The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-08-31
MISSISSIPPI TREASURER
Suspended by the Governor-G. w
Carlisle Appointed.
Correspondence Between Governor Lon
gino and Deposed Treasurer
Stowers-Carlisle In Posses
sion of the ONCE.
JACKSON. Miss. Aug. 2S.


not just as the Jackson public thought |
it would. The impression had been
growing the past few days that the
governor was going to demand the
resignation of State Treasurer Stow
ers, or that he would suspend him
from office pending an investigation.
This morning the governor addressed
letter to Mr.. Showers asking for
further information as to where the
S1O7. 900 was on the 18th of the month,
when he (the governor) counted the
cash. Treasurer Showers replied at
some length, but declines to give the
information demanded. He was sus-
pended from Office. Mr.. Showers. it is
stated, has retained two of the strong
est law firms in this city to represent
him, and will endeavor to set himself
right before the courts when the gov
ernor Institutes the proceedings that
are required of him under section PISS
of the code.
Gov. Longinos Letter.
The letter which Gov. Longino ad-
dressed to Mr.. Showers this morning
was as follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPT, JACKSON, Miss,
August q, 1901.
-
Jackson. Miss:
"Sir-In the statement printed in the
newspapers of this city on the 23d in
stant, purporting to be signed and
given out by you to the public in ex-
planation of the shortage of the funds
in the treasury when the money was
counted by me on the 18th instant, |
note that you say:
have on several Oppa SiOpG in the
past instructed my cashier, Mr.. Raj
ford, to place the funds in the differ.
ent banks on good State and other
bonds because of the crowded condi-
tion of the safe shelves, and in pur-
suance of this authority the money
shown not to be on hand last Thurs
day could not be counted
Under the provisions of section
2156 of the code, paragraph l., | have
the honor to call on you to inform me
in writing First, with what banks
were said deposits made? (a) How
much was. deposited with each, and
date thereof? CD What security was
taken by you as indicated in printed
statement? State fully or file list (c)
Has there been any consideration
paid or agreed to be paid by any de-
pository or any one else for the use of
the States funds deposited with or
used by them? I'D Were entries of
said deposits made by you on the books
in the treasurer's Office? If so. give the
dates on entry, name of book and
pages thereof. (el What evidence did
yon take from the banks showing such
deposits? Exhibit same or copies there
of with your statement. (D If there
are any other facts connected with the
treasury discrepancy which you deem
proper to communicate please make
statement as if specially interrogated
by me.
Il would thank you for the informa-
tion herein requested by o'clock a. m.
the 2Sth instant, if practicable.
Respectfully.
"A. H. LONGING. Governor"
Treasurer Stowers Reply.
Mr.. Showers replied as follows:
TREASURY DEPT, JACKSON, Miss.
August 2S, 1901.
"A. II. Longino, Gouernor, Jackson,
Miss:
"Sir-Your communication of Au.
gust 27, 1901, was handed me at 4
o'clock p. m. In said communication
you call attention to my statement
printed in the newspapers of August
23, and call upon me for certain infor-
nation under the authority conferred
upon you by paragraph l. of section
2155 of the code. In compliance with
your request beg leave to submit the
| following; Since my tenure of the of
| flee of State Treasurer began there
has been an unprecedented accumula-
tion of money in the treasury, so much
so that it has been impossible to find
room for even all the currency within
the steel safe secured by the time lock.
! Often all the silver and part of the
| currency had to be kept outside Of the
steel safe in the insecure vault. and at
this time there is S94 200 of silver in
the treasury, which has to be kept out
| side of the safe. This insecure state of
the money in the treasury has been a
source of alarm to me all the time; and
in this feeling of alarm for the danger
| OF the situation you and other State of
ficers participated to the extent that
an extra guard was appointed by you.
With this extra precaution the danger
of the situation is not relieved. be-
cause these two guards could easily be
overcome and silenced by a band of
expert safe robbers after so valuable a
prize. Now | am not lawyer and do
not pretend to be learned in the
technicalities of the law. but in read
ing the statutes upon the duties OF
the treasurer of the State l have con.
ceived it to be my duty to receive and
keep the moneys of the State, to dis
burse the same agreeably to law, and
to take receipts and vouchers for
moneys disbursed and to keep proper
accounts of the receipts and expendi
lures. For the faithful discharge OF
this duty | gave bond with good sure
ties, and took the oath of Office to per
form them. This | have honestly en-
deavored to do and have done In
studying the statute and laws, regulat
ing the duties of my Office. have
never found requirement that all the
money of the State shall be kept in
the vault and safe, especially under
circumstances like those which
| have encountered whore tho crowd or