The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-08-31


control of the treasurer and ready to
be counted. In reading section 137 of
the constitution of the State. requiring
the semiannual statement to be pub
lished by the treasurer, showing the
condition of the treasury with a certi-
ficate of the governor that he has
verified the count of the funds in the
treasury and found the balance stated
by the treasurer actually in the
vaults, or as the truth may be | did
not conceive this to be a requirement
that the cash necessarily had to be in
the vault at all times, and under all
circumstances, whether safe or unsafe.
On the contrary, | supposed that If the
cash balance in the treasury was in
the vault or in good faith under the
control of the treasurer, safely kept and
ready to be counted, the law and the
condition were strictly complied with.
Now, If | have made a mistake in
this view of the law and in acting
Hereunder, it has been an honest mis-
take; but be that as it may, it was
in this view of the law and under the
peculiar conditions of an overflowing
and unsafe treasury vault that the in.
structions to Mr. Raiford, mentioned
in my published statement, from
which you quote, were given. And you
will observe that | was careful 10 pro-
tect the funds of the State and to keep
them absolutely safe. by requiring the
cashier to have an amount of State
bonds or other good bonds. in lieu Of
cash, and the solvency of the bank was
not even trusted. | can not conceive
how | could have been more careful Of
the States interest. | beg leave TO
further inform you that at no time.
with my knowledge and consent. were
any funds that could be conveniently
and safely kept in the steel safe. under
time lock, ever allowed by me to re-
main in a bank. and no very large
amount in any one bank, and never
was it allowed to stay in bank for
any great length of time, and never
allowed to remain in bank at all un-
less absolutely secured and when it
was really safer than it could have
been in the old vault of the treasury,
The security taken by me for any
money allowed to remain in bank was
State bond of equal amount with the
deposit | can not file a list because
when the cash was paid into the treas
ury the securities were returned. to-
| gether with a certificate of deposit or
receipt which held to show where the
money was.
There has never been paid any con-
sideration or agreed to be paid me by
any depository or any one else. for
the use of the State funds deposited
with or used by them. All proper en-
tries were made truthfully on the
books in the treasurer's Office of all
moneys received and disbursed as the
law requires. and the books always
showed the correct balance of cash in
the treasury. and any money left in a
bank. as above stated, was treated as
cash in the treasury, and was always
subject to the call and control OF the
treasurer and was so counted. The
evidence taken by me from the banks
when money was left with them. was
either receipt or certificate of deposi,
TO me as treasurer, held with the
bonds in lieu of the cash. and return
ed them always with the bonds to the
bank when the cash was paid in.
can not. therefore, exhibit the same
nor a copy. with the statement, but
they were like the receipts or deposit
certificates exhibited to you when
counts of the funds were made.
In response to your request that
state any other facts connected with
the treasury discrepancy which deem
proper to communicate. kindly per
nit me to make the following observa.
tlons: The insecurity of the vaults al
the State treasury is the same. anC
ther still exists the greatest danger OF
the treasury being robbed. and but fol
your objection to the keeping of the
States funds elsewhere than in tht
vault | should continue the policy OF
keeping that portion of the fund:
which can not be placed under the
time lock, in the steel safe. deposited
elsewhere. under safe conditions: but
yielding my own views as to the legal
ity of that course to your better iudg.
ment and ripper wisdom, | promise YOU
who. as governor of the State. has the
legal duty devolving upon you to su
perintendent the treasurers Office ant
to direct its policy in respect to how
the funds may be kept. that from thi:
time on. during my occupancy of tn,
office. your wishes in that respect shall
be observed and the money will al
be kept in the vaults. Vet il will b,
with constant dread and alarm fo
the safety of that portion kept outsid,
the time lock steel safe. rememberin.
always that my bond will have Il
make good any sum of which the Stat,
is robbed
You will observe that | have no
named a bank in which any of tn,
States funds have been deposited il
the manner above set out. Before do
ing that | respectfully submit that
should know for what purpose that in
formation is desired From what ba
appeared in the public prints an,
other sources, | have reason to suspec
that you intend to take legal proceed
ings against me and possibly Others
do not feel conscious of having don
any wrong in the conduct of my Office
Every dollar of the States money ha
been safely kept by me and is now /,
the treasury. In justice to NV mvsel
| will respectfully ask. before answer
ing that question, to know if it is Won
purpose to use the information /
legal proceedings. Respectfully.
J. X. SHOWERS, State Treasurer -
Treasurer Carlisle.
At 8 O'Clock Mr.. Showers was mott
fed of his suspension and Mr. Carlisl