The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-08-12
Mr.. METsCHAN'S REPORT.

MR.. METSCHAN'S REPORT.
At this season OF the year there is llttle
TO relieve the monotony OF the regular
routine in official circles at Salem. oe-
casionally, however. an unusual turn OF
events gives rise to discussion and com-
ment sufficient TO make life even there
interesting. The regular announcements
Of notaries public, commitments. pardons
and Interpretations set tirssome and
haekneyed, but when an importan; state
official fails TO hle and make puddle his
annual report. as has been the custom
for time immemorial. curiosity is aroused
and the news-seeker ard seEsation-mon-
ger become as active and wide-awake as
a hunter in the depths Of the forest on
the fresh track Of an elk. That IS Just
what has happened a, Salem recently.
The report OF the state treasurer was
to have been fled July ls,, when it could
nave been examined by the governor and
passed upon with regard to the suffi-
cheney Of the official bond of the treas
urer That l. it is provided by law that
If at any time the money IN the hands
OF the treasurer shall exceed three
fourths the amount OF his bond. he shall
be required to give additional bonds to
secure the people in their funds.
1t has been quite evident that the pour
ing of 1886 taxes into the state treasury,
without corresponding amounts being lis-
tributed. would have the effect Of in
creasing the amount on hand to a sum
far in excess of the amount contemplated
when the penal sum Of the official bond
was last fixed. The failure OF the legis-
lature to make appropriations has held
the money in the treasury and promises
10 keep it there for some dine 10 come.
Now arises the incident that has caused
a stir among the dry bones at the capital
city. The treasurer's report was watched
for with unusual eagerness to know
what amount Of money is in the treas
ury. and for what amount the additional
bond would have to be given. but the
report passed through the hands Of tile
governor, secretary Of state and treas
urer without being made public, and It
IS said that nc amount Of inquiry has
yet been sufficient TO elicit information
as to the contents Of that highly i'm
portant official document In other
words there appears to be something IN
the report that il is thought best the
people should rot know. What his can
be, each person is at liberty TO conjecture
for himself Wheather the report would
disclose that The states money has beef,
loaned contrary to the statutes or
whsther it would simply make it n=ces-
sary for the treasurer to give additional I
bond cannot be certainly stated. but
there are those who are Of opinion that /
both these hypotheses would be found 70 /
be true If the report were made public.
Tne interest on the amount Of money /
now supposed to be in the hands Of the
treasur-r-about $70O,W0-woud make a
better income than the salary Of the
president Of the United States. Will
the loaning of public money, as the peo-
pie Of Astoria have recent reason to
know, is made crime, it has always
been understood that the state treasurer
should be allowed to make what he
could off the money in his hands, the
people being secured by his solvent off,
cial sureties. The situation is one GER
tainly demanding some explanation, and .
it is sincerely hoped that one will be
forthcoming and that when made it will
turn out to be of such a nature as viii
bel satisfactory to the people.