The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-02-28
IE9UBLICAN PAPER
MAKES ADMISSIONS
fhat the legislative joint
investigation OF 1895
Was a Sham - Cover up
Then Existing School
Land Frauds

In 1895 ihe editor OF THg JoURSAL in
the legislature elangeJ that jDint com
mitleei were raised at great expenss 70
the taxpaycr 70 conceal frauds in the
management q ibo school land funds.
Here are extracts from House proceed.
ings. January 1895; "Hofer Of Marion
OBJECTED to the adoption Of these resolu.
tions IN that slap, as the committees
we're given unlimited power TO employ
clerks at any price, and for any length
Of time. On his motion pay was fixed
at 81 a day, not over two clerks to be
employed by any one committee (Hoier
charged that the joint committees TO
investigate the School Land Board and
state Treasury were proposed and
organized TO protect and cover up any
wrongdoing that might be found, and
not to reveal them.
lie said: "It is the old story Of clerk
Doodle in ita most offensive form.
Members who vote for these grabs
should realize that they are not in the
interest Of furnishing the information
that the people are actually interested
in having. The House should not follow
the Senate"
All that was then charged has been
confirmed by the recent disclosures OF a
legislative COMMITTEES finding series
Of false entries, raised receipts, and
cash missing Of over 10000. Here is
confession from Republican paper;
Salem Statesman Editorial, February
20, 1901: The Statesman deplores the
existence Of crookedness and dishonesty
ia the office OF the clerk Of the State
Land Board for the term ending in the
early part Of 1895 and sincerely hopes
that the school fund will be fully reim.
bursed for all amounts wrongiully
withheld. There ohould be meritod
punishment also meted ont to
the person or persons guilty
OF tile peculations IL IL said the statue
Of limitations runs against prosecution
at this late day while others say that the
statue will not affect this case, as the
man supposed To be guilty Of the entries
has not been a resident OF this state dur
Ing sufficient period since the occurr-
encs.
1he Legislature Of the state is re-
sponsibe for all undetected fraud and
corruption that have existed in any Of
the state departments. Il is criminally
responsible, because williully conniving
with an encouraging the fraud through
practice which is disgrace to the state
aud 90 the honest intelligence Of its peo.
Pile.
AZ every session OF the legislature Il
costs the state from $1,000 TO $1,000 to
Investigate" and settle with each Of
the Departments pnd state institutions.
while, as matter Of fact, tis SELDOM
that there has been A GENUINE IN.
VEsrIGATIoN Of any of them, OR AN
HONEST REPORT Of the committee
appointed for that purpose, 80 far as
knowledge derived through lis own in.
voatigatIon is concerned.
Every circumstance connected with
such committees is a deception and
contrary 10 the spirit OF the law, as we'll
as TO the dictates OF business rules. In
almost every instance THE MEMBER
WHO MOVES Tor committee to settle
with certain department or institution
Is A Personal FRIEND and follow.
or OF the otioer in charge. That mem.
ber is appointed chairman Of the com
mittee aud its work is left in his hands.
Then lot of political boosters, OK. mem.
eers OF their sons or daughters or camp.
followers are appointed as
clerks with the under
standing In most cases that THERE isl
NO ACTUAL WORK TO DO AND INl
CASEs that there Is nothing to iind az.
oeps WHAT THE OFFICER IN
CHARGE WISHES TO BE FOUND and
published. There is nov and then AN
exception TO this rule, but every intel.
l'gent ciIiaon Of the state Who h Al all
conversant with publie affairs know.
that we have stated the general prs,am
exactly, and Il anybody doubts II L.,
him 50 10 'he Secretary oi states oflea !
aud read over the ust Of clerks Of ,hs |
various Investigating oommi,lees' 'thA.
hnFe operated during the last twenty |
years.
The discrepancies in the LAnd n,. |
par'@en' COULD HAVE REEN DIS. |
COVERED ArruE SESSION or lA,sl
ey The application oi the simplest rules
% eas'ness, eas there wss neither sx.l
p''''a'ion or desire Of adding an,,hiss
w'oas ia Tho ofice, The sane : ,sae !, |
IL ~. - w u l