People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-04-14
SHOWALTER'S HASH.
"Putrid Apples From a Hotel
SwiII.Barrel."

WELLINGTON, Kan, April I.
10 the Editor Of the Capital:
MY DEAR SIR;-In a recent inter.
view of Bank Commissioner Brieden-
thai by the Topeka Press, the COM
missioner takes occasion to print my
last months expense account as dep
uty bank commissioner, the pretext be-
ing something you should have said in
the Capital respecting the relative
size Of appropriations for Travelling
and incidental expenses for the bank
commissioners office, for the past two
years and the two years to come. Mr..
Editor, you perhaps know better than
anyone else, that while | admire the
Capital for the gallant fight it is
making against the fraudulent pre-
tenders who have flOated to the sur
face iu the so-called reform move
ment, like putrid apples and potatoes
in hotel swill barrel, that | am not
the editor Of the Capital nor in any
way responsible for what it may or
may not publish. and therefore just
why the bank commissioner should
20 out OF his way to try to reflect on
me by reason of such article it is diff
cult to see, yet he has done so, prob
ably upon the reform" idea of states
manship that by tearing Others down
it makes them COrrespondingly great,
and | want to say in this connection
that | have since boyhOod had an hon
orable-perhaps not brilliant-recOrd
in peace, in war and again in peace,
but 1t is such a record, risk nothing
in saying, that all such defamers will
never live long enough to attain.
Upon first reading the article my first
impulse was to pay no attention to it,
and If | regarded wholly my personal
feelings, | would not do so now, but
the said interview was reprinted in a
mud singing sheet in this city mis-
named the PEOPLES VOICE, with in
sulting headlines, of such a character
as to suit the depraved tastes of its
readers, and as consequence, many
inquiries have been made to me about
the Interview, from friends personal
and otherwise, and from such as
considered had a right to know, and
therefore have made up my mind to
answer it.
The facts are, whatever may be pre-
tended otherwise, that the first Two
years OF the existence of the office the
expenses Of necessity would be great
or for each bank examined than they
would be for any time thereafter.
Why? Because, the banking law
gave all the banks in The state six
months, that is, from March q, 1891,
until September p, 1891, in which to
decide whether or not they would con-
tinue in business, and if they decided
to continue and comply with the law.
the bank commissioner only knew
from a statement, the form being pre-
scribed, sent by the bank, and upon
reception of such statement, it be-
came the duty of the commissioner to
examine such bank or cause it to be
done within thirty days thereafter.
The present banking law, while in
general good one, is in many re-
SpectS vague and indefinite, and as a
consequence, bankers, as well as other
people, did not know what was re-
Quired of them. Did the $50 banks
OF the state report to the bank COM
missioner during the first six months?
They did nOt-aS you will understand
l have not the record before me-but
my recollection is that only about
one-fOurth of the banks reported with
their statements during that six
months, the balance fell in along the
last of September and during the
month of October of that year.
What was the consequence? When a
bank reported during that six months
no matter where it was, why some
body would have to start on the road
and probably that bank would not
more than be reached until Others re.
ported In other parts of the state. IT,
not only made a vast amount of tray-
ell and expense that would not other.
wise have been necessary had the
banks all promptly reported, but that
is not all, after the six months had
expired and all the banks had report-
ed, IL was necessary to 90 over this
same territory again and in major.
ity OF cases to revisit the same towns
10 examine banks that had not re.
ported during all the first six months
Inc road man in the bank commits.
SlonerS office will learn thoroughly
OelOre ne Is out two years that Kan.
SaS is 200 miles wide and 400 miles
long, and that it takes time and mon.
ey TO cover the territory. Again, as
oel0re stated, the banks not under
standing the law, many banks sent
LOT the commissioner or deputy 10
give them instructions or sent for
tnem TO start them off under the law
out on arriving he perhaps found the
oahE not ready, which of necessity
would cause another trip, which of
course, meant more work. time and
expense and SO on. l do not want to
weary you or occupy too much space
out think it due the public, as well
as luySelf, inaSmuch as it has been
mlde public that full explanation he
mad or one that can be understood
Mr. Editor, | want to say now and
mere, that | had done my whole dutv
as deputy bank commissioner accord.
ing to the ability / had, and that I
am not only not ashamed of my rec.
ora, but am proud Of it and CHALLENGE
any who are now in office to beat the
record, and also to any Others who
may succeed me hereafter. A public
0tncer Is proper subject for lust and
honorable criticism and | am willing
that the public should know what |
nave done in my twenty-three months
OF hard work. What | have to saw
now IS what l have taken from nv
memorandum books and if l made no
mistakes in the foOtings, it is abso.