The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-18

One department OF the state admins
tration that will be given a thorough
overhauling during the coming winter
is that which bears the name and title
of Public Examination and Superin-
tendency Of Banks. It's incumbent-in-
chief is Moses Dibble Kenyon, who was
appointed from Rock county away
back in the early SOS to be a sub
ordinate In the auditors office
At that time the state auditor. in
addition to other duties had periodical
ly inspected the accounts of county
and other officials throughout the state
Kenyon was detailed for this With
the growth of the state the work in
creased, until 1t was more than one
man could do, and as the opportunity
appeared to create a new department
with so many chances to feed pap to
the hungry, the Republicans created
the department of office of bank ex-
aminer. and handed the duties of the
new public accounts over to the new
officer, giving Henry NJ. Knox, a very
worthy appointee, Kenyon as an as
sistant
national bank from a sand bank,
must be left to the memory and judg-
ment of those who are familiar with
the facts as they then existed, but 1t
has since been shown conclusively that
certain men were permitted to operate,
with his consent, and under the title
of bank" an institution the tangible
assets Of which consisted of a counter.
roll top desk fire proof door with
combination lock. Here many a trust
ing st. Paulite, who thought the In
stitution was savings bank, placed
his money.
KENYON'S PAPER THERE.
The fact that Mr.. Kenyons indorse-
ment was borne by some of the paper
found in this bank at the time it fall
ed, with SINGLE paper dollar as its
entire cash assets, served to teach to
the people of the state that there must
be something behind a bank beside
latticed window, and something behind
public official beside party conven-
tion or ward pull
The lesson pointed was that of hon
esty, and in the windy seed that was
sown in the legislative inquiry into
certain Twin City banks two years
ago William Henry Eustis, perhaps
innocently enough, reaped the whirl-
wind of less than two weeks ago.
The seeming kinship between the
state house ring and Kenyon gave the
voters of the state a double dose of
savings bank and defunct loan insti-
hof or "
Republican, and preternaturally trust
ing constituency, could not longer
stomach, and the judgment of the cleo
ton Of this month, If 1t indicates one
thing more than another, indicates that
the people of the state want number
Of, to put II mildly, inefficient depart
ments either reformed or wiped out,
and 1t does not require any great
stretch of the fancy to conceive that a
bolt of official lightning
STRIKING KENYON'S OFFICE
amidships, would send thrill of salts
faction through many hearts, not alone
in this state, but west to the buttes
of the little Missouri and East to the
rock-ribbed hills of Vermont and New
Hampshire
1t is not true that In Spain the peo-
pie were awaiting with breathless anx-
iety the news as to whether Lind or
EusGs was elected governor OF Min
nesota: but 1t is none the less true that
from Lake Champlain to the outskii is
of Boston, and from Galveston TO the
numbering towns OF Maine men who
had seen their fortunes broken by a
Ia u-iI
and orphans who had seen their slender
resources dissiplted in the financial
caiaclysm that followed the abscond-
ing of Menage were scanning with
eager eyes the returns Of the Minneso.
election to see if 1t were possible at
the North Star state would not repudi-
ate an issue so firmly fastened upon
ii by two political conventions, in the
one case by distinct declaration. and
IN the other by the tacit consent of
omission.
The people Of Minnesota voted on the
issue and the verdict was:
mo MORE KENYON"
or words TO that effect.
What has Kenyon's record been?
In Minneapolis, not one. but two city
t7easurers, have been convicted and
sent, one to state prison and one to
the county Jail. for official populations.
Not the most ardent advocate of the
present bank examiner has ever urged
that there was any excuse for this.
At the same time that he was officially
entrusted with the inspection OF their
accounts, he was charged with the duty
Of inspecting their banks. Had there
been q division OF responsibility, had
the public examiner and superintendent
OF banks been aught but one and the
same man, there might be chance for
cne Of them to escape the awful respon-
sibility. but the Juggling by which
the same securities We're made to do
double duty, if reports are true. at one
time in the bank and anon In the city
treasury, makes II plain either that
the state inspection was faulty or that
the ingenuity OF bank robbers and dis-
honest city officials baffied the public
trustee in either OF which contingencies
the people Of Minnesota may be con
sidered to have reason for demanding
a change.
HIS FAyORITE EXCUSE
Mr.. Kenyon's department has not
been lacking In excuses. The claim
has generally been an inability 10 pro-
cure help enough with the appropria