The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-11
ENGINEER RALPH is
NOW EX0NERATED
FROM CHARGES
State Drainage Commission
Reports That All Money
Handled Has Been Salts
faetoriIy Accounted For,
but That Records We're
Slightly Confused.

After weeks of waiting the state
/ drainage commission yesterday unani-
mously agreed upon a report exonerat-
ing Engineer George A. Ralph from
charges which had been made against
him.
Ralph, who is engineer for county
drainage work, was indicted at Crook
ston on evidence presented to the grand
jury OF Polk county by Sam T. John
son, state public examiner The indict-
ment, which charged duplication OF ac-
counts, We're dismissed by Judge Watts
on motion of the attorney representing
the attorney generals office
This action rather nettled the state
public examiner, who, in discussing
the matter on the day following the
dismissal of the indictments, declared
ne had hundreds of other charges of
the same kind as those on which the
indictments were found.
The attention of the state drainage
commission was then called to charges
which had been made against Ralph in
FOLK county and the commission pro-
ceeded to investigate Ralph's accounts
with the drainage commission
Inc state public examiner has insist
ed all along that he made no charges
against Ralph, but simply presented to
the commission facts and figures which
they called for from his office. The re-
port made public yesterday has been
prepared for a week. but Gov. Van
SAINT. for various reasons, did not find
time until yesterday to examine and
agree to the wording of the document.
The report which was handed out
yesterday afternoon is as follows:
All Money Accounted For.
"A few weeks ago the attention of the
state drainage commission was directed
by an affidavit made by T.. B. Scribnpr.
or Crookston, to the accounts and yOuch-
eTS hled with the state auditor for moneys
expended by George A. Ralph chief en-
glneer. for the commission and while no
charges had been made to the commission
against Mr.. Ralph, the commission deemed
II proper 10 make an examination of the
state drainage work and the accounts
and records thereof
Some publicity having been given by
the newspapers to this inquiry, and in JUS
tee TO Mr.. Ralph and to all parties con
cerned, we deem it proper to make tie
following statement concerning the mat
AS a result of this inquiry the COM
''First-That construction work on state
d1tches under the supervision of Mr. Ralph
has been performed in an efficient and
economical manner.
"Second-That all amounts due con-
tractors nave been paid directly to them.
Ihird-Ihat the sums paid Mr. Ralph
nave been his salary, amounting to $3.50
per month. together with certain small
lures incurred by him in surveying and
experimenting state drainage work
with reference to this division of the
inquiry, the above mentioned affidavit OF
Il; b. Scribner had been submitted. in
which 1t was stated that the signatur Of
MT MI Scribner on a certain receipt for
$50 which had been filed by RI Ralph
with the state auditor was not genuine
Mr.. Scribner and Mr.. Ralph We're asked
to appear before the commission. Mr..
Ralph at that time produced the original
receipt for the $50 paid to Mr.. Scribner
and the signature thereon was admitt(d
by Mr.. Scribner to be genuine 1t ap-
peared that Mr.. Ralph had by mistake at
tached a copy of the original receipt to
the voucher which he had filed.
Other item of expenditure were taken
up and considered and Mr.. Ralph pre-
scented affidavits Of the parties to whom
money was paid and numerous ba nix
checks by which money had been paid,
and from consideration of all matters
presented the commission came to the
conclusion that while Mr.. Ralphs book
keeping and accounting methods had not
Eeen accurate or systematic. he had ac-
counted for all the money ne had drawn
from the state"