Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-25
RESTS WITH THE COUNCIL
Treasurer Bolln's Bondsmen Decide TO Stand
by Him in His Trouble.
HIS RESIGNATION MUST BE FORCED
Unless the Council Demands that flo Ke-
tire Bolln win Hang On-Borrowers
Are Making 1 estitution of
the Public Funds.

the question of what shall be done Win re-
gard to the conduct Of the city treasurers
Office during the remainder of Mr.. Bollns
term. That was decided at meeting of Mr..
Bolln's bondsmen, which was hell in COM
mittee room in the city hall yesterday
afternoon. The meeting was called to con-
siier the question of Mr.. Bolns resignation.
and after session OF nearly two hours they
decided to take no action in the matter, but
to leave the responsibility with the city
council.
Comptroller Olsen is expected to make
report to the city council tonight, stating
what has been the result of the investiga-
ton into the condition of the city treasury,
begun last Tuesday. Mr.. Olsen is said to be
inclined to let the affair down as easily as
possible, and rumor has 1t that he will refer
to Mr.. Bolns troubles in no more severe
terms than as irregularities"
The irregularities on which he is to report
consist, however in a shortage in the treas
urers cash balance that aggregated over
$50 900 on the day the bondsmen instituted
their fruitful inquiry. When the cash drawer
was opened on Tuesday of last week it was
found to contain only about 81 500. The
cash book, however, showed that there should
have been about $2S 600. In other words.
lHtlt WAS Il ulHeTeHCe between lne lOOllHBS
in the cash book and the money on hand Of
some $1,000. In place of this $4,000 there
was as has been stated thick bunch of
papers, memorandum slips, checks and as
signments of warrants. OF these $4,000
dated back before January, 1894, and into the
first term of Mr. Bolln as city treasurer
BOOKS AND FACTS AT VARIANCE.
But that was not all. The books showed
that there should have been $500 in the
Midland bank to the credit of the public
school fund, when, in fact, the deposit in
that bank was $1,000 less Mr.. Bolln, 1t will
be remembered, asserted at one time that he
had another certificate of deposit in the Mid
land, which made up for the deficit, but this
certificate was apparently a figment Of the
Imagination. The money is still missing.
Nor was that ALL Besides the due bills In
the cash drawer, amounting to 1000, and
the Midland bank discrepancy Of $4,000, there
were uncollectabe checks Of a number of
city contractors, which aggregated $3,400.
|. The strange part about these checks is that
there is no trace of them whatever on the
books in the treasurers office. They were
found among the treasurers papers, but no
record had been kept of them and the check
ing of the books would have left every one
In the dark as to their existence
If these unrecorded checks are to be added
to the other misappropriations the total will
be some s34 400. If they are duplicated by
some Of the memorandum slips the total will
be $Sl 900. The actual loss to the bondsmen
will be considerably less than this sum. They
have been converting as many of the checks
| and assignments of warrants into cash
possible. They have induced Mr. Bon to
deed over to Mr.. Paxton, in trust for them, all
of his property excepting his home. In this
way they hope to reduce the amount which
they will be called upon to make good to
something less than $4,000
ACTION OF THE BONDSMEN.
A couple of days ago Mr.. Boln stated that
he was willing to resign his Office if he was
| advised to do so by his bondsmen. This re-
suited in the bondsmen being calle1 together
| yesterday and the matter was discussed at
| length. Some Of the bondsmen were very
| willing that Mr.. Bolln should resign and re-
| lieve them of all future responsibility, but
| Mr.. Paxton and others urged that they
should stand by him. 1t was finally pro-
| posed that the bondsmen had no jurisdiction
| in the matter and 1t would not be proper for
| them to give any advice whatever. The
| mayor and council had the exclusive right
| to say whether or not Mr.. Bolln should con-
| tinue in Office, and the only recourse the
| Londsmen had was to ask to be relived from
their obligation in case the council did not
| declare the office vacant and they were un-
| willing to remain on the bond.
| This view prevailed ana the meeting ad-
| iourned without taking any action w. A.
| Paxton, G. J. Karbach and W. G.. Wattles, as
| the committee previously appointed to in
vestigate Mr.. Bolln's affairs, reported that in
| their opinion the shortage would prove to be
much less than had been expected The greater
part Of the funds that had been taken from the
| treasury for various city officials and private
| individuals had been returned by the bene-
| iciaries, and others had promised to make
| good their loans between July 1 and 10.
| When this was done the remaining shortage
| would be comparatively slight. The report
| was accepted and the further adjudication
| Of the matter was left to the same COM
| mittee.
| BoLLN is UNDECIDED.
] After the meeting the members of the COM
\
which the latter was acquGilted with the
| result of their deliberations. After they had
| left Mr.. Bolln stated that he understood that
| the action taken by his bondsmen indicated
| that they were willing to stand by him. lie
said that the effect of their decision was to
| leave the responsibility with the council, He
| was ready to resign If they had demanded
| it, but now that they had indicated their
readiness TO stay by him 1t was another
| question.
When asked directly whether or not he In
| tended to resign anyway, Mr.. Bolln said
| that he did not know. He could not answer
| until after he had consulted with his at
| torney, but would make up his mind some
| time today. II he decided to resign his res.
| ignation would probably be in the hands or
| the council before night.
| rumor that floated around the city hall
during the afternoon made things lively for
| few minutes. Some one declared that
| Comptroller Olsen had said that every coun-
| Gilman except Howell was included in the list
| OF lHOse VINO Hdu pTOHltu Dy mT. BOllH 3 IN
ability to refuse financial favors. Lemy
| and Burkley were within hearing and they
| Immediately donned their warpaint and
started for the comptroller's domain. Mr..
Olsen denied that he had made such a state
| ment as attributed TO him and the
storm passed without breaking,
COUNCILMEN IN A PINCH
! The future fate of Mr. Bolln will be in
formally discussed at a special meeting OF the
| council, which has been called by Mayor
| Bemis for 1890 o'clock this forenoon. At
that time the situation will be gone over and
the members will endeavor to agree on some
line Of action to be carried cut at the even
ing session. 1t is well known that several
members Of the council are somewhat on the
fence with regard to their course in the
matter. They had hoped that Mr.. Bolln
| would relieve them Of their predicament by
| resgnng. but In the absence OF resigna-
tion they will have to go on record them
| selves, II Is known that resolution which
provides that the Office of city treasurer shall
be declared vacant is now reposing In the
inside pocket Of one member of the council,
and It Will be unloaded at tonights meeting.
Several members have declared that they
would vote for II II they had 10 stand alone.
The friends Of Mr. Bon will probably ask 10
have the resolution referred to a COMMITTEES
and such a proposition may be acquiesced In.