Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-20

The committee of investigation met again
yesterday morning at the capitol, according
to adjournment. Immediately upon assem-
bling Senator Doran called Mr.. Kerr's at
tention to his scrip book, and the stubs of
scrip issued There were pointed out to
him many discrepancies between them
which he said must have arisen from some
mistake on his part.
Mr.. Doran But you say the scrip book is
copied from the stubs.
Mr.. Kerr-Yes; but probably made some
mistakes in transferring the numbers
He was given time to look over and ar
range. Meantime Mr.. Rugg was called to
testify.
MIR. H. p. RUGG SWORN.
Reside at st. Paul since 1868; had business
with the asylum; was employed by Mr..
Leahy up to 1870, when | bought Mr.. Leahy
out; was in charge of the ST. Paul business;
some of the asylum business was done at the
Milwaukee house; paper shown me is not
one of our bills; cannot recognize 1t at all as
copy of any of our bills; have not the
books referring to hospital matters: they
scrip from Mr.. Leaby; much was said about
the bill it was large; made contract to
put in heating apparatus and plumbing;
when the job was complete it was to be paid
the whole amount; don't remember the
final settlement; when he bought Leahy out
the work was not completed; we had several
contracts; can give no dates without refer
ring to books
Mr.. Doran-That is all, Mr.. Rugg. If
you have no books we can't arrive at any
thing.
KERR RESUMES.
Mr.. Kerr have looked over the scrip.
I think you will find the amounts will
correspond if the numbers do not. can't
tell how the numbers got mixed up; there
has evidentl, been some blunder.
Senator Doran-I wish we could get at
this matter of S1,394
Mr.. Kerr am confident that this is all
right.
Mr.. Doran- You took this 5000 in scrip,
did you not?
Mr.. Kerr-Yes, that was part of my
salary.
Mr.. Doran-Did you enter it up in your
book?
Mr.. Kerr-It is entered up as part of the
expenses. There is a voucher for every
issue of scrip.
Mr.. Doran-If so, where are the vouchers
for the 81 1854?
Mr.. Kerr-That is involved in payments
made at different times to the current fund.
There vouchers for it distinctively,
but am confident that it is all right.
Mr.. Doran-That is all right, Mr.. Kerr ;
now to this matter of interest. Have you
any voucher to show that it vas paid?
Mr.. Kerr-Yes. [ entered my voucher for
the whole amount of interest.
Mr.. Doran-But the law requires that you
should file the original vouchers of the party
receiving the money. 1t would have been
we'll for you to have carried ont the law.
Mr.. Kerr's attention was next called to
the balance sheet of 1871. Treasurers petty
account is entered $57.13, making the &C
count exactly balance. Mr., Kerr explained
that was taken from the current fund to
make up deficiency. The answer was con-
sidered satisfactory.
Mr.. Rice directed his attention to Ash's
bill for brick etc. Voucher showing SIS, 241.-
OIL paid him. But Ash's vouchers showed
$1,000, $627 and $500 to have been paid
only. Mr.. Kerr explained the other was paid
for in wood, which was equal to cash.
Mr. Rice-But you have the whole in one
voucher and the separate vouchers for the
same amount, making double entry.
Mr.. Kerr-Only the one amount is posted
up IN the ledger or appears in any of the
books This was found to be SO.
Mr.. Rice asked explanation of the
fact that after the final settlement the board
had allowed Mr. Ash 5000.
Mr.. Kerr explained that at the final set
clement Mr.. Ash wanted $500 or 81 900 for
dwelling the brick yard. The board would
M a ia a Act,
his receipt for final settlement.
Afterwards the trustees decided to give Ash
5000 as compensation for leveling the yard.
From inquiries made by Mr.. Rice it was
elected from Mr.. Kerr that the trustees not
only bought the machinery of Mr.. Ash after
he had used it for year but actually paid
for the freight on the machinery.
Mr.. Doran asked if it was not fact that
the 5000 allowed Ash was not to help Gar
diner and others out with Mr.. Ash, who
owed them money?
Mr. Kerr (emphatically) sir.
MIR. Morton-Was it not fact that Mr..
Ash was owing the asylum at the time of
the final settlement?
MI. Kerr thought perhaps he did.
Mr.. Morton-Was it not fact that the
hospital bought the machinery of Ash so as
put themselves straight with him?
was Ash owed him (kerr) at the time
Mr.. Rice directed Mr.. Kerr's attention to
the "pay rolf for August, 1869. A discrep-
ancy of 5000 existing, two vouchers for the
amount, one having the figures changed.
The roll showed $1,02637. The back is en-
dorsed $1,22637. The voucher is also
changed from 1,O26.37 to 81 ,22G.37. These
were shown to Mr.. Kerr two DAYS ago by
MIR. Smith; he could not account for it. The
other voucher now was missing and Mr..
Kerr on his examination wanted to see the lost
voucher. He insisted on its being produced.
He acknowledged seeing it and also con.
fessed that the figures were altered: he saw
1t day before yesterday, but he would saw
nothing till it was found. After diligent
search the missing voucher was found. II
was submitted to Mr.. Kerr, and the figures
were placed under glass, and Mr.. Kerr ac-
knowledged the figures had been changed to
$l,226.37 He knew nothing about it. Mr..
Couplln made 1t out. Would not say Mr..
Coupin made the change. The book was
also changed and made 5000 more. The
pay roll his certificate to pay BY Mr..
Couplln made out the pay roll
MIR. Morton asked if Mr.. Kerr was in the
habit of looking over the pay roll
Mr.. Kerr-Yes, sir.
MIR. Morton-lt is fact, Mr.. Kerr, that
of all the pay rolls, we have not found two
without some error. That 5000 ought to
have appeared when you made the final set
Element that year.
Mr.. Kerr-It might.
Mr.. Morton-If it did not appear, Mr..
Kerr, you kept your books
most outrageously. We have to
find yet a single instance where the mistake
is on the other side-that is when the State
has been the one to gain. In every one of
these instances you have been the gamer