The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-11-14
HONESTY IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

HONESTY IN PUBLIC OFFICE.
The expert accountants employed
by the governor to verify the sum-
ming up, by Auditor Allen, OF the
state books from January 1, 1865,
to December 81, 1900, have made an
exhaustiveand compactreport show
ingfor what purposes and from what
sources all moneys had been received
and how every dollar had been ex-
pended. and the balance struck shows
that from Jan'y, 1873, to Dec. 81,
1900, every dollar was accounted for.
Before that date some discrepancies
in bookkeeping, las Gov. Dockery is
charitableenough to designate them
were discovered. The governor
made summary of the report and
pointed out these discrepancies (?)
and says of them:
Nearly all OF the officials connect
ed with the State administration
from January ], 1865, to December
81, 1872, have long since passed
away, and | would be recreant to
honor and to the facts as shown by
the books, if | should by inference
impute dishonesty to them. 1t is
true, however, that there was negli-
gent bookkeeping, especially during
the four years to which l have ad-
verted; but have carefully reviewed
the reports OF the Auditor and the
experts, concur with Messrs. Hask-
ins 4 Sells in the statement that:
Nothing has been disclosed indi-
eating any transportation OF the
funds OF the State or any IRREGULAR
ties other than those heretofore men,
toned"
1t will be remembered that this in
vestigation was called out by charges
OF the Globe Democrat that every
thing was not straight in democratic
bookkeeping. That something was
being covered up from the public by
Juggling figures. When the State
Auditorexpressed a determination to
make an exhaustive statement cover
ing the whole period since the war,
the Globe-Democrat said that Audi
tor Allen was an interested party
and'his report would not be received
and credited unless verified by an ex-
pert accountant. Then the governor
employed firm OF experts ofnation-
al reputation to verify the Auditors
report, but OF late the Globe has been
trying to discredit even them. or
this the St. Louis Star, which had
expresseda determination to investi-
gate the books at its own expense.
frankly states that this lie the very
firm Of experts it had intended en-
Iploying for that purpose. These re.
ports show that the only peculiar
bookkeeping were under republican
administrations, and Governor Dock
ery has shown magnanimity in
passing ON those indiscretions foreign
to the makeup of the Globe-Demo-
crat. No one expects that paper to
accept these facts and figures, but
honest men who seek the truth and
are loyal to our beloved state will
agree with Gov. Dockery in the fol-
lowing:
at is the occasion of profound sat.
isfaction that the bookkeeping under
! Democratic Auditors has been hon.
est There has been no overpayment
OF bonds, as charged by partisan
newspaper There has been no over.
payment of interest. as alleged by
the same journal. There has been no
Juggling" of the school fund. The
people are to be congratulated that
their public servants have been faith.
full to duty during the last twenty
eight years"
These reports are being printed in
pamphlet form for distribution.