The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-15
KENYON'S LAST GASP
HID rs HURRYING THROUGH AN
INVESTIGATION OF BUILDING
ASSOCIATIONS
FEES TO BE CREDITED TO HIM

These Concerns Have to Pay $40
for His Services, and He Does
Not Want Gov. Lind's Appointee
to Get the Credit, or the Cash,
for the Search which Is Now Be-
ing Made.
Anttcipatory OF the Inauguration of
John LAnd as governor, at least one
state department is clearing Its decks
for action. so to spea;- Not that this
department Is endeavtscing to prevent
the occupation OF the governors chair
by John Lind, but that II is trying to
reduce the emoluments Of the succeed
ing incumbent. That is the suspicion.
1t has generally been understood that
one OF the first acts of Gov- elect
Lind would be the Topping off of the
official head OF Moses Dibble Kenyon,
who has cherished for several years the
joint titles OF public examiner and
superintendent Of banks. Kenyon
knows this. He was not only AN ar
dent supporter OF the cause OF Eustis,
but he went out OF his way to make
an assault on the integrity OF a bank
ing institution of which the recently
elected governor was but stocl1holder
Mr.. Kenyon intimated that the bank
was rotten, and to Show how great the
confidence reposed In the present bank
superintendent Is, IL may be remarked
that not a single depositor called on
the bank for his money, unless he need
ed 1t to pay a grocer's or a butchers s
bill.
The administration Of Moses Dibble
Kenyon stands for itself Reappointed
by Gov. Clough, he was one of the most
ardent of Eustis supporters. Kenyon
has been in the service Of the state for
nearly fourteen years. always at the
command Of a Republican administra
tion. He was deputy state auditor
from 1885 to 1889. when he was made
public examiner.
FEES ARE IN TT.
The duties of this position are varied.
The public examiner, as such, is ex-
pected to look into and verify at least
once year the accounts OF all the pub
lie officials in the state who handle
public moneys, whether their offices be
city, county or state. AS superintend-
ent OF banks he is supposed to inquire
into the solidity OF banks organized un-
der the state laws. Euch banks as are
national in character being beyond his
cynosure. The state law also REQUIRES
that the bank superintendent, which is
the other part Of Mr.. Kenyon's official
title, shall supervise all institutions
which receive savings deposits in any
way, the statute being so drawn that
II includes building and loan and say
ings and loan associations, so-caled.
This has been Mr.. Kenyons whine
He has claimed that he has not legal
authority to govern these institutions,
although he has regularly collected q
fee Of SO each for examining them
yearly. He has even asked the legfs-
lsture for e new law on the subject
Yet his supervision OF these instltu-
lions. but for the fact Of the dispute as
TO his legal authority to ask for their
suspension, Is undisputed.
In 1885 the legislature passed a law
permitting companies to so into liqui-
dation under a bin which made the
public examiner a board OF review, to
put It plainly. Perhaps a dozen COM
penies have avaiIed themselves Of this
law.
SECURING LOCAL BANKS.
Mr. Kenyon has always had the pow
er TO look into these institutions II he
had reason to doubt their solvency, ana
within the week his department has
been engaged In the investigation OF
such institutions. as The Globe Is
prepared 10 prove.
The only apparent reason why Mr.
Moses Dibble Kenyon is at this time
active in the inquiry into such institu-
ticns is that the state law provides for
a fee OF $40 for each examination of
such company. Mr. Renycn's de-
partment IS very busy now inquiring
into such concerns. in order. among
other things that SO may be cred
tied 10 the Kenyon administration rath-
er than 20 the appointee OF John Lind.
Tbs young men who have been cam