Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-28
WHICH rs RIGHT?
The PnbIic Examiner or the Sherburne
County Auditor.
To the Editor of the Globe

The PnbIic Examiner or the Sherburne
County Auditor.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Elk RIVER, May 19.-Can you throw any
light on the following matter pertaining to our
county affairs? If so, you will do us q favor:
In 1879, Commissioner Knox overhauled our
financial matters, and, Immediately following,
81. M. Atkins, the auditor also editor of the
Sherburue County Star, as friend and reader
of this paper informs me, made and published
statement to the effect that the commissioner
was not only perfectly satisfied with the man
ner in which he found things in the treasury
and auditor departments, but 40 well satisfied
was he with the auditors method of
keeping the records that he commissioner
should recommend the same for general adop-
ton. Without the precise language, the above
embodies the subsa uce of the auditors report
of that visit, as it was told to me. Now, let
us place by the side of this the ueT6atina report
of the P. p. of the 18th inst. in relation to
that 1879 visit, and thereby we shall be able to
see whether the governor or Mr.. Knox or either
was derelect of duty. "Sherburne county was
one of those districts in the State in which
matters were discovered in 1879. by the public
examiner, to be in deplorable condition.
There was deficit in the treasury. and the
methods pursued by the treasurer and
auditor {Atkinsl were slovenly in the
extreme. Yesterday the public examiner
reported to the governor that q
second visit had proved that the public funds
had been restored, and that the officials named
had completely reformed their plans Of doing
business, all of which has been accomplished
without public scandal" Now, Mr.. Editor.
which of the two State functionaries is culpa
BILE, the public examiner or the governor? If
the former, why? If the latter, why? Here
was case demanding attention. s'deplorable
condition OF things" ga deficit in the treas
ury," records kept in a "slovenly" manner,
and nothing done. This inaction is suggestive.
Are Republican treasurers and auditors ex-
empt from the penalties of their violations?
Was this statute designed for Demo-
cratic officials alone? 1t would seem so,
for not long ago Mr.. Knox found the
Stearns county finances all right, save S24O
accruing on deposited funds which the official
had used. He was allowed ten days to fix the
matter. It seems to make a little difference as
to whose OK is gored. This article is not de-
signed to attack anyone, but that there is
condition of things existing in our county mat
tiers generally, that will not stand the test of
honesty and square dealing, no man will dare
question; and I am free to charge that the
man who will violate his oath of Office by using
the peoples money of which he Is the legal
custodian, ia not an honest man, and therefore
not fit to hold an Office where he has any chance
to steal. Wepay $4,000 year for certain
kind of protection, that which the people can
not secure without special inspection; hence
the appointment of this officer, and unless the
people can feel increased immunity from fraud
such as existed before the appointment of Mr.
Knox the next session of the legislature
will wipe out this statute. Let there be no
pets in consideration of party loyalty, or SER
vice, but visit the penalty of infracted law
upon all alike, is what the people who foot the
bills ask. INQUIRER