The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-03
WILL co TO BOTTOM
GOVERNOR PROMISES TO SEE
THAT ROGERS HAS JUS
TICE
ST. PETER ASYLUM UPHEAvAL
Rogers Friends Say He Is in the
Right and Must Be Vindicat-
ed - Rogers Modest
Statement.

Ca - RO5CES MOuCsL
Statement.
There is likely to be all kinds Of
trouble before the board of control set
ties its St. Peter controversy for good
and all. ]. n. Rogers, the discharged
steward, arrived in s.. Paul yesterday and
called on the governor and asked his
excellency to probe the matter to the
bottom. He said that he wanted a chance
to defend himself and to clear hts repu-
tation. He said he was sure that an un-
biased examination would prove to the
governors satisfaction that he had not
been fairly treated, that his record was
absolutely clear and straight, and that
nothing he has ever done made his dis
missal necessary. The governor assured
Mr.. Rogers that he should have fair
chance before the matter was finally set
ted. To make good his word his excel
lency went direct to the board of control
and Immediately began to go over the
case with Judge Gould.
The governor heard enough to convince
him that at the least a serious mistake
had been made by the snap judgment
taken on MIR. Rogers, and he is bound
that if such a mistake was made it shall
be publicly corrected. Gov. Van SAINT is
very much in earnest to get to the bot
tom of the matter and to do justice to
Mr.. Rogers and Mr. Tegner, the discharged
bookkeeper. While the governor would
not, of course, make any statement last
night of what he had discovered. if any
thing, or what he would do, yet It is
peheVed that what he now knows of the
transaction makes him very tired.
Mr.. Rogers made a decidedly good i'm
preston on the governor and all those
who heard his story yesterday. He is a
quiet, gentlemanly, unassuming man He
was not vengeful in spirit and he did
not eVince any desire to "get even" with
anybody, had no abuse or roast for
any of the officials and refused to criti-
else and find fault with the men who are
believed to have done him a grievous
wrong. He said in reply to all sugges-
tons that he chosen up on them''-'I
want but one thing-the clearing of nv
own good name It is dearer to me than
my position or anything else. Reflections
on my honesty and ability have been
published far and wide in the press. /
want to clear myself III the eyes Of the
public, and when [ have proved nv side
OF this contention L want it published
just as widely and as publicly 1 am not
after anybody"
The people at St Peter all stand by
Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Stenger and are Bit
ter against DR.. TomlnsoR and the board
of control
As far as the facts can be ascertained
without the help of the board Of control
VINO refuse to say on what grounds their
ectlon was taken, they appear to be.
When Mr.. Rogers took charge Of the
office he cid not take a new inventory Of
the storehouse. With DR.. Tomlnson's
consent and approFaI and advice he used
the one Which had been taken by a for
mer emplOyc. lie kept his books bal
anced according TO this inventory When
ever he suggested new inventory Dr.
Iomllnson did not take kindly to the
lqea. He can not of course. vouch for
the accuracy of the inventory given him.
lie says that as a matter of fact there
are more goods on hand now than the i'm
Nentory ard the accounts call for, and
that an investigation will prove that in
stead of being short in supplies the store
room is considerably ahead Of the inven-
tory.
The financial accounts of the institution
dispute.
Mr.. Rogers friends are wrathy because
OF the way in which the board acted.
Without moments notice Mr.. Rogers
was discharged and given no chance to
defend himself, explain anything or ask
any questions. The board Of control
without waiting to investigate published
to the world the fact that he was incOm-
petent as an officer It is this which an
gers his friends.
Mr.. Rogers said yesterday:
Under the old management there had
been no system Of checking When the
board of control took charge Aug. ].
Mr. Hurst was appointed steward. About
Aug. 20 the affairs Of the department
were in a bad tangle, and [ was asked
TO take hold I went in with the distinct
understanding that L was to have moth
ing to do with the books. There arc
about 1000 accounts In the institution,
and the bookkeeping IS enough for one
man. Mr.. Stenger was appointed book,
keeper, and he is an honest, straightfor-
ward man. We took everything just as
1t was. In the confusion of getting the
new system under way, goods had been
taken and used and had not been charg-
ed. The affairs of the office were in
tangle. l think that is where the dis
crepancies occurred. Under the present
system there is no way Of checking up
the several departments. When the
druggist, or the engineer or the steam
filter receives a supply, it is the duty
of the steward to see that he gives
checked up afterward. That is where
the system is weak. ] do not charge
that anyone connected with the institution
took anything without requisition, put
1t might easily have been done.
There were four or five keys to the
store room. The bOokkeeper and / each
had one, and one hung in the office of the
state superintendent Mr.. Stenger and l
did not live at the institution, but arrfv-
ed about 100 in the morning and went
home about $50 In the afternoon. We
were not there on Sunday. If Sunday
patient arrived, a suit Of clothes might
be taken for him, or If oil, drugs or some
other article was wanted, it might have
been taken, and neither Mr.. Stenger or
1 know anything about it, if a receipt was
not given.
The meat of the whole trouble, so far
as I am concerned. is mere: l was new
er recognized as an officer Of the institu-
ton. DR.. Tomlinson, the superintendent
appointed all employees and dismissed
them. If I had any communication TO
make to the board of control, the reply
always came through the superintendent,
ID In n
charge and being responsible for every
thing. Then when trouble came. the SUI
perintendent declined the responsibility,
stepped aside, with nothing whatever to
NJ the hIa fall III.