Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-14
SEND FoR PERSONS AND PAPERS.

embezzling ex-state treasurer. Joseph y.
BARLEY, on parole in July, 1901, he
coupled his extraordinary action with
the assurance that conditions had been
imposed upon BARLEY that would, when
fulfilled, fully satisfy the people of
Nebraska. In several interviews with
representatives of the press the gov
ernor sought to make 1t clear that resti-
tuition Of n very large amount of the
embezzled funds would be made within
a short time.
While no specific amount was named,
it was a common belief at the state
capital that the governor had an agree
able surprise in store for the taxpayers
of the state in the shape Of a reduction
of the state debt by from 100000 to
100000. When the republican conven-
ton requested the governor to cut short
summarily the BARLEY parole the action
of the convention was deprecated on
the ground that the return Of BARLEY
to prison would prevent him from col
lecting large sums Of money for which
he held LOUIS.
Before Barley was pardoned outright
the hope was still held out to the tax
payers of Nebraska that a large part
Of the BARLEY defalcation would be
made good in due time. In attempting
TO justify the fnal pardon of BARLEY,
Governor Savage claimed to have in his
possession a cigar box full Of obliga-
tons from parties who had obtained
loans from BARLEY and had not re-
pudiated them.
BARLEY has been out of prison now
for more than a year. He is reputed to
have investments in mining properties
In Colorado and real estate of consider
able value. There is a well-defined
rumor that most of his time and talents
have been devoted to speculation in
grain options with funds recovered from
the wreck of the state treasury. How
much Mr.. BARLEY has been able to col
lect and how much he will eventually
be able to recover is as profound q
mystery as are the contents of that
historic cigar box.
The effort now being made to release
Mr.. BARLEY and his bondsmen from ali
further liability to the state on the pay
ment of the costs of the suit on the
bond makes it the imperative duty OF
the legislature to institute a thorough
and searching inquiry into the deal:
between BARLEY and Savage, with 6
view to recovering for the state moneys
loaned by him to parties that are solven.
before any settlement is made with hii
bondsmen.
1t is the manifest duty Of the legis
lature to summon Savage, BARLEY ant
all other parties who have been mixed
up in his financial transactions ant
speculations and compel them to pro
duce all the I-O-U's, whether outlawe(
or not outlawed, with a view to havini
them placed for collection in the hands
of the attorney general. The BartIe!
d%efalcatiOn entailed upon the taxpayer
or Nebraska a loss Of more than 100000
and 1t is not asking, or expecting, to,
much at the hands of the legislator
that an effort be made to recover a
least a small fraction of the MORMON
sum.
Another duty the legislature canno
shirk is an investigation into tn
Meserve absorption of interest on schoo
fund deposits and the Stuefer bon,
t deals, which have never been salts
factorily explained to the people of NJ
braska. Such an inquiry is demanded
not merely in the interest Of the ta1
t payers, but also on behalf Of Mr., Stuefer
5 who has always claimed that all tn
r bond purchases made by him as treai
urer were perfectly legitimate an
square. If injustice has been don
a either Meserve or Stuefer they are el
e titled to vindication at the hands
Q the legislature, which is the only bod
4 that can make an impartial investigi
ton of all the facts connected with I'll
deposit and investment of state fund
D If. however, any money belonging
I the state has been diverted to privat
1 pockets by their transactions, procee
q ings should be instituted for its r
covery.