Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-09
THE IOWA AUDITOR.

The trouble te TO have arisen over the
refusal Of the auditor TO account for GER
tain fees, which he claimed as his own
personal perqulsites. Under the statute
the governor, before approving the official
bond of a state officer who has been re-
elected, must be satisfied that all money
ard property that have come Into his
hands by virtue of his office, have been
fully accounted for. The governor had
learned that the auditor had examined q
large number Of Incorporated banks,
other than savings banks, and had net re-
ported the fees, which amounted to sever.
al thousand dollars. 1t was held by the
governor thst these fees must go Into the
treasury, as the auditor had no light to
demand extra compensation for duties re-
qulred to be performed by such officer,
and furthermore that his action
In demanding fees for such
bank examinations were simply exsor-
tions, az there was no authority fer exact
ing them. Under these circumstances the
governor refused to approve the auditors
bond, and would not accept a statement
OF the auditor signed by a clerk. 1t
seems to us that if, as the governor main
talns, the fees were unauthorized and
wers slmply extortIons, they ought to be
returned to the bankers from whom they
were extorted, Instead of going to the
treasury. The state In accepting ouch
moneys would be just as guilty of extcr.
ton as Auditor Brown, and the s'ate has
no more right to that money than Brown
has. The auditor made a proposition t.
leave 1t to the courts to decide to whom
the money belongs, and meantime he
would deposit a sum with the state treas
urer equal to the amount Ct the fees, TO
be disposed Of in accordance, with the
legal decision. This proposition was
made upon the condition that the COVER
nor would approve the auditors bond,
but the governor refused to do this, bo-
cause, as he claimed, he would thereby
violate the statute, and at The same time
release the old bondsmen.
Its also charged against the auditor
that he has drawn warrants for nearly
$4,000 and can only show vouchers for
$57. In answer to thi, the auditor
claims that he can show by his records
end the stubs of the warrant book how
the money has been expended. The
committee of experts thai examined the
accounts, except the bank fees, have
made a report to the governor, but its
contents have not baen made pubic.
The governor declared that he was ready
to approve the auditors bond whenever
he would present the proper vouchers for
warrants drawn, and make full return of
fees collected and received. To this the
auditor replied that he was prepared to
show where every cent appropriated to
the use of his office had gone, but that no
one had a right to dictate how his Office
shall be conducted. The governor Is
sustained In his action by the attorney
general, and he denies that he has baen
influenced In any way BY insurance COM
panies, which have bsen fighting the au-
ditor because he has thoroughly invssti-
gated their affairs and exposed ''the wild
cat institutions. The auditor, on the
other hand, maintains that his Office Is q
coordinate branch of the Stale govern
ment, and although the governor has the
power to suspend him, he has no consti.
t~utional right to interfere with his office
nor to review his official acts, that power
being reserved to the courts. The case
has at last got into the courts upon the
petition of j. w. Cattell, who has been
made auditor pro tenn, asking for
man6amus to compel Brown
to turn over the effects and books to him.
The people of Iowa, and particularly the
citizens of Dss Molnes, are anxiously
awaiting the result, which will prsbably
not be reached for several days. In Des
Mo!ner, where Brown has a great many
friends, there Is considerable excitement.
On Saturday al indignation meeting in
his behalf was held, and the matter wa1
discussed, and Browa's friends urged the
adoption of resolutions sustaining him
and dsnounc'ng the governor. Some cool
headed altiz:ns, however, advised them
to leave thu settlement of the
controversy to the courts. This
timely advice h'd the effect Of
preventing the passage of the proposed
resolutions. The governor, being respon.
sible for good government, is no doubt
acting advi,edly and for the protection Of
the atate, and inasmuch rs the auditor,
60 far as we understand the case, refuses
to comply with the law, the probability
is that the governor will be sustained.
ANOTHER LAND GRAB EXPOSED.