The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-11-10
POPE AND THE LIBRARY FUNDS

1t was supposed the latter would, Or at
least intended to explain why he re.
tanned possession of the $500 of library
funds. which he drew from the city
treasury proved to be nothing more
nor less than a farce. Mr.. Pope did
not explain a thing in connection
Herewith, nor did he attempt to, I'M
less long winded, rambling, aimless
talk, which contained no information
on the matter in question, might acct.
dentally be mistaken therefor When
the question was put to him by mem
| bers of the council on several different
occasions as to what he did with this
| money while it was in his possession,
he declined to give the council amy in
formation whatever, merely remark
ing that that was simply matter
| between himself and the library board.
Now it seems to the Free Press that
this is matter that concerns more
than Mr.. Pope and the library board.
The library board is but a creature of
the city government. and anything,
especially of this nature, which CON
Germs that body is of moment to the
city, and the council as the representa-
tive of the people, has right to know
about it. 1t is not a matter between
Mr.. Pope and the library board, it is
matter between Mr.. Pope and the peo-
PIE of the city of Mankato, and they
would like to haye him explain why he
confiscated $500 of their money, what he
did with it while in his possession, and
interest was being paid on other money
ky the city, and why he did not return
it until its retention was discovered.
That explanation he should have made
last night. If he can satisfactorily ex-
plain, we'll and good, if not, he should
pay the penalty as other men are
obliged to
Mr.. Pope, or his attorney, submitted
last evening an affidavit by Prof. U. o.
Cox, who was secretary of the library
board at the time the $500 was taken,
the Free Press desires to call attention
to the fact that no one connected with
the library board is required to give a
bond of any amount for the handling of
the funds of that body. By careless.
ness or oversight when that board was
created. provision of this nature was
not made. We are Of the opinion,
however, that no money ought to be
turned over to that body whatever, by
the city treasurer, except as it is spent
and this on properly certified orders
drawn by the secretary of the board.
The city treasurer is the proper custo
dian of all city funds and in his custody
they should remain until paid out for
expenditures as designated. But be
this as it may, certainly no reason'or au-
thority has yet been produced why
Mr.. Pope should have retained the
$500 for four years. and to the council
he deigns no explanation whatever for
its confscation, holding it simply
matter between him and the library
board, and then with the most unmiti
gated gall he causes a resolution to be
presented to the council asking that
body to exonerate him for taking the
peoples money. This would seem like
adding insult to injury.
Mr.. Popes course last night looked
like an attempt to bamboozle the coun-
ell, and it failed. Possibly he thinks
he may succeed in bamboozling the Ii
brary board by not fully explaining
why he retained the money. but we
do not believe he will succeed. One
thing is certain, he will in no way pull
the wool over the eyes of the public.
Nothing short of full explanation
an explanation that explains, will go.
This throwing up a cloud of dust
about county affairs, and trying to
make out that they are as bad or worse
than his own case, will not do. 1t does
not in any particular answer the ques-
ton, which the council asked him last
evening.
The Free Press has no disposition to
unjustly criticise Mr.. Pope, and has not.
But the public is getting extremely
tired of the manner he has taken of re-