Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-19
STRUGGLING KERR.
HE TRIES TO EXPLAIN HIS FIG URES
TO THE SENATE COlIMITTEE.
the Reckless Management-Very Little
That Kerr Can Explain.

the Reckless Management-Very Little
That Kerr Can Explain.
Senators Morton, Drew, Rice and Doran, Of
the st. Peter asylum investigating committee,
met at the capitol yesterday morning and pro-
ceeded with their inquiry into the financial
management of the institution. Their secre-
tary was ready with the books and accounts
which the committee wished to submit to the
Rev. Aaron H. Kerr, secretary and treasurer to
the board of trustees There was also present
Mr.. J. Stone, who acted as stenographer for the
committee.
Mr.. A. w. Gage, one of the builder-contract-
ors who had been subpoenaed from W1nona,
was first questioned relative to his contract
with the trustees, Senator Doran conducting
the examination.
A. W. GAGE SWORN.
l reside at Winona; am a carpenter and
builder; contracted with the hospital for insane
in 1871; the paper produced is a copy OF my
contracts the amount of contract was SlO.O3
the papers shown not in my writing;
that is not my signature; did not sign either
of them.
Mr.. Kerr-Here are the originals
Mr.. Gage-(Shown the orig inals), believe
that is my signature; that believe to be set
Element for the whole amount OF the contract
me is the bill for extras. There is one item
which is wrong; we charged with 800 as
having been paid to us when it should not be
in the bill; the $65 was allowed to Breen, and
was left in Mr. Kerr's hands for Nat Breen
Co., appears in my memorandum (produced)
the $65 ought to be deducted in place of being
added; the entire amount got from the State
was $40, 088.17 according to my memorandum;
the bill shown-(fled in State Department.
with voucher attached was not signed by me,
this, (shown copy of the hrst.)
The bill and voucher attached, which had
been filed at the capital, and which Mr. Gage
said he did not sign, was shown to MIR. Kerr,
and that gentleman asked to explain the $65
item and another allowance for lumber, $3.50,
posted into the ledger, which was reduced to
1921. go.
Mr.. Kerr-Now, then, very we'll. We looked
over our accounts. Here's voucher: There
was due to you, Mr.. Gage So, 1868. Here is
memorandum OF a statement put IN before
the board at the annual meeting. The board
authorized the payment of SO, 1858, as due
to Mr.. Gage l settled with you on January
18th, paying you in check, and l suppose put
in that voucher.
MIR. Cages attention was called to the diff
ference between 1850 and $23l.6O, Mr.. Gage
explaining that it afterwards found the
lumber was not worth more than $23l.60,
which he allowed the asylum for it. 1t was
found that Mr. Kerr charged himself with the
difference, $l1840, in a subsequent voucher.
MIR. Gage Examination continued)-I did
not receive the $65. The only money l re-
ceived s10,08s17, my memorandum
book shows.
Mr. Kerr-I acknowledge ought to have de-
Quoted $65 from Mr.. Cages account 1t is a
matter between myself and Mr.. Gage. He has
promised. if it can be made to appear that the
money was paid to him. he will refund it.
Mr.. Doran-It is $l30 due the State Mr..
Kerr, as the $65 being added instead Of being
deducted was doubled.
MIR. Kerr-Yes; he says he will pay that
amount, but if he did not receive it will make
it good.
MIR. KERR WAS THEN SWORN;
had his attention called to the printed report
for 1867; said there appears q balance on hand
OF S222.73 it should appear in the next year.
report; but was not treasurer till '67; before
that, l superintendent some of the work;
made all the entries, but was not treasurer;
recorded the amounts of money entered for
building; suppose | received the money; the
books are mine, though l not treasurer;
am not responsible till Dec 81; but received
the money; Mr.. Brown was the authorized
treasurer, but he did not open any books;
made all the entries; Mr. Brown paid money
as we'll as L.
Senator Rice-There is not voucher filed
paid by MIR. Brown.
Mr.. Kerr---My impression is that
there is a record somewhere showing that the
trustees allowed me the balance for co1lpensa-
ton. did not report that balance of 1922, %
on hand. suppose it was settled by the trus-
tees allowing the balance as compensation.
Senator Doran-If you had been allowed
compensation would it not appear in the
books?
MIR. Kerr suppose SOL should think it
ought to.
Senator Doran--Your own books show that
there was q balance of $222.71 left entirely out.
The printed report shows $222.73. How do YOU
account for that $22273?
Mr.. Kerr-1 can give no explanation.
Senator Doran-In report for 1869 the bal
ance In State treasury is 81 ,707.50 and cash on
hand $l26 16. The first is carried forward but
not the latter. How do you account for that
$126.16, Mr.. Kerr?
Mr. Kerr-Have you examined my books?
Senator Doran-They are here-the report is
just copy of the book. The $12616 is left
out OF both. Is there any explanation?
Mr.. Kerr-No, there is no explanation see
it is omitted.
Senator Doran-For 1870 your balance is all
right, 1886, and current fund $5,434.55,
which are brought forward. Now we are at the
time scrip was issued, we will refer to your
scrip book. Produced
Mr.. kerr-Yes, this gives an account of the
scrip issued. We issued scrip to the amount of
S26, 1890, which is to be accounted for.
MIR. Deran-As a member of the board did
you have any authority to issue the scrip?
Mr.. Kerr-Whether we had or not, we did it,
That's all there is of it, We paid IL per cent.
on the scrip.
Mr.. Doran-The different sums were issued
to the parties named in the book?
Mr.. Kerr-Yes. sir.
MIR. DOran-I understand it was all issued tn
parties for labor already done.
Mr.. Kerr-Yes. sir.
Mr. Doran-G. W. Dryer was paid several
sums; was that for work?
Mr.. Kerr-That was for current expenses,
and what he did not use he returned. The 5000
entered to me was for my salary.
Mr.. Doran-The last item is Mr.. Dryer 81
394.1S. ~
Mr. Kerr-I did not give him that amount,
but made it out and destroyed it,
MIR. Doran-Who did you give that 81, 1884, 10
Mr.. Kerr have said it was entered to bal
ance up the account of scrip. 1t was never
put into Mr.. Dryers hands; it was DESTROYED.
l issued it to make it even with the appropria-
ton.
He was next questioned about the interest
paid on scrip $3,7Ol29 without any receipts,
MIR. Kerr saying the back of the scrip which
was destroyed would have shown 1t. His at
tentlon was then drawn to the discrepancy be-
tween his voucher for SO, FOL 80 and his books,
showing an overcharge for interest of 1928 SO.
In explanation all he could say was that he
thought he had allowed Snyder and Damren
800 for interest on account due before the 10Th
of March.
Mr.. Doran (handing witness the scrip book
Will you look at that book and tell us when
you made that memorandum there in pencil?
MIR. Kerr-I cannot tell you when made il.
Mr.. Doran-Did you make it since the com
mittee was up to st. Peter?
Mr.. Kerr-No sir.
Mr.. Doran-Are you sure of that now?
Mr.. Kerr-Yes; we'll
MIR. Doran-Do you swear on your oath?
Mr.. Kerr-Well; that is nv nnder.
standing of ootfh HATH
not know it was wanted-if it could have been
called for, it would have been found.