The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-03-24

Tho Fiscal Agencies.
Daily States.
The story that there had been some ques-
tionable dealings of the State Board of Ii
qutiation with the fiscal bankers has been
hruited about the streets for more than two
years, but nobody ever thought it of suf6-
cicnt gravity to take notice of until the Re-
publican candidate for Governor took it up
and sent it forth a blow at the integrity
of Governor Foster, Mr.. Heard, Mr.. Michel
and the State Treasurer, who all mem
beers of the Board of Liquidation and who
guilt involved.
Of course any charge embr acing an allie
CATION of corruption the part Of the
Democratic administration is nuts for the
Republican combine, whose sole campaign
is professedly denunciation and abuse of
Governor Foster.
So this story was hshed out of the gutter,
trimmed up with red ribbons and rosettes,
and flung to the breeze.
We print this evening full explanation
of this charge from Governor Foster and
Mr.. Secretary of State Michel, published by
the Times Democrat. The Governors state
ment appears to be full and candid, and it
place of the deposit of the State funds were,
in the discretion of the Board of Liquida-
ton, composed of Governor Foster, Auditor
w. w. Heard, State Treasurer Fournet,
Secretary of State Michel and Mr.. Henry.
speaker of the House of Representatives.
These well known and highly honorable
gentlemen, reviewing the situation in their
best discretion, concluded to distribute the
funds amonO several first class hanks RIGHT
here the charge of the Republicans is that a
single bank had offered bonus of $4,000,
while the Board accepted bid from syn
| dictate of banks of a thousand dollars less.
Thus the Governor, Auditor, Treasurer,
Secretary of State and Speaker of the House
are charged to have corruptly made away
with the enormous sum of one thousand
dollars. But mightier crime than this is
charged. Later it became clear to the
| Board that the sum of SIS 900 was too great
bonus, and, in justice to the banks, in
their full discretion, the Board reduced the
bonus to $4,000.
In the best judgment of the members of
Board simple justice to the fiscal banks de-
manded this reduction, and the circumstances
show that the Board acted wisely and justly,
1 unless it be held that because the banks are
moneyed institutions they ought to be OPP
pressed and dealt with by the State in the
spirit of Shylock.
| Now we submit to candid and intelligent
men-we do not refer to a gang of bowling
and ferocious Republican politicians who
are bent on the destruction of the present
| Democratic administration at any COST
| there is anything culpable in this transaction;
or it, conceding to the views of some extrem-
| ist who holds that the Board of IiouiI il alton
acted with bad judgment and that the banks
! ought to have been held down, to the exact
letter of the agreement, if there is anything,
putting the matter in the worst possible light,
that warrants the aspersion of the official o,
personal integrity of the governor OF the
State, the auditor, the treasurer, the secre-
tary of State and the speaker of the House.
| together with the presidents and directors OF
several of the best banks in the State.
Such contention is simply prePos:erous
| If there was any swag in the transaction.
there was not enough to divide out among .
gang of wharf rats, thieves pickpocket:
in Hogan's Alley, much less body of gen
tlemen of the highest political and socia
character, honored by enlightened peo
Pile with the highest Offices in their gift.
In view of the facts, the charge sinks into
absolute contempt, and Indifference te
the courtesies of political debate, worthy
only of men vicious and grown desperate
Indeed, band of ''nigger' chicken thieve:
would hardly stooP to scheme of CHECKER
stealing as contemplate as that which the
whole Democratic administration is charged
i with having committed. Shame! Shame
Shame.