50 600 made by the Treasurer out Of the
interest fund OF the State TO the Metropolitan Board OF
Police
Respectfully submitted by
JULES ALDIGE. Chairman.
| FELIX VOORHEES,.
The report OF the commission to examine into the
books Of the State Treasurer received and ordered
| TO be printed
The resolution authorizing the Sergeant alarms to
| appoint 100 assistants passed
IL is understood that there was meeting Of promi-
White League officers last night 10 detail 100 men
in anticipation OF the adoption Of the resolution by the
House.
Governor Kellogg gives as his explanation OF the re-
port Of tho Aldigc Committee the following state
latter the white League riot OF September IL. 1874
the condition OF affairs such that the collection OF
State and city taxes was virtually suspended. The
police Of New orleans we're some months In
/ with their pay and threatened to dsband alto
gether aud leave the property Of this city to the
mercy OF the awiess elements then IN the ascendant
The fiscal agent OF tho State also the fiscal agent
/ Of the police, aud had very large amount OF State
funds in hands which could in any event be called
for for several months To meet tho press
ing public emergency the Governor and state
Treasurer authorized him temporarily 10 transfer
TO the police account sufficient State funds 70
nav a portion OF the duo the
police SO as TO retain them on their beats The fiscal
agent took security lien upon all the uncollectcd
taxes for police purposes and also warrants issued by
the State for services which the police bad rendered 10
the State militia The State was never Jeopardized
TO the extent Of one dollar by this transfer; and as
matter Of fact shown by the Investigation OF the
very committee who made the report every dollar ad
vanced by the State promptly repaid out OF the
| FIRST taxes collected for police purposes"
rHH LOUISIANA ELECTION BILL
The Conference Committee on the Election bill are
still at work, and will probably compromise upon
Board Of Canvassers, without judicial powers instead
OF a Returning Board.
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE