Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03

this investigation of Meserve will use the
same zeal in investigating the shady bond
deals Of present Treasurer Stuefer, and
also his relation to the interest account
Of the school fund; II they will Investigate
and indict former Treasurer BARLEY for
the embezzlement for which he has not yet
been indicted, then they will prove them
selves to be actuated BY just motives. But
II they stop with Meserve. that fact itself
will brand the whole proceeding as po-
litical humbug, as far as the motive Is
concerned.
Fremont Leader (pop.): The man in this
state who dares to oppose a certain gang
who have long ruled Nebraska and shows
them a better way of concluding the state
and its finances, must be crucined. The
gang, when they secured a grand jury
that would obey their mandates. put the
screws to do the work that they say nailed
Meserve instead Of Stuefer. II they have
nailed Meserve, as they claim. then where
are we TO look for an honest man? Elk
treasurer Meserve could have carried On
the work Of the treasurer's Office as his
predecessor had done and the state would
have lost half a million dollars. But no.
every one knows he saved millions to the
state instead, and invested the school
funds In good securities, and bought state
warrants as fast as he could obtain them.
BY good management he raised state war
rants to a premium after being at a dis
count Of about 10 per. cent, thus rendering
the most faithful service until partisans
blacken his character in an inquisition
chamber. This has been his record UP to
this time and actual settlement by cash:
and we expect, when the case is brought
into court, IL ever, he will prove that he
was a faithful servant OF the people. IL
not, he ought to die with the other political
dead ducks. Until then we will believe
in the man who set the state finances going
in a businessike manner.
Rushville Standard (pop); The grand
Jury has indicted ex-Treasurer Meserve, &C
cusing him OF receiving interest on school
money and refusing to turn II over to the
school fund. That there is political chilean
cry behind this movement very few people
doubt. The republican political ring have
made every effort within their power to
trump up some charge Of dishonesty against
some populist official to onset the thieving
of the republican state officials. They hrst
raised an accusation against Secretary OF
State Porter, and tried for awhile to make
a cinch of 1t, but were beaten at their own
game. Their next move was to go after J.
NJ. Gafin, the state oil inspector. They
claimed he was short in his accounts to the
tune Of $795.02, but again they we're foiled
in their attempt to bring dishonor on an in
nocent mar and the popullst party. With a
bulldog tenacity they are hanging on and
seem determined that some trumped up
charge must be brought before the people
to balance their side Of Bartleyism, so
charges are brought against Meserve. II
ex-State Treasurer Meserve is guilty of the
charges brought against him no paper In
the state would advocate his punishment
quicker than the Standard, but we will have
to have more proof Of hat guilt than has
yet been in evidence. Meserve gave bonds
in a surety company and at the end Of his
term the surety bond company checked up
his accounts and reported every penny ac-
counted for. Mr.. Stuefer, his successor,
checked over the accounts again and found
a perfect balance. We anxiously await fnal
results.
Madison Mail ex-senator Allen): Last
week. Just before the district court ad-
journed and as a fitting finale to Ben
Bakers partisan judicial career, the Doug
las county grand Jury found an indlct-
ment against Hon. J. B.. Meserve. late state
treasurer, for embezzling state money. No
one believes Meserve guilty, and we predict
NNNS "aCA ~ 40 tAABo NJ ~ oNoh0
higher In the estimation Of the people, II
that be possible, than ever. 1t Is claimed,
as We understand the charge, that Meserve
received interest on state deposits which
he did not account for and that the act
constitutes embeszlement. Mr.. Meserve Of
course emphatically denies the accusation,
But II the claim be true he did no more
than follow the unbroken precedent Of re-
publican state treasurers during the en-
tire history OF the state. and republicans
ought not object to fusionists following in
their footsteps. But M one places any
reliance on the charge. It was not made
because 1t was supposed Meserve is guilty,
but to draw public attention from the
record OF Savage and stuefer and other de-
l~inquent state officials and to enable re-
publican journals to counterire on fusion
lists. 1t is purely a rotten partisan affair
and a very dirty one at that. The interest
Of no political party requires that the
name Of an innocent man be besmirched
by an accusation OF this kind, and the
charge against Meserye viii fall fiat and
recoiI on those who instigated It. The
grand jury OF Douglas county which found
the indictment was a ragtag and bobtail
body, such as can be easily convened In
a center Of population and induced to in
diet Amos anyone at the suggestion Of
sinister influences usually found hanging
around the courthouse In such places.
Heretofore the judiciary Of Douglas county
has been reasonably free from Jobs OF this
kind, but Ben Bakers court has left q stain
on its fair name that cannot be easily
erased.
Broken Bow Beacon (pop.): The grand
Jury Of Douglas county, last week, indicte
ex-State Treasurer ]. b. Meserye for EN-
bezzlement OF public funds. The South
Omaha stock yards bank ~ofheials furnished
the testimony upon which the Indictment
was based, and 1t appears that he is
charged with having appropriated to his
own use, while acting as state treasurer.
the interest for one year on $50. 900 OF
school money. Mr.. Meserve has given
bond to appear at the next term Of court.
but stoutly denies that there Is anything
whatever in the charge. 1t will be re-
membered that Mr.. Meserve was the popu-
list state treasurer from January. 1897, to
January, 1901, and as such oflcer made a
splendid record In the investment OF school
funds and IN the skillful management of
the state finances generally. In fact. he
made a record that was pointed to with
pride by all, not Influenced by partisan
zeal. The Beacon IS 10th TO believe that
Mr.. Meserye was recreant to duty. His
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