The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-02

The recent defaication Of the Treasurer Of
Maryland. which i- NOW being carefully in
yestigatcd by a legislative commiiteeof that
state. was attended by certain circum-
stances that should convey a useful lesson
to every community in its corporate charac-
tor.
II seems that under the laws Of Maryland
both the Governor and the Comptroller Of
the state are required to make from time
70 time an examination Of the accounts Of
the Treasurer. not only with view Of dis
covering any malfcasance that might have
been committed. but also as constituting
check upon any tendency 10 carelessness or
disposition 10 use the public funds impro-
perly or criminally. Both Governor Jack
son and Comptroller Baughman acknowl-
edge that they have never performed the
duty which the law imposed upon them in
terms whose meaning could not De mis-
taken. Governor Jackson has declared. in
acquittal Of himself, that he was totally ig-
noranf that the law directed that such an
examination Of the Treasurcr's accounts
should be made boy him, and there is little
reason. so far as can be seen, 10 doubt the
truth Of his assertion.
II is only comparatively short time ago
that the citizens Of Richmond suffered
from precisely the same ignorance or care
lessnoss on the part Of some Of IFS public
officials. who in the same manner were r.
quired % make periodically an exactly Sim
liar examination Of certain public accounts.
but failed 10 do so. The question arose
then. just as it has now arisen in Mary
land what is the object Of passing such
law unless il is 10 he enforced az strictly
and as regularly as if it were rule TO be
applied 10 the records Of private business
transactions. The law is emineutly wise
in itself being demanded 10y every sugges-
ton Of prudence and approved by every
dictate Of good sense. TO place such law
upon the statute book, and then not 90 on-
force il, nay, TO openly disregard
Il. is an obvious wrong TO the interests
Of the people. for which they should hold
the public officials most closely involved 90
account. sureties ON public official bonds
are under these circumstances very proper
Is relieved Of all responsibility, and the
people have to suffer the consequences.
In certain sense, failure TO examine
their accounts is a wrong TO the public Of
fccrs who are charged with the keeping Of
public funds. How many an officer Of this
kind has drifted from carelessness into crime
simply because he was not subjected to reg.
ular supervision in his official conduct
Men who, under these circumstances, would
have run their official careers without re-
proach or suspicion, have yielded to temp
tation in ever-increasing degree until their
departure from the path Of probity has bee
come irrevocable, although they firmly be-
lieved at The first false steps taken
that they could easily replace what they
were improperly diverting to their own use.
In cases Of this kind, when the check de-
fined in the statute book is not applied, the
community itself becomes an accessory 10
the embezzlement, urconsciously. uninten-
tionally, but not the less directly, because 81
is the duty Of the community TO see that its
public officers, who are merely 10. servants,
conform 70 the law. II the law requires
that a periodical examination Of the hnan-
ancial accounts Of public officers shall De
made, then that law should be enforced
without reservation, without Partially, and
without interruption.