The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1893-03-25
IN FINE SHAPE.
Report of the Settling Committee on
the State Offices.

The report of the committee appointed
to settle with the auditor n treasurer
has been submitted to the general assem-
bly,. The committee was composed of
Senator a.. s. Lyman, of Kansas City,
Representative j. G. A. Hitler, of Barton,
and Representative j. T. Moore, OF Laclede.
They were appointed last December by
Gov. Francis. The report was somewhat
delayed on account of the absence OF
Chairman Lyman, who was called to New
York on account OF sickness in his family.
The committee did its work in a most
thorough n Auditor Seibert is
complimented in the report very highly.
His system of bookkeeping is declared
about as perfect as can we'll be for guard
ing against mistakes and errors. The
committee says:
Having spent considerable time in
rigidly scrutinizing every book and
voucher in the auditors office in relation
to the receipts and disbursements of the
public moneys fin 1891 and 1892, and noting
closely the manner of transacting the
current business, the committee feel i'm
PEELED to say that the office has been con-
Quoted in strict conformity to law, and
the interest of the Taxpayers carefully
guarded. The state auditor has devoted
his time to the discharge of his duties and
given his personal attention to the bus
mess. He is perfectly familiar with every
detail and knows at all times the exact
sum of money, to a cent, which should be
in the treasury. He has surrounded him
self with q corps of competent clerks, who
ably second his efforts to transact the
business promptly and correctly in con
formity to the requirements OF the law.
TREAsURER's OFFICE.
This being the second most important
office attached to the state government,
we next gave it our attention. The state
treasurer is the receiver and custodian OF
all moneys paid into the treasury from
whatever source. He also pays out all
moneys due from the state on auditors
warrants. Thu office OF state treasurer is
a very responsible one, and in handling
30 large an mount of money as he does
annually requires perfect accuracy in
keeping the accounts. Mr.. Stephens, the
treasurer; Mr.. Orear, chief clerk, and his
assistants, Messrs. r. NJ. Bradbury and P.
I. Miller. are pleasant and accommoda-
ting in their business relations with the
people of the state and thoroughly under
stand their duties n perform them
promptly and accurately. We made a
careful examination of the t~reasurer's
books, which consist of a cash book,
journal, general ledger, appropriation
ledger, draft ledger, draft register, daily
balance book, monthly balance book,
bond deposit register and bond register.
We compared the treasurer's receipts and
auditors warrants with the books and
found the charges and credits properly
and correctly made.
A balance is taken at the close of bus
mess each day, from which the accurate
condition of the treasury can be ascer-
tanned in a moment, showing the amount
Of cash in the treasurer's vault, the
amount belonging to each fund and the
amount on deposit with the various banks.
We compared the daily balances in the
treasurer's office with those in the auditors
Office and found that they correspond
each with the other. Going through the
business OF the Office in every detail, we
found it in first-class condition.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
When the committee visited the Sec
rotary OF states Office WEI. found Capt.
Lesueur and his clerks busy but ready
to extend every facility necessary to an
examination of the affairs of his Office.
rrl,i &c 10 xualt ofxyIal tka o-tl.e~ - A..
CAPITOL" for therein are discharged more
numerous and various duties than in any
other department of the state government.
Something over three hundred sections
OF the statutes now impose duties upon
this office, and each succeeding general
assembly adds to the volume OF business.
Besides the secretary there are seven
clerks regularly employed, which force is
augmented occasionally as the exigen-
cies of the work demand.
We found perfect system in this Office,
and there are no idlers and no idle time
The work OF the secretary's office has
been more than doubled during the in
~cumbency of Secretary Lesueur. This is
due to W cause.-the increase of bus
iness incident to the rapid development
Of the state, and to the enactment in 1891
of the anti-pool and trust law, requiring
domestic and foreign corporations to
make annual reports. This involves q
yoluminous correspondence with some
seven thousand different corporations
each year., as well as the sending of blanks
and the receiving, examining, filing, in
dexing and tabulating of the reports and
correspondence. Absolute accuracy in
these reports is required.
In addition to the work thus alluded to
may be mentioned the supervision OF
banks and building and loan associations,
a distinctive feature of this office. Bank
statements are required by law to be
made at least twice a year, but the secre-
tary usually requires not less than three
such statements. These statements are
recorded and and tabuiated in a volume
for that purpose, making them ready oil
reference at all times.
The secretary is the custodian of all
original laws and documents coming
from the legislative department, and we
find these valuable records in excellent
iab II "ibh PiOlOi SihooliiCdbiOh I'll
arrangement for ready access and use,
The supervision of the publication of all
laws and journals devolves upon this de-
partment, all OF which we find to be done
intelligently and according to law.
Besides these duties, it devolves upon
this Office to issue all certificates of incor.
poration and to issue commissions of al
kinds and to keep a correct record of all
the official acts Of the governor.
With the growth of the state, the sec.
rotary of states office, in addition to the
special duties imposed upon it by law
has become a vast information bureau, as
to affairs relating to the state, it history
and resources, and we have personal
knowledge of the promptness n relia.
bility- of the correspondence and reports
of the Office, especially as evidenced in
the compilation of the official manual anC
other statistical information.
The fees and incorporation tax for the
four years ending December 81, 1892, re.
ceived and paid into the state treasury by
the secretary OF state amounted TO $44S,.
O34.24, as against $26S, 6O3.55 for the pre-
ceding our years.
Rich, Red Blood
As naturally results from taking Hood.
~Sarsaparilla as personal cleanliness result.
from free use of soap and water. Thi.
great purifier thoroughly expels scrofula
salt rheum and all other impurities ant
L.;ll, ,,~ a,or, ~uo ~ tLo lol, NJ.