Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-22
THE PARTISAN PUBLIC EXAMINER

THE PIRIISAN PUBLIC EXAMINER.
The investigation of Martin county af-
fairs by the public examiner was in marked
contrast with his work in Ramsey county.
Martin county is very strongly Republican.
Last spring Mr.. Knox found the treasurer
to be defaulter to the amount of over 3d.
600, but instead of proceeding to expose the
peculating official, he kept the matter con-
cealed until October. That we may not be
accused of doing Mr.. Knox injustice, we
quote his language showing the respective
dates:
"The executive order of the suspension of
the treasurer of this county was dated October
%, 1879, and was based upon the investigation
of the examiner by which it appears that you
are in serious default in your public accounts
My examination of this office bears date April
18TH"
This was very obliging on the part of the
Public Examiner, and shows that he has
"broad and cheerful spirit of accommoda-
ton" towards Republican officials. 1t is
even doubtful whether he would have sus-
pended the defaulter in October if it had not
been that he decamped in September, and
has not since been heard from. Instead of
following up his work, even at that late
day, he neglected it to obey the orders of his
masters, and endeavor to make a little
political capital in Ramsey county, which is
Democratic. The Martin County Sentinel,
a Republican paper, thus berates him, and
demands his resignation:
Affairs had reached a crisis in our county's
financial complications. Mr.. Knox's presence
might have saved the county from loss. He is
paid for attending in just such cases as the one
in question, and there is no possible excuse for
his tiagrant dereliction of duty. Our county
officers have time and time again, prior to the
sitting of The January term of court, endeav-
ored to get him to make an examination of the
treasurer's books and accounts in order to be
able to proceed with the trial against Brackets
bondsmen. The attorney general decided that
this would be necessary before taking the case
into the courts. MIR. Knox neglected and re-
fused to comply with the request and the case
had to be put over for one year, simply and
only because of his wanton neglect and stub
born disregard of his duty. If the state exam
Iner's labors consist of sitting in his office and
writing reports to the governor, the legislature
better abolish the office.
First, he discovered the defalcation in
April and concealed it six months until the
culprit had fled. Then he refused to render
any further aid il recovering the money.
In Ramsey county he found no defalca-
ton. He found all the Democratic
officials honest and honorable men,
and only mean technicalities could
be secured to hang his case upon. He had
orders. however, to do the dirty work and
something must be made out. No sooner
was his report written out than he took it
ia the Governor and having read it to him
was about to start for the Pioneer Press
office with the manuscript, when a halt was
called, and Mr.. Knox was notified that the
GLOBE was on hand also and there must be
fair play. He had found nothing rejecting
upon the personal integrity of an official,
but his anxiety to smirch them by his
carping .iuuendoes was intense. Some
altered footings of a former clerk
in the treasurer's ofice-a clerk
who had been tried, convicted
and sentenced for robbery by Democratic
administration without the aid of the
Public Examiner-were discovered. In two
days the ex-treasurer was expected home and
his presence might throw some light upon
the work of his convicted clerk. In Martin
county Republican thief was shielded for
six months by the Public Examiner, until he
had chance to run away. In Ramsey
county an honest man, who CHANGED to be q
Democrat, could not be allowed two days to
reach his home and investigate the books
and papers of his former Office.
Such Public Examiner is worse than
useless. His craftsmanship is so intense and
indecent that he is unfit to be trusted. He
is fit only to be lackey to his newspaper
| masters.