Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-16

North Platte Tribune (rep.): There Is no
GOOD reason why State Treasurer Meserve's
bona gas rSsuced a half million, even though
It Is furne yed by a guaranty company.
Kearney Hub (rep.): For his first term
OF Office State Treasurer Meserve gave a bond
for 81, 900 900. For the second term he gives
a bond for 81, SOC, 900. Why this rebate Of
half a million? OF course his first term bond
had whole stacks OF straw in II and prob
ably not 81, 200, 900 could have been collected
under 1t. For the second term he gives a
guaranty company bond, which is doubtless
good, but 1t Is no better than the first one
theoretically or In the eyes Of the law. Had
a republican governor reduced the bond
for a republican treasurer there would have
been a great howl in popdom. Again, why
was the amount reduced for Meserve's Sec
ond term?
remon Tribune (rep.): State Treasurer
Meserve has given the state a guaranty
company bond instead Of one signed by indi-
viduals. Unfortunately the laws are such
that a guaranty bond Is not recognized as
valid, yet this Is the best form Of security,
provided the company furnishing it is itself
a reliable one. There are a great many
guaranty companies and among them are
many that are unreliable. The cost Of the
bond Is 1000 a year, which, as matters now
stand, comes out Of the pocket Of the treas
urer, which leaves him a scant salary OF
1880 a year. His bond should be accepted
and the legislature should appropriate the
money to pay for 1t. He should not be asked
to manage the business of the state treasury
FOR such a pittance and experience has shown
that private bonds are worth no more than
the paper on which they are written. 1t lie
time we were having a change for the better.
Papillion Times (dem.): An alleged
fusion news bureau at Lincoln Is sending
out some nasty stuff about Inspector Ed
miston, accusing him with pass-grabbing
and other unpopocratic tricks. Why this at
tack on Edmiston? Why single him out
for attack when it Is patent that all state
employees are equally guilty? We object to
such discrimination. Edmiston Is a pass
iend, and SO also were all the state house
fellows, save Lichty. But Edmiston has
done more for the propocratic cause than any
score OF his traducers. He Is the best or
ganizer the fusion forces ever had in Ne
braska, ready always to give his time and
money to the cause. 1t is easy to kick a
man when he is down, but 1t is cowardly.
Edmlston Is down now, but in the estima-
tion Of the Times he is still a better man
a better pop than the men who have so soon
forgotten his good work for fusion in Ne
braska.
Auburn Granger (pop.): State Treasurer
Meserve at the beginning of his second term,
and accounting for every dollar that has
come into his hands during the first term,
gives a good and sufficient bond for the
faithful performance OF the duties Of that
office and for the turning over OF every
dollar Of the states money to his successor
in office. This bond costs Mr.. Meserve
just two-ffths Of what he Is to receive In
salary for the next two years, but 1t leaves
him Independent of such banking institu-
tions as have been in the habit Of becom-
ing security on the treasurer's bonds in re-
turn for the use of moneys belonging to
state funds. Whether the state legislature
will provide for the $4,000 that the said
bond has cost Mr.. Meserce or not remains
to be seen. The Granger looks at this as
a straightforward business proposition, and
believes the state can better afford to pay
the 1000 than to longer have a state
treasurer at the mercy OF bankers and the
funds jeopardized. And now we will sug-
gest than instead Of appropriating $1,000
every biennium for house rent that $4,000
be appropriated to reimburse the treasurer,
whose management Of the affairs OF the Of
fee he fills has saved the state more than
ten times that amount,