The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-24
TATE'S FLIGHT.
Rumors Involving Auditor Hewitt in
Circulation.

Circulation.
LOUISVILLE. KY, March 2S--This morn
ing both houses of the kentucky Legisla-
ture suspended the rules and passed the
resolution agreed upon by the Democratic
caucus calling for an immediate and full
investigation of all OF the State offices.
At u secret caucus of the Democratic
members Of the two houses a resolution was
adopted directing the committee to call
upon Gov. Buckner and ask of him
that he stop Auditor Hewitt
from taking further part in the invesuga-
tion of Treasurer Tate's affairs aud the
status of the State Treasury. This was
done, and the Governor promised the com
mttee that Auditor Hewitt should be kept
from the Treasurers office.
TROUBLE BREWING.
At the caucus mentioned those who at
tended made no effort TO conceal the fact
that great deal of feeling has been aroused
against the State Auditor. There is every
indication that trouble is brew
ing, but no one ventures to
make specific charges against any
one except Treasurer Tate. There was no
hesitation on the part of the assembled
legislators in declaring that Auditor
Hewitt's actions had Impeded the investi
cation Of Treasurer Tates accounts This
was the sense of the meeting and each
| movement of the Auditor in the affair was
discussed at length. The expressed opinion
| that the examination Of the defaulting Treas
! urer's accounts had been purposely retarded
! by Auditor Hewitt was not contradicted, and
some went so far as to implicate the Auditor
| in the defalcation. 1t was almost the
unanimous opinion of the caucus that an
| investigation will develop more rottonnesS
| than has yet seen the light.
AUDITOR HEwITT's DEFENSE.
In defense of himself against the charges
made that he did not conform with the
| statute in his settlement with the Treasurer,
! Auditor Hewitt says: AT the end of
| each month blank sheet is made up in the
Auditors office, showing the amount of the
receipts and expenditures and the
balance in the treasury This sheet
is ten compared with similar
sheet taken from the Treasurer's
books, and if they do not agree the error is
hunted up un il it is found, and when they
agree / consider that my duty has been per-
formed. The law says that the Auditor
shall ascertain whether the money on hand
| in the Treasury agrees with the balance
shown by the books of the Treasurer.
MONTHLY COUNTS.
81 understand that it is the duty Of the
| Auditor under that section 10 count the
money in the Treasury every mouth.
had never heard of this construction of
that section until yesterday. / take IL that
it is the evident meaning Of the law that If,
upon monthly comparison of the balance
sheets of the two officers, there is a
discrepancy that it should be reported at
once TO the Governor W o has the author
ity to order the cash to be counted. The
Treasurer is an officer of equal dignity with
the Auditor, is under larger bonds than the
Auditor, and is not esslrily an object Of
greater suspicion than any other officer of
the government. A monthly examination,
such as is now contended
for, is virtually impractcable
and is worth nothing if the exact condition
of the treasury is not ascertaned. To do so
it would be necessary to entirely suspend
routine work in both offices for eight or
ten days in each month, and devote the
whole time to making this settle
ment. l have tried to faithfully
Of kentucky and honestly believe | have
done so under the full requirements Of the
| law" He adds that he has always urged
upon the Legislature its duty to make a
thorough examination at the opening Of the
session.
THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
| The Legislative Committee having in
charge the investigation of the defalcation
have prepared report which will be pre-
sented tomorrow morning. 1t recites for
mally Tate's election to office and his obli-
cations, and concludes with the statement
| that he has robbed the State Treasury
and should be impeached The report
will probably be adopted at once upon its
reading and the Office put in the hands of "A
new man by appointment by the Governor.
| This successor to the fugitive treasurer will
be County Judge Stephen Sharp, Of Lex
| ington, who is also Chairman of the Demo
cratic State Central Committee. Nothing
has yet been reard direct from Tate, but
! letter or paper is known to have been
received by his daughter, Mrs. Martin,
to-day, directed by HIM in a disguished
hand. 1t is said TO have borne Montreal
postmark.