Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-16
+ Four only have capital,

!. -Four only have capital.
The examiner speaks in complimentary terms of
the generally sound condition of our State banks
and the judicous care usually shown in their man
agenent which he ascrbes less to any legal regula
tons under existing crude provisions of law than to
wholesome practices sef-imposed under the dictates
Of enlightened policy. The various suggestions of
the examiner made after due investigation Of the
many objects of his inquiry, can hardly fail to com
had done nothing but reveal the exposed condition
of the public funds resulting from the neglect Of
county officers to deposit adequate official bonds as
required by law, it would have fully established the
importance of the Office and more than justified its
cost. Upon investigation it was found that only
fy-seyen of the 40 bonds Of county reasurers and
the secretary of state, had been filed there according
to law. As result of the persistent efforts Of the
examiner these delinquent bonds we're finally fur
proved to be legally and technically correct. The
others were found to be defective in varions degrees
from 4 condition Of informality to that of utter
named penal sums less in amount than the balances
held on the LIST of June by the officers giving them
respectively.
The correction of these evils by requiring the sub
Jsdtution Of improved and increased bonds, being
beyond the power of the examiner, the remedy must
besupplied by prompt and adequate: provision of
law. The aggregate amount of money passing
through the hands Of county treasurers now approx
mates the sum Of S. 600 annually, and In view Of
the lax precautions for the safety Of these funds and
the crude methods BY which accounts are kept IN
era character Of county officials that there has been
so little ma1feasance in office. Nor is the creation Of
the Office Of public examiner necessary 1mputati0n
upon the motives Of these officers, = Conduct which
leads to embezzement and defalcaton in the major
ity Of cases begins in ignorance rather than In In
tentionai criminality.
Whether therefor the protection of the public, the
good Of the erring Official or the avoidance Of public
scandal considered the importance Of that careful
supersison which ensures correct bass and honest
beginning ofofAcfsl life, becomes a1fke obvious. The
danger lies especially in the first mfsstep, which, tg
norantly taken and thoughtlessly repeated, tmpee-
ceptsbly grows into such startling temptation Is to
y too much 70 ~ that the Information impaired and
the correctives spilled BY the public examiner have
alreadybeen the means Of gtFanghng4 q humber OF
incipient embellishments, While the more matured
abuses exhibited by the conduct aof . dsplacd
county auditor, and by the recent examination Of
the .ccounts ofthe hdspitsl for the insane Nether
resulting from unconscious or intentional m1scon-
timely creation Of this Office. In view OF the work
atesdy accomplished and the enlarged usefulness
to be expected from the further operation Of the law
cannot doubt thst you win support It with such I'd.
dh0n4l provisions msy be needed to subserye itz
highest purposeG In cunso0uehceofs The hts hour
Of Which the act became law no appropriation was
made Tor tts practical enforcement IN Commission 70
port Of the Senate special committee for the ives-
CATION Of the; management OF the insane hospital
WIS duly submitted to me and win be- transmitted.
;9.9s atttIs Drained BRANCH I.ANDS.lsag gTt1H
By the act Of March 1st, 1877, providing for the
completion Of the socaIled exension Nnes sc thsSt.
Paul Pacific railroad, various duties were imposed
upon the executive respecting the adjustment Of
certain claims incurred for railroad construction,