The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-12-25
Who is Responsible for The Strong
Dedication?

The trial of the plea of prescription
at Baton Rouge yesterday, in the case
of ex Secretary Of State Strong, has
developed clearly the fact that the
principal officers Of the State, includ-
ing the Governor, knew OF the failure
of Strong to account for the proceeds
of the sales of election ticket paper.
He received from the Treasurer Of the
State large sums Of money with which
TO purchase paper, and having made
no settlement Auditor Steele, after his
Induction into office, notified the Gov.
ernor.
The Chief Executive, it seems, wrote
Il letter to Strong which resulted IN
some money being turned into the
treasury which Strong had already in
his possession, or was known to have
collected.
That was in 1884, and nothing was
done to protect the interests Of the
State after that time, until the Pic
ayune exposed the affair and showed
that Strong had failed to account for
about $4,000.
This is trulya pitiable state ofaffairs,
and demonstrates the disregard for the
interests of the public which characo
terizes tho existing administration.
The henchmen of the Ring may fatten
upon the public treasury, the officers
Of the State treat their obligations to the
State with contempt, and they are not
to be punished until public journal
exposes the plumber and forces a pros
ecuti0n.
Arc we to infer from the facts in
this case that from the highest officer
in the State down the malfoasance of
public servants are to be State secrets,
and the treasury of the State has no
defender but the journalist who may
stumble upon scrap OF Information
here and there that has leaked out of
the sacred circle Will not people out
side the State be apt to infer that if
small raids upon the public treasury
are thus secreted from the press by the
Governor himself that there are still
greater ones yet to be discovered
| But there is another view OF the
matter of equal modification to the
wellwishers of Louisiana. Article III
| of the Constitution of Louisiana pro.
vides:
"No person who, at any time, may
have been collector Of taxes, wheth
er State, parish or municipal, or wht
may have been otherwise intrustet
with public money, or any portion
thereof, shall be eligible TO the Gen
eral Assembly, or to any office of hon
or or trust under the State Government
or any parish or municipality thereof
until he shall have obtained discharg'
for the amount of such collections, ant
for all public moneys with which HI
may have been intrusted."
Yet in face of this provision tn
Governor, knowing that Strong hat
not accounted for the money due tn
State, sat quietly by and permitted
him to be elected Secretary OF tn
Senate, which position he holds I
this day. He not only failed to pro
tect the State Treasury, but in tina
failure gave room for violation b,
the Senate in appointing Secretar
who was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Prince Alexauder's thrift is show
in the large amount of money whic
he has made out of the Bulgarian priu
cipality. His sheep ranch and othe
Investments in this country are unde
the charge of Col. Norton, Chicag
lawyer. II is said by the Russian pa
pers that he made Il great deal of hi
money dabbling in the European stoc
market. His purchases in this countr
| hn