The leader., 1901-09-11
SHOWERS is OUT.
He Tenders His Resignation to
the Governor as Treasurer
of the State of Miss.
WANTED TO BE RELIEVED OF ALL
FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE OFFICE.

On last Friday, State Treasurer
Showers, already suspended, took an
unexpected step toward relieving his
embarrassment, by rendering the Gov.
ernor bis resignation, which was
promptly accepted. The correspond.
ence is published below:
JACKSON, MISS, Sept. 6, 1901.
To His Excellency. A, II. Longino, Governor OF
Mississippi:
Dear Sir-I hereby resign the office
of Treasurer of the State of Mississippi,
to take effect at once.
Under the circumstances it is proper
that | should make this statement. |
would not resign if the books and funds
of my office had not been examined and
found correct, and, therefore, | leave
the office and it's affairs in proper and
correct condition for my successor.
When | accepted the office had not
had any experience in financial affairs,
nor in the administration of the office.
and / was ignorant of the law applica
BILE to it, as well as the practical exc
cution of its duties. In fact, was not
competent to keep the books or ad-
minister, practically, the office.
never had any conception until re-
Gently of the grave sponsibilities in
law and in fact applicable to its ad
ministration.
Even now there is contrariety of le-
gal opinion as to what the Treasurer
can and what he cannot do in keeping
the public funds. The common prac-
tice was heretofore obtained for State,
county and municipal officers to de-
posit funds in banks and with no
thought of criminal liability; but now
| am advised by some, and to the con-
trary by others, that it is a criminal
effense to deposit the State money in
banks, even though the deposit is am
ply secured by State bonds SO, too, |
am advised that the Supreme Court
has decided that a treasurer is liable
on his bond for money taken from the
safe provided by the Board of Super
visors by robbery by burglars; and
that a State Treasurer is criminally
liable, under the code for failing to
turn over to his successor the money
that should be on hand, without re-
gard to how it got out of the Treasury
and that under such circumstances the
Legislature would be powerleSs to re-
lieve because forbidden by section 100
of the Constitution.
With existing conditions of the
Treasury vault, and the risk of com
hitting a criminal offense and of liza
bility on my bond, if the money was
put elsewhere, and my inability to per
sonally run the office, | have resolved
never again to occupy the Treasurer S
office: and while my motives may be
misconstrued by some, still | prefer
the course, and hence send this, my
resignation
If the construction of the statute pre-
walls that deposit of the public funds
in any bank, upon full security, i'm
posed criminal liability on the Treas
urer, and as the overlooking condition
of the Treasury practically requires, in
the exercise of ordinary diligence, that
the money should not be left there,
and if the robbery of bank where
left, even on special deposit, would i'm
pose liability on the Treasurer's bond,
and probably criminal liability on the
Treasurer, then, these are conse-
quences too grave for me to risk and |
prefer, as | am now advised of their
existence, not to incur such a respon-
sibility. Respectfully,
j. Il. SHOWERS.