The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1890-03-29

hut DHCOuSc 4 hlSW Nutt Nll iuG
funds were on hand and shat corr
rect books would show it. have
never claimed to know where tho
errors were, bat have always felt
and stlI feel that they would be
discovered Whenever 4 thorough
examination Is made.
In the lignt Of to,day soc
that was negligent IN not having |
periodical balances stuck and the |
monies counted, but the necessity |
for this dtl not suggest itself at |
the time, when / now see it should .
lave been done.
had hoped chat the labors Of |
the Committee ana Commission
would bo so comprehensive in de-
tail and so thorough in execution
thai the result reached could he
accepted as conclusive bit it
will bo seen upon reading thor
report that they aseertained moth
ing not shown III my own report, |
aud attempt 70 show that four
entries arc correct, 10 which H.
bad peen suggested there were
errors. If tins were coaceded 1T
settles nothing az to the many
thousand other entries 10 which
errors might as easily have been
made. To do this would have ro-
quiled careful investigation and
comparison, extending throughout
weeks and possibly moaths, and
il may be that this was without
tho scoI Of thoir duty Although
do not doubt that they proceed
cd 10 good faith, submit to an
Intelligent and fairpubltc, whether
any one, IN the time consumed,
could have made such an inyesti-
CATION of the transactions OF four
teen years, involving thousands OF
items and millions OF dollars, as
would enable mm to say that
every account was unaffected by
error? If permitted, | will have
such an investigation made, and
that without any delay that can
be avoided. What length Of time
this Will require, | cannot say,
for about 1t persons differ. Mr..
Longino, d member Of the com
mission, resigned after beginning
the work, because 1t could not be
properly done without years
labor, whllg Mr.. Patty announced
after four days examination, that
he was ready to make a report.
That his work could not be per-
feet is obvious, for he changed
his report after 1t had been gwen
TO the pfess. and allowed me a
credit Of $4,000, which he had
overlooked.
The committee asked ne, after
, it had completed its examination
Of the books, If ! could point out
to them any error; although
} knew there were errors, for the
reasons above stated, could not
indicate them, for the books had
: been out Of my reach after the
G discrepancy was discovered, ex-
: cept for few days which wa'
notsuaicent time to find the erlors
. A member Of the committee, as
C am informed, said that when q
: book keeper makes statement
o showing a balance against him
{ the burden is on him TO point ou
z the errors if he claims there ar
any. Tins is perhaps the prin'
!. ciple on which it proceeded; an'
while ] could not meet this re
quuement then, am absolutel'
confident that | shall be able t,
DO it when have had an oppor
tunity to make q thorough exami
nation of the books.
| have not sought, aud shal
not seek. to eyade the consequen
= ces ot ny conduct, and I am her
b to answer ln any and every wa
f that the law may demand and
IS may be able.
s. To relieve my suseties Of anx
n ,ety pending investigation, bu
N not to conciliato public Judgment
J. as has been charged, | have place
at their disposal all that posses
-e the cmoluments of Office, th
Il fruits of my labor outside, tn
to property owned when | went Int
1T Office, every dollar had and th
T. home of my family. Is i askin
" too much Of an Intelligent publ
o. that withhold its judgment until
/ an opportunity is afforded me
as look into the matter, even int
n. the minutest detalls,or until jud
T. cial inquiry and determin alto
t, establish the justice Of the matter
" | am here, ready to suffer th
l. penalties of the falthIess seryanf
ne if | be such, but ask in behal
st of my family and those interests
n, through me, that no injury |
at done them by hastily foFm'
a a