The advocate., 1897-10-27
COP. PRODIGALITY
Evidence on File in State Offices Makes a
Bad Showing for Republicans.

The unlimited and unwarranted pre-
varicatiOn practiced by the Republican
papers in connection with the present
depleted condition of the State treasury
has resulted in the POpulist committee
issuing in circular form a statement OF
facts relative to the matter. In this 1t
is effectually proven that mot paid for
want of funds" was frequently stamped
on State warrants during the years that
Republicans were in power The first
case cited is that of George H. Evans,
who during 1SS9-90-91 had $208, ,487.15 in
warrants against the State House fund
on which these words were stamped In
order to raise money on them he had to
pay the banks 10 per cent, and as the
warrants only drew per cent, he paid
the other 4 per cent out of his pocket
The State paid $5,62S78 in interest on
these warrants, and in addition Mr.
Evans paid $S,749,19.
The list of State House fund warrants
left unpaid by the Morrill, administration,
which list appeared in the last issue Of
the Advocate, is then given. Every one
of the warrants in this lot (amounting
to $21, ,221.3 .36) should have been stamped
mot paid for want of funds"
On February 1, 1898, the date Mr.. Bid
die took charge of the Office, there was
turned over to him $72S, ,S14.62; on Janu-
ary 16, 1895, Mr. Biddle turned over to
Mr.. Atherton $54,775.28. January 49,,
1897, Mr. Atherton turned over to Mr..
Heflebower S94,75083 In this amount
were warrants registered, but not turned
over to the Auditor, and therefore
counted as cash, amounting to $28, ,109.7S,
There was also a receipt enormously
credited amounting to $89169, making
total Of $29,OO142. This subtracted
from $94, 1883 leaves $65,757.41 as the
amount of cash actually in the treasury
and turned over to Mr.. HefebOwer.
The books also show that the treasury
department had done some fine schem-
ing in order to have even this small
amount turned over to their successor.
In the past, Shawnee county has not
been remarkably prompt in remitting
her share Of the taxes to the State Treas
urer, but on December 20, 1896, there is
credited to Shawnee county $28,991.17.
1t has been the custom in the treasury
department not to receipt for taxes re-
ceived from the different counties until
ten days after the receipt Of draft from
the same, this precaution being taken
in order that the draft may have time
to pass through the usual channels, thus
protecting the Treasurer from possibil-
ity of loss through mistake or fraud; but
during the last few days Of the ere
deemer" administration this rule was
ignored and every cent received was
promptly receipted for and credited
upon the books; and the books show
that from January / to January 9, 1897,
they received and receipted for $76,285.76.
This, with the amount received from
Shawnee county, equals $1O5, 1858. Thus
it will be seen that if they had not viO-
lated the rule they had previously fol-
lowed, Of receipting for taxes ten days
after the date thereof, and il Shawnee
county had not generously come to their
relief, instead of having balance in the
treasury, the general revenue fund would
have shown an actual deficit of $780,
510.52.
The daily balance sheet in the Treas
urer's Office also shows that during the
entire month of September but $4,000
was paid out Of the general revenue fund,