Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-14

the two leading Omaha dailies. for the fact
should not be lost sight OF that any mall
administration Of the treasurer's once will
be a stab to every good republican in the
state.
Argument for Resignation.
Norfolk News; 1t is regretted by all
that occasion for such a disclosure should
be made, but inasmuch as there was a
shady deal. republicans are pleased to know
that II should be exposed virtually by the
republican party, whose demands, made in
state convention, Mr.. Stuefer has persist
entity refused to comply with. The treas
urer. by ignoring OF but partially COM
plying with the demand Of the state con-
~vention, has practically read himself out
Of hope for further honors at the hands OF
the party and this disclosure is strong ar
gument for his immediate resignation.
Through with Defending stuefer.
osceola Republican: 1t has not been
many weeks since the Republican was de-
tending State Treasurer stuefer's admins
~tration. but we will need a little more
light thrown on some Of his transactions
relative to the investment Of the perma-
nent school fund before we will have any
thing more to say in his defense. w. T. s.
Neigh, one Of his most intimate friends,
was allowed 10 mhht u hlCt ihhNbh VI
some Burt county bonds sold TO the state
for the school fund and the same gentle
man also raked in a few dollars on the
same kind Of a deal in Cunning county.
which was stuefer's home prior to his cleo
ton as state treasurer. The Omaha Bee
is to be commended for the course II is
aking in exposing these transactions, for
II Treasurer stuefer has been guilty. as
charged by that paper, he Is certainly not
worthy to any longer receive the support
or endorsement Of the republican party. 1t
was the rascality of a few republican state
ofhciais that made 1t possible for populism
to sweep the state in 1896 and that party's
exposure Of the r%ottenness Of the previous
republican administration made It impos-
sible for US to again elect a ticket until
last fall; therefore, II Treasurer Stuefer
Is guilty as charged we think 1t is the
duty of the republican party to turn him
down hard in order to show the people Of
Nebraska that our platform promising re-
form is made to be kept and not for the
sole purpose OF electing men to ONCE.
Charges Are Serious.
Ainsworth star-Journal: The charges are
OF a serious nature and, II borne out by
the facts, call for the early resignation
of Mr. Stuefer and the restoration Of the
ill-gotten gains to the state. II indeed ac-
ton be not brought against him on most
serious counts. 1t is to be hoped the state
treasurer may, In the interests OF the party
and good government, be able to clear his
skirts Of any faint OF suspicion in this
matter.
Not Anxious to Change Places.
]. Sterling Morton's Conservative: The
Conservative withholds any comment as to
the honesty or dishonesty Of State Treas
urer Stuefer in this matter until further
testimony has been advanced. At the
present writing the Conservative would
prefer not to be in the position occupied
by stuefer. Nor can 1t conscientiously
give any mitigating reasons as to why stue-
fer ought not to be Immediately indicted
for malfeasance in ONCE.
UnenviabIe Notoriety.
Tilden Citizen: State Treasurer stuefer
has gained unenviable notoriety through
the columns Of The Omaha Bee during the
last week. From indisputaole evidence
printed in that paper 1t is shown that w.
T. S. Neigh, a close business associate OF
Mr.. Stuefer, purchased bonds Issued by
Burt and Cunning counties, but that the
bonds were paid for by checks drawn by
the treasurer on the permanent school
fund OF the state. Mr., Neigh then noti-
fed the treasurer OF his purchase. sug-
costing that the bonds were a legal invest
ment for part Of the idle school fund. The
treasurer bought the bonds at the terms
offered by Mr.. Neigh. who, however, first
detached interest coupons, netting In the
aggregate nearly $500. II seems that Mr..
Stuefer had formal notice Of the intended
eale Of the bonds in ample time to make
the purchases direct from the county
boards. Failure to do this and the subse-
quent deals place him in a position which
is discreditable to himself and embar-
RAISING to the republican party. There Is
no matter upon which the people OF the
state are more sensitive than the safety
and proper investment Of the school fund
and It has been something of a surprise
to republicans not ION the inside" that the
present treasurer should persistently re-
fuse to account for all the money con-
shutting this fund. The political party to
whom Mr.. Stuefer owes his election went
out of its way at its last convention to
plainly intimate it's expectancy that the
treasurer would hereafter frankly take the
whole people Of the state into his confidence
when reporting his disposition or the school
money and this resolution necessarily i'm
piled that he would invest It in the most
profitable manner for the state that could
legally be done. Neither the spirit nor the
AGkLGI Va NAo q RASHA1AA 80 NHS
urer's purchase OF bonds contemplates q
brokerage charge against the fund for maxi
ing such investments. but that is what was
done in the cases mentioned and the brok-
erage was sufficiently large to merit the
term Of "rakeof." The fact that the re-
cipient Of the rakeoff was closely connected
with the treasurer in business AFFAIRS gives
color to the accusation that Mr.. stuefer is
manipulating the school fund rather to his
own aggrandizement than 10 the benefit Of
the state. and this construction, uncharit-
able though 1t may sound. will stand until
the treasurer can clear himself Of the i'm
putation.
Explanations Uns~AtisfRctOry.
Grand Island Independent Tep): State
Treasurer stuefer would. 1t was promised,
explain the Cunning county deal, In which
The Bee stated Steufer's business associate
had bought $50, 900 worth Of refunding bonds
, chiefly with the old bonds. which we're the
property OF the state school fund and which
! his associate. Mr.. Neigh, had no right "a
! have in his possession. AS charged by The
? Bee. Neigh cleared a bit over $1,000 on