The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-24
RecklesSneSS.

recklessneSs which is almost crimi- {
al. On Sunday morning we pub S
shed an article showing how, by the $
Governors consent and with his adj
ice even, $4,000 of the states money
vas taken from the treasury Illegally
nj deposited in Il private bank to be ,
lrawn at will and without rendering
! proper voucher by an unbonded Off
,er. The law provides just how
his money shall be drawn out.
1t has erected the necessary
and proper safe guard, but the
governor of broad Texas takes it
upon himself to disregard and set
aside all this and permit the directors
Of the Agricultural and Mechanical
college to handle it as they would a
private fund, and with far less for
mality, and with fewer checks and |
balances, than would be necessary to
observe In an Individual transaction
involving sum of money Of such
magnitude. Il is almost incredible
that such thing was done, rthat it
was possible to be done. And yet
that transaction has grown to be a
part of the history of Ireland's ad
ministration. He cannot withdraw
or hide it. 1t cannot be covered
UP, concealed or explained. The law
was disregarded, and by the officer
who is solemnly sworn not only to
obey it himself, but to see that others
do 50 rs well.
1t is quite sure that the comptroller
will not permit money to he again
withdrawn from the treasury by re-
QUESTION Of the A. n NJ. college direct
DRY. 1t is quite sure he did not be-
lieve they had this power over the ap-
preparation in the first place. 1t is
believed that it was not necessary that
it should be done unless there was in
tended some perversion of the object
of the appropriation. 1t is believed
there was strong pressure upon the
encouragement to give an opinion
that would permit the money to be
without vouchers required by law
and that he, for time, resisted the
pressure which finally proved ire
sistable. Why this persistent effor
to overcome the scruples of thes'
state officers? Simply for the reason
that if vouchers had been required
when the money was paid out, Ties
vouchers would have been required t.
indicate the money was being expend
ed for the support and maintainanc
of the college, when the intention wa
to use it for different purpose. TIL
law appropriated the money in. s.
many words for the maintenance O
the college and the money after bein
! withdrawn from the treasury by re
QUESTION has been used to erect build
ings, when this is known the reaso
= for dispensing with vouchers is a
!, once apparent. There was delibel
! ate purpose Of misusing the publ
;. funds which wrong intent brough
about the further wrong of hazardin
for months the public funds in a vi
lage bank where they could be use
L for any purpsoe lawful or unlawfl
= that the directors designed.
= What guarantee has the people thu
+ this sort of reckless handling of til
8 public funds has stopped here. Migf
d there not be weak banks and specul;
v tive friends IN other directions WI
l. would raid on the treasury of Texas
It they found the vast complaisance ,
Il the governor to be made of such a
If commodating material. Now, min
d we do not charge that single penn
D of this $4,000 went to single dishol
e estipurpose. But that it is not al
# was not due to the watchful care {
r his excellency. All the cond
-s lions of irst-class robbery
n the treasury of Texas we
- prepared with the full knowledge ar
% consent of the governor, $4,000 of Il
q states money was withdrawn fro
the vaults of the treasury, when it
had been stolen or where wrong al
illegal use had been made of it, the
" would have been none to blame, al
Il no man would have been respon sib
y, This is willful disregard of law,
u careless handling of the states mon,
- which is severely reprehensible, al
II were it broadly known and unde
" stood in the state, the govern
. would find the stumps in
% pathway through Houston maj
and almost insurmountable.
! See the opportunities presented dai
9 for sharp and dishonest men to pra
tice on the credulous trustfulness
l. the inimical recklessness Of the go,
II ernor. We are now building sta
= capitol, one of the costliest structur,
J. in the United States. 1t is true tn;
L the law provides how the remuner
e ton shall pass into the hands of tt
0 contractors, and it would seem tn;
y there is, or should be, little opportun
ty for improper handling, SC. But
r the law is disregarded in one instano
: why may it not be in another? an
: titles to the capitol lands could pass
t such way long ere the capitol comps
ny had earned the right to singl
: acre. So too of other fund.-
< The schools, university, etc. What
to prevent the use of this excessiv
1 complaisance in other and NOR
wrongful ways? 1t is toying wit
the state funds, which is dangerous t
say the very least of it. Dangerou
in this, that 1t not only points to
plain and unmistakable hazard tn
funds of the state, but it fosters an
builds up loosness of ideas and MOI
ais in the public service which will
inevitably produce effects which will
be disastrous, and which will inevita
bly, entail loss upon the state. TOT
much care cannot be exercised
in these matters, and notwith
standing the opinion of tn,
encouragement to the effect that tn,
money could be thus loosely with