Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-30
THAT HARTLEY o1eAn pox.


Papillion Times: That BARLEY cigar box
investigation reminds one Of an attempt to
choke a dog on butter.
Aurora Republican: The committee which
has been investigating Bartley's 'cigsr
box will have nothing to report. The I'D
on the box is securely nailed down.
Wayne Republican; Maybe there wasn't
any cigar box" BARLEY Just plain took
IL" without the formality OF memoranda
which would be awkward. you know. to
leave behind. Wonder IL the investigation
committee seer"
Limerick Beacon: The "cigar box" In
vestigation committee, il appears, did not
ind the box and only found one mau who
had seen It. OF course he had forgotten
whether It was a stosie box or formerly
contained Memmen's Plantations.
Fender Republican: The committee APP
pointed to investigate the BARLEY "clgar
box reports that there is no such thing
In existence. but that 1t was probably a
receptacle like a cigar box" In other words
an ordinary drawer to a safe.
st. Paul Republican: Ex-Governor Saw
age has wired the State Journal that he
is in Tacoma, Wash, and that he will re-
turn 60 Nebraska as soon as business will
permit. What's the matter with continuing
the life Of that "cigar box committee a
few days longerl
Table Rock Argus: The BARLEY investi-
cation developed nothing new. Very few
persons had any idea that It would, for
the contents OF the "cigar box" were hidden
so completely that the courts could not
hnd them. and 1t was not expected that a
legislative committee years later could do
any better.
York Times: At last the "cigar box has
been investigated by a legislative commit
tee, and an anxious and expectant public
has seen the inside Of It and the mystery Is
revealed. The Cigar box" was none other
than the drawer of the state treasurer's
safe, says the committee. 1t was not a
cigar box at all, but was once said to be
like a cigar box by Governor Holcomb.
The contents OF the drawer were the GER
tihcates Of deposit in state repositories
nest has proven to contain nothing but
ordinary pumpkins after all.
Stanton Picket: The fact that the Bart
ley Investigation has disclosed absolutely
nothing beyond revealing the fact that the
alleged cigar box which was supposed to
contain 1. o. US. and other evidence of
An S4NNatC1 ~
by Joe BARLEY is a myth and never ex-
listed. The evidence disclosed the fact that
no one benefited by the steals except Bart
ley himself. This places Ex-Governor Saw
age in a most unenvlable light. 1t re-
moves the basis upon which pardon was
alleged to have been granted. AS an ex-
cuse for the exercising Of executive Glenn
ency it was alleged that BARLEY was not
alone guilty Of the crime for which he was
sentenced; that be was a victim of his
own generosity; Of a kindly disposition
to aid friends; that others had been bene-
Ated by the money embezEled; in short,
that BARLEY was a martyr II not exactly a
saint. The public was led to believe that
proof OF Bartley's generosity and Of others
indebtedness to hin was actually In the
hands Of the chief executive; in fact, that
such proofs were in the much-discussed
cigar box and subject to ofheial inspection
upon demand. Governor Savage knew that
no such cigar box existed. His private
| secretary, under oath, stated that 1t was
only one Of his chiefs little jokes. Savage
knew this, and deliberately permitted the
people to be deceived when a word from
| him would have undeceived them. Worse,
by far, he gave it as an excuse for the
pardon Of the most arch criminal that ever
graced the Nebraska penitentiary. BARLEY
is at liberty with no way OF putting him
back. The money he embezzled is doubtless
forever lost to the state. For his part In
| the affair Savage should be made to suffer.
II there is nothing else that can be done,
he should be impeached. The Legislature
should act upon his case before adjourning.