The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
THE STATESMAN.
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
From Thursdays Daily!
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
Latest Items of Interest.
ooMprRoLLER's DEPARTMENT

CoMPTRoLLER's DEPARTMENT.
Ex-Comptroller Brown and his chic
clerk while in Office, Mr.. Sneed, arr
still engaged in going over the DOCKS
papers and accounts of his admins
tration of its affairs.
In the meantime Comptroller Swain
has deemed it his duty to the public
to have statement made from TINT
books of his predecessor as he lind:
them, subject of course to such cor
rection us Mr.. Brown and his CHIEF
clerk may be able to establish as
proper. The statement rendered
Comptroller Swain by his chief book
keeper after careful investigation
shows debts against Mr.. Browns
administration of the office of SlO,,
8OO.75, subject to credits OF specla
deposits of $4,000 and $1320.64, making
S532O.64, which amount the state
treasurer's deputy, Mr.. Workman, in,
forms us is in the treasury
to Mr.. Browns credit, having
been placed there some time age
to make good any supposed
deficit in Browns account. The
last item, $132064, was deposited just
after an investigating committee oil
the last legislature reported an ap'
parent deficit of that amount so faI
as the committee could determine
from the books. In addition TO these
deposits to his credit Mr.. Brown has
vouchers for money paid out by him
to the Galveston News for, advertis-
eing lands, 800, and $3.50 for other ac-
counts for which he says he is entitled
to additional credit, making in all
$633O.64 against the amount shown
by Comptroller SWANS statement to
his debit, which debit is made up OF
collections from special taxes, Occu-
Z patton taxes, drummer'S licenses and
receipts for accounts of unorganlZed
/. counties and other items.
Comptroller SWANS statement Gov
ers accounts aggregatlng nearly half
a million of dollars handled during
Mr.. Browns administration, and is ac-
,companied with the following explain
:ation from the kookkeeper:
Against the above balance ($lO,-
8OO.75) there is in the treasury in cash
for Mr.. Browns account $532O.64, not
vet deposited. Also voucher for say
$3.50 for advertising lands; and other
vouchers say for $3.50, amounts re-
funded drummers."
I'm the statement is included all
funds on hand January l, 1880, which
was carried forward from preceding
administrations, and as stated by the
eX-chief clerk, was on hand at the
time the Office was delivered to Mr..
Brown"
This exhibit leaves showing
against Mr.. Brown of $447O, to be
accounted for, provided there is nc
error in the statement rendered. 1t
is to be hoped that he may yet be able
to account for the discrepancy IN
some satisfactory manner.
TREASURER DEPARTMENT.
Land issue raised.-Mr. Workman
chief clerk in the treasury office, In
forms us that the amount of $532O.64
alluded to above in connection with
the statement as to eX-Comptrollel
Brown, is in the treasury, as stated, to
Mr.. Browns credit.
Mr.. Workman, acting in the absence
of the state treasurer, yesterday re-
fused to receive tenders amounting tC
about $4,000, made for various par
ties, for land purchases. He explains
that certain railroad companies hold
ing land certificates made surveys OF
alternate school sections, and had
filed notes taken. Now parties claim.
ing that these surveys were not
valid come forward and propose to
purchase the lands under what is
known as the fifty cent land law, and
yesterday rendered full payment for
the lands they desired including the
: alternate school sections with the rail
road sections. The last legislature
having declared the questionable sur
yeys by the railroads for the benefit OF
the school lands valid, Mr.. Workman
refused to include them as fifty cent
lands. He would receive the money
on the railroad sections but not on the
alternate school lands. The parties
however. represented by Judge Han
cock, as their adviser, if we are cor
rectly informed, made their tenders
for both kinds of lands in bulk, re.
fusing to divide the question and
thus raising an important issue with
the state.