Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-29
rATE.S SHORTAGE.

347f
Tho De falcation OF Kentucky's Fugitive
Treasurer Grows as the Experts Prog.
ress in the Examina ton of His Accounts
More Investigations to be Made-Tate's
Assets Attached.
LOUISVILLE. XIV, March 23.-The defal.
cation of State Treasurer Tate grows in
amount as the experts examining his ac-
counts progress. Wednesday afternoon
Auditor Hewitt announced to the Gov
ernor that the amount of the deficit was
$197, 1854. Sc, but later this sum was
increased by $40, $50, and it is now thought
the total shortage will not be far from
two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. The books of the treasurer's
office show extreme looseness and neglect,
and it will be weeks before ordsr can be
brought out of the existing chaos. Where
the money went is still as much mys-
terry as ever. That Mr.. Tate accommo-
dated his friends at all times is ad Omitted,
but that he loaned such a sum as this Is
hardly believed. His private papers
have not as yet been looked into.
A story told to-day illustrates the ex-
tremely careless methods which obtained
with Mr.. Tate in his administration of
business affairs. In 1888 the State finances
ran low, and it was found necessary to
borrow one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. The loan was ratified on
December 80, 1884. The interest on the
loan, amounting to nine thousand
dollars fell due. When a bank Off.
cial arrived with the claim the
Auditors office was closed, it being after
five o'clock in the evening. Treasurer
Tate was still at headquarters, however.
He knew that the amount was due, and as
the banker pretended to be in a hurry
about the collection, Mr.. Tate offered to
nh ioo i'm, INV FIN Itch I'm
check for the amount. He laid away the
receipts, and only week or SO ago ran
across it. He had forgotten the transac-
ton en- tirely, and remarked that he con.
sidered himself just that much better off.
The special committee appointed to ar.
range articles of Impeachment to be
lodged against Treasurer Tate is finishing
up its business preparatory to submitting
its report to the Legislature. If the re.
port is adopted it will be in order for the
House to appoint committee to frame an
indictment containing the full charges te
be addressed to the Senate. Upon receipt
Of this the Senate will fix day when il
will resolve itself into high court of i'm.
parchment. A precept will either be
served upon Treasurer Tate or left at his
home with some white person over six.
teen years of age. Reasonable time-till
about Wednesday of next week-will be
given to him to respond, and if he fails tc
do this in person or send a representa-.
tive, it is probable that Speaker Bryan, as
in a case in the courts, will appoint some
one to appear in his behalf, as for nom
resident.
On the day fixed for the trial, each Sen.
ator will be required to take an additional
oath, and in the mama of each member OF
the General Assembly and of every per.
son in the commonwealth. the proceed.
ings will be entered upon, the committee
from the House serving in the capacity OF
prosecutors. If the impeachment stands,
then the office of Treasurer of State will
be declared vacant
The Attorney General has caused to be
issued attachments against the known
assets of the absconding treasurer.
Aspecial from Frankfort says: A Demo-
cratic caucus was held last evening which
acted on two very important matters.
Resolutions were offered requiring the
Democratic party to thoroughly investi-
gate the accounts of all State officers and
the administration of the affairs of all
State institutions. This the caucus con-
sidered absolutely necessary to the in
terests of the party. 1t was further re-
solved that committee be appointed to
act in the matter and present a resolution
before the House requiring an examina-
ton of State offices by expert accountants.
Mr.. Theirman, of this city, arrived
home from Canada Wednesday night and
says that he saw Treasurer Tate in Cam
ada.
A special to the Euening Times from
frankfort, KY, says: Senator Wright
1as just offered a resolution in the State
Sen ate for the appointment of a commit
zee to investigate Auditor Hewitt's al
eyed failure to discharge his full duty in
The matter of supervising the affairs Of
,he Treasury. This may prove the pre-
iminary step toward an impeachment of
he Auditor. The resolution has been
adopted"