The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-08-30
SOME RATHER BOLD COM
MENTS.

Clarlon'Ledger. August %.
Rarely has the State experience,
a greater sensation than that pre-
duced by the publication of Governo
Longino's statement showing al
apparent shortage Of $107, ,62r44 in TIN
State treasury on August 10, with BIZ
pointed remarks concerning the same
He made another examination on TIT
Goth inst. and found the cash to agree
with the books, counting as cash thu
collections OF 800, 600 held by two Jack
son banks.
The statement OF the governor
proved great surprise to the public
and all kinds of rumOrs as to the
whereabouts of the $l07, ,62l44 allied
the air, and various Surmises and con.
lectures were INDUCED in, the most
reasonable one being that the treas
urer had loaned or deposited the
money with Jackson banks.
The treasurer was asked regarding
the matter and declined to be inter.
viewed but agreed to give out signed
statement later on, which he did, as
will be seen by reference to the local
page.
He says he was surprised when the
first count was made. to learn that
the total amount was $l07 900 less
than the books called for" 1t will be
understood that Treasurer Showers
is not his own cashier, allowing Mr..
RailfOrd the exclusive handling OF
the cash. He told Gov. Longino that
when his cashier returned from Ali.
sons Wells he was satisfied that the
matter could be cleared up. And it is
true that when the next count was
made that the money was found TO
agree with the books.
Treasurer Showers says:
II have on several occasions in.
structed my cashier, Mr.. Railford to
place the funds in the different banks
on good State and other bonds because
OF the crowded condition OF the safe
shelves and in pursuance of this
authority the money shown not to be
on hand last Thursday could not be
counted"
This is clear violation of section
1865 of the code, which says that the
State treasurer shall not ''l0an any
portion Of the public moneys, sccuri.
ties, stocks or public property intrust.
ed to him for any purpose whatever" !"
Mr. Showers claims that silver often
accumulates more than he can handle
and that he frequently distributes it
among different banks" on good Sc.
curity. He also allows banks to COL
lect checks sent him on foreign cities,
when no exchange or cost OF collection
is charged. There is no authority for
this course though it is claimed that
other treasurers have done likewise
10 sum up: The State treasurer
has no authority to loan money to, or
deposit funds with State banks. On
the other hand, lie is expressly for.
hidden to loan the States fund under
any circumstances. All amounts due
the State are due at the State treas.
urer's office and not payable in ex.
change on New York, Chicago or anv
outside city.
The law governing the State treas.
urer's office is perfectly plain and in
future the Clarion-Ledger trusts that
Treasurer Showers will follow it liter.
ally, ii it stops the wheels OF the
state government. 1t may not be
modern or up-to.date," but it is the
aw, and the treasurer should follow
t regardless OF consequences. The
state treasurer should be his own
treasurer and collector. He needs no
middle man to assist him in the plain
discharges of his duty
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