St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-23
KEPT 1T ON LEGAL ADVICE
But Concluded to Let Go
Later On--Proposed New
Board
TO INVEST STATE FUNDS.
Report Of the Feig Investigat,
ing Committee, After
Three Months.

About the middle of January the
mouse OF representatives appointed
a special committee, with Henry
Feig as chairman, to investigate GER
tain matters that are specified in the
appended report. The labor under
taken was more far-reaching than
any one supposed it would be. Chair
man Feig assumed the management
and direction of the work, and for
three months the investigation has
been continued unremittingly by a
clerk drawing S. per day.
Naturally, such report must
speak for itself, and but little can
be said as to possible abuses not
found or as to the feasibility of sug-
gestions made. AS to the matter OF
interest paid to state treasurers and
not covered into the treasury, Jo-
seph Bobleter is found to have re-
ceived large sum as "a gift or
emolument." After consultation with
the committee this money has been
turned over to the state, and Mr..
Bobleter is complimented on relin-
gushing his "claim" upon 1t. He
firing, but was advised the state had
no claim on it. After retaining the
amount several months he changed
his mind, and the state is $3,024.66
better Off Mr.. Bobleter Is exoner-
ated by the committee from any sus-'
picion of questionable practices in
securing the gift or emolument."
Perhaps the most important rec
ommendation is for law. to create
state board of investment, to man
age state funds and relieve the treas
urer of a great deal of the re-
sponsibility he is compelled TO as
sumo at present. Many other rec
concentrations of more or less merit
will be found in the report as here
printed In full:
THE REPORT IN DETAIL.
ST. PAUL. Mimi, April %. 1S95-Hon.
s. II. Van SAINT, Speaker of the House
of Representatives-Sir Your special
committee appointed by and pursuant
to the following resolution, adopted
by the house Jan. 18, beg leave to
make the following report:
Whereas, 1t has been publicly stated
III
tions and reports by competent ac-
countant, that certain public officials.
state and county, having charge of
public funds, have heretofore demand
ed or received from certain financial
concerns, private commissions, gifts
or emoluments in consideration OF de-
posting certain public funds with such
financial concerns, which commissions,
emoluments of gifts have been appro-
priated to the private use and gain or
such public officials, and contrary to
the statute In such case made and pro-
vided, and, whereas, IL Is stated that
certain checks for the payment of
such Illegal emoluments, commissions
or gifts, and bearing the Endorsement
of certain public officials are now in
the custody of the courts of Hennepin
county, or In the hands of the receiver
or assignee of the State bank and
American Exchange bank, of Mime
apolis, and whereas IL Is believed that
this practice has been going on for
many years, and that the amount so
misappropriated will approach $780,
600. which sum can and should be COW
cred into the public treasury, thus ma
terially lessening the burdens of the
taxpayers, and, whereas, by reason of
the pernicious practice and desire for
unlawful personal gain, public officials
have deposited vast amounts of public
funds in insolvent, or carelessly, IL not
criminally, managed financial con-
Germs, and are now carrying as a cash
balance $302, ,S41.C2 in alleged banks that
have long since failed, making said
claim actually valueless as a cash bal
ance, If not for all other purposes,
while still other portions of said al
legged cash balances consist of depos-
it's that, If not actually insolvent, are
on the verge of ruin, ana,
Whereas, 1t has been stated that the
amount of public funds deposited in
financial concerns of this state was
nearly equal to, if not in excess, of the
actual amount Of cash on hand by
said concerns as a whole, and it is
imperative that the public funds should
be held as a sacred trust for the whole
people, and not to be used by public
officials and financial concerns for
their unlawful gain or unnecessarily
jeopadiZed or wasted, and
Whereas, 1t appears by report of the
pine land investigating committee, filed
with the governor Dec. q, 1894, that
for many years last past the state
treasurers have carried on their books
on overdue drafts vast sums Of money
due for uncollected stumpage, amount
ing in October, 1893, to s94,93O.55, and,
Whereas, In addition to such
amounts, it appears that the state has
been engaged in loaning money for an
indefinite number of years to lumber
men, for which the state has seldom,
if ever, received any interest, however
much may have been paid to any 9TH
ers, If at all; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That a special committee
of five members of the house be ap-
pointed by the speaker, with instruc-
tions to forthwith institute:
First-A rigid inquiry into the mat
Continued on Eighth Page.