Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-31
LET thai cinAR RnxLln.

LIFT THAT CiSAR BUxLID.
During the criminal trial Of former
State Treasurer Joseph s. BARLEY It was
brought out in the testimony that Bart
ley kept in n cigar box a large number Of
uncollectlble notes, due bills and l. o. Us
for cash advanced to various parties of
more or less prominence in political and
business circles, who had borrowed from
him money taken out of funds belonging
to the state. For some reason never yet
explained, the names OF these parties
and the amounts they respectively owed
to BARLEY, or rather to the state, have
never been divulged.
1t is an open secret, however, that
BARLEY while in prison threatened from
time to time to take the lid off that cigar
box unless he was granted a pardon. 1t
is to be presumed, Of course. that this
historic cigar box was In some safe hid
ing place up to the time Governor Saw
age gave him an unconditional pardon,
but whether BARLEY was liberated on
condition that he would burn up or tear
up the telltale notes, due bills or l. o.
us in consideration Of his liberation is
still a state secret.
The only man besides BARLEY who
claims to know positively that this box
contains damaging proofs of criminal
collision with the great embezzler is
Ezra p. Savage, governor of the state of
Nebraska. In the letter recently ad-
dressed to the editor of The Bee Gov.
rno Savage says:
There are many skeletons in that much
mooted cigar box that may at som future
time cause feelings such as som people
experience while walking through a grave
yard at the dead hour of the night.
Now, inasmuch as Governor Savage
has proclaimed to all the world over his
signature as chief executive of this stale,
that he knows the contents of the
''mooted cigar box" which would cause
such fright to some men as would the
apparition of a ghost when g~raveyards
yawn, the people Of this state have a
right to demand that the governor take
the lid of that box so that they may
know the contents and the prosecuting
officers of the state may nave the oppOr-
tunity to institute proceedings for the
recovery Of the lost money from such of
the beneficiaries of Bartley's embezzle-
ment as are able to pay and bring to
Justice through criminal prosecution
such others as have been In collision
with the embezzler.
ne all tba nfnoar.o a.. kIo o%n4o - 10.
expected to enforce the rights of the
state against beneiciaries of defaulters
and embezzlers, and who is In duty
bound to prosecute to the fullest extent
Of the law men guilty Of this crime, is
the chief executive, who is sworn to ex-
seIte the law let the axe faii where il
may. II Governor Savage wilfully con-
ceals the truth from the people and has
purposely and deliberately entered into
a compact with anybody to suppress the
truth concerning the beneficiaries of
state embezzlement he is equally culpa-
BILE with them. Such conduct constitutes
an Improbable offense that also would
subject him to be brought before the
bar of justice as an accessory to the
crime.
While Ezra p. Savage will cease to
occupy the executive chair by the time
the ext legislature convenes be is new
ertheless Improbable for misdemeanors
I'm Office, and the penalty of removal from
office, which is the main object of the
impeachment, could not be inflicted, the
second penalty, of perpetual disfran-
chisement, can be imposed so that an ex-
ample may be set for the coming genera
ton that no man occupying the high pO-
sitioh of governor shall dare to disregard
the sacred obligations imposed upon the
chief magistrate Of a great common
wealth.