St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-18
ORDER DEPOSIHG DART.
GOV. NELSON'S FIAT rs PE8MAN4 NJ
REMDHsL.
DART WILL NOT REMOVE.
The Order of Permanent Removal
of NIeeker County's Treasurer
Illuminated Aesterday But
Position to Remain in Office
He VIII Stick.

Gov. Nelson yesterday rendered his
decision in the Dart case, in which he
finds c. Ii. Dart, the suspended treas
urer of Meeker county, guilty OF each
and all of the several written charges of
malfeasance IN Office preferred against
him." The treasurer is, in consequence,
by order of the governor, removed alb
soiutely from the Office of county treas
urer of Meeker county.
e. III. Dart held the position from
January last until the present time. but
on Sept. 25, when Public Examiner
Kenyon, through his deputy. Mr.. West,
made an examination of the treasury,
he found. as he reported, that the treas
urer was short and unable 10 account
for the deficiency, which amounted to
S2,20996, He found further that. as
representing and in lieu of this short
age Mr.. Dart had accepted and re-
ceiyed, on the day OF the several dates
OF number Of checks. all drawn upon
the Meeker County bank, as drawee,
and payable to himself, checks amount
ing to the shortage. These checks Dir.
Dart held at their face value as part
or the moneys Of Meeker county. or, in
brief. he had s., 209. 90 of county moneys
Invested in these checks.
The findings further state that al
though the evidence is not perfectly
clear, yet it goes to show that he re-
celved all of these checks, except the
one of G. Ii. Bigeiow and one of Peter
4. Hanson,in payment Of taxes.
1ne law is very clear, says the gov
ernor, III regard To a treasurer loaning
state moneys, and, as Mr.. Dart had no
right whatever to loan anybody county
funds under any conditions, it is con-
sidered clear case OF malfeaSance i'll
office.
1t will be remembered that when Mr..
Dart was suspended from office on
the report of Deputy Public Ex-
amlner West, the county CON-
missioners, acting upon the
order OF the governor TO elect county
treasurer ad interim, unanimously
elected Dart. There was some cues.
tlon as to the right OF Dart 10 serve
al Interim. and SO he declined to ac-
cept and then resigned the office of
county treasurer. The county commits
sionerS accepted his resignation, and
tnereDy there was an absolute vacancy
III the Office, to be filed by the election
or the commissioners. This body at
once elected Dart us the county treas
urer to fill the vacancy.
1t would seem from this proceeding
that Gov. Nelson's order can have no
effect upon the situation. since it relates
to an official VINO vacated the Office by
resignation. Dart proposes to continue
as county treasurer by virtue OF his
election by the county board to fill the
vacancy, and what course the governor
VIII pursue in the premises is not
stated by that official 1t is possible that
he Will direct the attorney general to
institute quo Warrahto. proceedings
against Dart, TO test his right to hold
the ONCE under the circumstances.
Dart has Said that if an effort is made
TO Dust him from the Office, he will tight
the matter III the courts to the bitter
end.
1t is asserted by the friends of the
county treasurer that the proceedings
against him are founded on spite. AS
al instance giving color to their charge.
they assert that BigeloW. the auditor
OF Meeker county, turned check
Tor 500 on bank in which he
mad ho funds over to Dart,
this being in the list of checks enuner-
| ated by the deputy examiner and that
ne Is, therefore, cGlpable if Dart is; but
that since he is Republican no move
ment has been made against him.
Meeker county has lost not cent in
the affair, and since this can be at the
| most only technical violation of the
| law, and Dart is new official, it seems
| singular that the governor should have
| carried the matter to the extreme OF
ordering his absolute expulsion from
office. Darts bond was perfectly good
for any loss the county would have sus-
| tanned.
If the governor taxes the steps to
make an example for the benefit OF
county officials throughout the state. it
| would seem 10 have been more becom-
| ing had he included Mr.. BigeloW in the
| proceedings and final order.
The Merrill Assignee Book Sale mer.
| its SDeciai attention at this fi,nu