Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-13

The Senate committee continued their
strengthening process with the insane asylum
treasurer's accounts yesterday, and also
waded through the piles of vouchers which
show what became of the current funds SO
far as the steward had the disbursement of
them. The object the committee has, aside
of that of discovering any wrong doings, if
they exist, is to ascertain exactly the amount
Of money laid out on the institution, and
compare it with the appropriations granted
by the legislature from time to time. The
morning was spent like the previous
days, but as Mr.. Dryer was present ah the
afternoon session his attention was directed
to some Of the gross errors found in the
treasurer's accounts, but Of course that gen
tleman could not explain them any more
than could the secretary of the committee
Mr.. Dryer has nothin, to do with these &C.
counts, and when the committee asked him
to explain it was only with the desire of get
ting the assistance of an experienced and
systematic bookkeeper.
KERR's FIGURES.
The curious entries, great blunders aud
apparent fraudulent alterations of voucre rs it
is possible Mr.. Kerr can explain, and it is
just IS possible that he will os mlserably
fail as did he with the $50 item which
made him such pitiable object of com
passion q. st. Peter.
These are some of the matters to elucidate
which the committee requested the atten-
ton of Mr.. Dryer:
In voucher 284 the inside figures read
S64.10, and OIL the outside is endorsed
$96 SO.
Voucher 454 reads on the inside $2,126.74,
and on the outside the figure l is marked
over with 3. Pay roll 81, corresponding
with the voucher it is $2,12e.74, and the
details show it to be correct. In the journal,
folio so, the incorrect figures S232674 are
posted making an error of 5000 against the
State; that is parently, and the reverend
treasurer may do as we'll in explaining it as
he did the $3.50 matter.
in voucher 500 the total amount should be
$395.74 instead of 1886 IA, which is an erro,
of $40 against the treasurer. But voucher
554 sets this right again.-it receipts 10,
S7oo.S7, while the payroll (No. 500 CORES
ponding shows the amount should be
S77O,s7.
The committee spent some little time with
the barn-bui!ding contract, winch appeared
to them with the light they had, thus
Original contract, $2.7OO; paid contractors
$2,9l1.3O; extras 1915. The contractors
were to find all material. For material FOL
barn paid by the State, 81 500.
Some more vouchers were found for mile
age, maintenance, etc, of Strait, Fletcher 4
Co.; Straits being for two visits, 500; anoth
eli item was for $15 for dinners for trustee.
(who charge the State maintenance etco II
commenting upon Straits charges it was re
marked by one of the Senators that the
State would not ohject to pay his mileage
bills and hotel expenses and his labor ac
count OF vs. day if he had done his worl
ana stopped the reckless way the other trus
ices we're spending the current funds.
he Senators, commenting upon voucher
of $l25 for bull calf, and 800 express
charges on the same, stated that they though
1t piece of great extravaganza, as tn
trustees were failures as farmers.
LETTER FROM FLETCHER.
During the afternoon session Secretar,
Smith received letter from L. Fletcher i,
reply to the one sent in duplicate to all th
trustees, and he asked the chairman if h
should read it.
Senator Doran said that there was NJ
necessity for him to do so, for doubtless III
letter was the same as that published in th,
minneapolis morning paper, but perhaps th
secretary nau better read it for mere form
sake.
The secretary then read the letter, o
which the following is a COPY:
r. -, MINNEAPOLIS, Sept II, 1878.
don. VIM. Smith, Secretary of the Ins.n,
hospital investigating Committee:
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 10th inston
inviting me to be present at future MEETINGS n
the committee is received. In reply. have I,
remark that before your committee commenc
cd Its Investigations, the trustees requested tn
privilege OF being present at the examinntin,
0t all witnesses that We're not then in the en-
ploy OF the hospital. This request was refused
NO" that most OF the witnesses have been ex
ahmed and YOU are engaged in examinin,
vouchers and records, being docnment
that speak for themselves SOM
i'e'S OF your committee hav
come TO tue conclusion that it is important t.
nave cue trustees present, YOU say: THAT n,
injustice may be done to any member or tb,
shaha cement, am instructed to saw etc
IS = plain admission that the first act of tn
committee III refusing to allow the trustees t,
DE present ut your meetings was unjust.
thlhk IL would have been more honorable bat
You frankly stated in the opening of your lettc)
49, Noii'''iVlcc iloW TeallGeQ that great
Justice had been done the trustees, and wishing
10 atone as far as possible for this unjust treat
ment, would respectfully request their pres
ence at future meetings of the committee
such manly statement Of the case would
have done you credit, and given evidence of re-
turning sanity. As one of the trustees who be.
lleseS the sole object of portion of your com.
mlttee is to make one-sided investigation f.,
supposed political advantage that can be
gained by such an unjust and one-sded
course as has been pursued from the first. nt
TINS late day is respectfully declined. When
your report is completed and made public. the
trustees will probably find ways and means 10
OBTAIN respectful hearing before the people of
the State. ana with the confident belief that
thelr verdict will be that this hospital has been
al; well and economically managed as has anv
IKE institution in the United States. yery
respectfully yours, L, FrrTcur,,
AT the conclusion of the reading one Of
the committee remarked: "lhat's about &c
near the truth as Fletcher ever GETS, and
The matter was dropped, the committee pro.
ceed1ng with their work of trying to recon-
Gle figures which will not lie and vet m
peared to contradict each other.
Inc committee will meet again at 10
E1r,