National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-04
BOURBON pEFAuLTERs.
a story About Arkansas Finances from
One who Knows.

A REPUBLICAN reporter met Colonel L. n. Hill,
Of Arkansas, and called his attention to q para
graph in n newspaper saying that Governor
Thomas ]. Churchill, of Arkansas, who was State
treasurer before he was elected Governor, was a
deGulter for over $4,000, asking Colonel Hill
what he knew Of It, and receiving the following
answer:
"some discrepancies were found in General
Chugchills books treasurer, and at the last
sion of the State senate committee of Senators
was appointed to investigate the treasurers books.
This committee was of course Democratic. II has
been engaged over year, and has made an eX-
hRustive examination of the books of General
Churchill, who was treasurer from january, 1875,
for four years. The committee reports him short,
according to his own books, over Sl6i,000
OF course they do not call him n defaulter, be-
cause he is II Democrat. The Governor claims
that the committee is mistaken, and asks a sus.
pension Of public opinion. From my knowledge
General Churchill, do not believe, no matter
how much in deinult his office may be, that he
ever profted one dollar by II. / think him en-
tirely honest. He may have been careless, but he
did not steal any money, or nm entirely mistaken
in Il man have known for many years.
Rcporter--What can you tell me in regard to
Arkansas finances that is interesting?
Answer-Therc have been two Republican state
treasurers-Dr. L, d, Ayres, Il brother Of General
Bomain Ayres, Of the United States army and Colo
mel Henry Page, All the other treasurers before aud
since the war have been Democrats, and Dr. Ayres
and Colonel Page are the only trGasurers the State
ever had who could settle their accounts aud show
nothing due the state, Dr., Ayres was treasurer
under the Murphy government inaugurUtCd by
the oyRlists Ia 1853 lie settled up. Colonel Page
was appointed by the military commander in 1867
and was elected IN 1868 as II Republican when tn,
State was reconstructed He was reelected
in 1872, but when the State was turned
over by Congress TO the Democrats, IN 1874 Pag,
resigned. lie was succeeded by General II. &
Newton, who In FIVE months was succeeded b!
Churchill, elected at general election. NcwtoI
in his five months service "lost" S5S0oO Of IN,
school nnd, and now Churchill is short Sl6i,OOO
Page handled more money In his seven years ser
vice than all the other state treRsurers pu
together, because he paid The Interest on all thr
State bonds, aud upon n critical examination o
the books II is found that the State now owe
Page 81 OJO
Reporter-so all the Democratic State treas
uryrs Of Arkansas have Leen defaulteTs and al
the Republican state treasurers came out viii
clean hands?
treasurer since the state was organized, in 1886 La
been otle 70 settle, except Ayres and Page, Iht
two Republicans.
Reporer-Haye any Of them or their bondsmeI
ever been compelled 20 make good the deficits?
Answer-Not that can remember know tha
none OF them have been made cTmiually liable
Newton, who succeeded Page, had his deposits
with banker named stoddart, and, as stOddar
was a Republican, they tried 10 send him TO TN
peniientlAry for Newton's default
RcpOrter-WhNt about the debt Of ArknnsasY
AusWet-lt IL small, ana the State can easily pa,
Il. lfyou want 10 know can give you iull par
tculRrs az some other time, but would have 20 q
70 my Office. where my papers are 10 do so.