The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-16
KELLY IN OFFICE.
Record in State Treasurer's
Office Not Unclouded.
Are There Other Items Like
Bourbon County GLAZING
1T WAS VERY STRANGE.
Nearly 81, 200 Carried in Treas
ury Without a Record.

John Gilmore, of Wilson County
Citizen, Makes Observations.
One of the strong arguments" which
the Kelly papers are setting forth in
defense of their candidate for state
treasurer is that the offense with which
he is charged happened ten years ago
and that he has since had straight
record which should be credited to him.
How do these papers know this?
What about the case in which the
county treasurer of Bourbon county
discovered that 81 1199.6S which had been
sent to the state treasurer two years
before had never been credited to the
county?
why were different stories told in the
state treasury about the whereabouts
of that money during those two years?
Who had that money during that
time?
What would have become of it If the
county treasurer of Bourbon county had
not discovered that his county had not
received proper credit for it. through
correspondence with State Auditor
Cole?
Why did Mr. Kelly say "It is one of
those things you sometimes go up
against that cannot be explained" and
why did he try to throw the blame for
it on to somebody else by saving that
it lad been credited to some other
county?
How many more cases ct this kind
are there in the state treasury which
have not been discovered?
Is this not in line with the findings
made by the county commissioners OF
Miami county against Mr.. Kelly?
Just before D. Fl. Hefiebower turned
over the state treasury to the present
treasurer, F. E. Grimes. that county
treasurer of Bourbon county sent to the
state treasurer s1,1sses. Of which ssss lS
was to be applied on state taxes and
$201.47 to the sale of school lands in
Bourbon county. Remittances are not
credited until about ten days after they
are received IN order that there may be
no mistake about the collection of the
drafts. During this interim the treas
ury was turned over to Mr.. Grimes by
Mr.. Beflebower. and Mr.. Grimes re-
ceipted for the Bourbon county remit
tance.
There was some dispute about how
the money should be applied and corre-
spondence followed. Mr.. Grimes al
TO apply the money AT any rate 3our :
bon county never received any credit,
for 1t until last January, two years aft
er 1t had been remitted.
In checking up on the remittances
that had been made by Bourbon coun-
ty for the sale of school land a dispute
arose between Auditor Coles office and
the county treasurer of Bourbon coun-
fy. Mr.. Cole sent to the county treas
urer a list of all payments reported to
tie auditors office by the state treas
urer. Then it was discovered that
bourbon county had not been credited
reviously, nor with the state taxes sent
at the same time. The county treas
urer Immediately demanded an explana-
tion, and T. T. Kelly. assistant state
treasurer, wrote the following:
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 8, 1902.
III. B. Hart. County Treasurer, Fort
MY Dear Sir: You will find enclosed
receipts to the amount of $4,000 to
comply with your remittance of a re-
cent date. You will also find enclosed
receipt for $1,199.68 to cover a remit
tance sent here some time in December.
1892 This remittance was made D. H
Hefiebower, and it Is that amount about
which there has been some correspond
ence with the auditors office, also be-
tween you and this office.
In some way the amount was credit
ed to another county, and, coming IL,
as 1t did about the time Mr.. Heflebower
there has been some confusion concern
ing 1t. 1t seems strange that it was not
caught before this, but it is one OF
those things that you sometimes go up
against that cannot be explained
Il send you the original receipt, to-
gether with a triplicate to the county
clerk. and have filed the duplicate with
the state auditor, which 1 hope will
finally close the matter up.
i am. very truly yours,
IF E. GRIMES. State II. Treas.
Copy of receipt sent H. B. Hart. treas
urer of Bourbon county in letter of
January 8, 1892
No. 2S31h.
State Of Kansas. $1,1s9 IS.
Office of Treasurer of State.
Topeka, Feb. %, 1899.
Received of Chas. Love, treasurer of
Bourbon county, eleven hundred and
nine-nine and 6S-100 dollars due from
said county on taxes Tor the year 1898,
and on sale of school lands.
On taxes viz:
General revenue ...S9 1871 81
Interest fund ............2 243I
dotal on taxes. .............. 1896. Is
On school lands. viz:
Principal S153 O0
Total on school lands. s2o1. Al
F. E. Grimes, State Treas
By T. T. KELLY. Asst State Treas
When State Treasurer Grimes was
asked what county the amount had
been credited to, he said that Mr. Kelly
was mistaken in his statement: that
1t had not been credited to another
county bu. had been carried in the state
treasury as a surplus fund which they
old not know what to do WITH as they
had forgotten about the Bourbon county
transaction and were waiting to find
wherC 1t belonged.
According to Mr.. Grimes nearly 81 .2O(
was carried in the treasury and nobody
knew to whom 1t belonged
But, the question is. was it in the
state treasury? If it was it would have
bcen reported by the treasury examin-
ers who are required by law to make ar
examination of the treasury every
month The 81 200 was never reported
to the examiners and its existence was
never known by them-at least it does
not show in their re-,orfs