Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-22
LIGHT WANTED on THE noLDurs.

Hastings Tribune (rep): The Omaha Bee
unearthod something rotten when II showed
UP the manner in which State Auditor Cor
nell and his clique have been holding up in
surance companies. It's a disgraceful affair
and the Nebraska legislature should lose no
time in turning its searchlight into the
state auditors office.
Fremont Tribune (repO: Auditor Cornell
may have been opposed to the holdup policy
Of his agents, but when o. w. Palm, in
surance examiner wrote him from Chicago
of his charges against insurance companies
that 81 wish | could do them up for $3.50
each" and deploring that he could only
make it S120, he appeared to be on very inti-
mate terms with the auditor.
Plattsmouth Post (rep): Governor Poyn-
ters message concerning Irregularities in
the auditors Office was taken uD in the
senate yesterday morning, and three men,
bers named to act with the house committee
to investigate Mr.. Cornell. Before the
people of Nebraska, populiss as well as
others, are done with the Cornels and their
relatives they will be sorry they ever elected
even one of them to office.
Lyons Sun Crep): The Omaha Bee has
uncovered what appears to be gross corrup>
ton in the auditors office and Governor
Poynter has appointed a committee to in
vestigate and requested the legislature to
do likewise. That body has also appointed
committee. 1t is claimed that insurance
companies are constantly being held UP"
for large sums and some one is reaping a
rich harvest Cornell lays it to a clerk and
the clerk says it was Cornell. Let there be
light.
Scribner News (rep): Samuel Lichty,
insurance commissioner under Auditor Cor
nell during his first term, has been torn
loose from his Job and is now charging his
late boss with all kinds of corruption. 1t is
said that Hell hath no fury like a woman
scorned," and a pop out of job seems to
be about as severe. 1t is rather bad grace
for Mr.. Lichty to charge corruption that
took place year ago at this late date after
keeping still as long as he could hold his
job The legislature has appointed a COM
mttee to Investigate and the political at
mosphere around the capitol is hazy.
Superior Sun (rep) The Bee contains
several columns of rather startling matter
regarding the discharge of Insurance Deputy
Lichty from the auditors Office by Auditor
cornell. Lichty makes charges that State
Auditor Cornell has winked at the practice
of insurance examiners of holding up in
surance companies when examining them
/, e., charging them several times as much
as the law allows for the work. One of the
most astounding pieces of literature
presented by The Bee is letter, written to
Cornell by one of his appointees, o. w.
Palm, in which his (Cornell's) collusion in
this sort of thievery is shown to be clearly
understood by Palm
Norfolk News (rep): The scandals in the
state auditors Office are to be investigated
hNy a Loo icI tttTn .,tt
able that the public will soon be made ac-
quainted with the inside facts. Enough has
leaked out already, through the differences
of Lichty and Cornell, to demonstrate
crookedness which can never satisfactorily
be explained. People, without regard to
party, will regret this fresh humiliation of
the state CT Nebraska by its public officials.
1t shows that virtue is the keepsake Of no
one political organization and that even
populsts break through and steal when they
are not well buttressed by personal integrity
ii only given an opportunity. 1t is certainly
deplorable that we cannot seem to place
anyone in the Office of state auditor who
will remain honest. Let the truth be known
and allow no guilty man to escape. There
has been too much of this corruption at
Lincoln and it is time it should be stopped.
Pierce Call (rep.): The charge made dur
Cornell was appropriating the states funds
for his own use has lately proved to be
true. The dismissal of Insurance Deputy
Lichty by Auditor Cornell has stirred up
quite Iumpus. Lichty made a statement
to the press Tuesday in which he says he
and Cornell differed in regard to the en-
forcement of the insurance laws of the
state. Cornell appointed o. w. Palm of
Lincoln as insurance examiner. Palm is an
insurance agent in that city. The law
plainly says that no insurance agent shall
be appointed insurance examiner. Palm
and Cornell were in a deal to "bleed" the
insurance companies and have been doing
it to a queens taste. The state law pro-
vides that they shall only charge So per
day and board. Palm and his assistants
have been charging from $50 up to $780,
Cornell held the states money in his pos
session until the republican newspapers got
on to the fact and he had to turn it over
This all goes to prove that populist is
honest until he gets an office, when he