Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-25

eTett OF the Board or County commissioners
told him he had had letters written to
stuefer asking at what rate he would buy
tho bonds and had never received an an
swer. Beck said Neigh had offered to buy
the bonds at 3% per cent and $500 premium,
but that he preferred 20 accept an offer
which ]. r. Sutherland said Stuefer made
to take them at az. He was in the minor
ity on the board, he said, and did not have
his way. He said he nor any member OF
the board communicated with Mr.. stuefer.
Notwithstanding the ~latter's reported oTer.
The witness said he had never ques-
toned the legality OF the Neigh transac-
ton or asked Sears to investigate It. He
said he never heard this question discussed
by the board.
Fodrea was the next witness. He identi-
fed the two checks, $40, 900 on the First.
National and $40, 900 on the Merchants Ma
tonal bank OF Omaha, which Stuefer paid
Neigh for the bonds, and the entry in the
o book. He corroborated the formers
statements explaining that the delivery of
the bonds on July 3 was dated July 5 be-
cause they were delivered after ONCE hours
and the 4th was a holiday. He also identi-
fed certain records of interest received by
State Treasurer Stuefer from the First Ma
tional bank. He said the exact number Of
coupons detached to pay Neigh was 1874 at
N@t AhhAe FpfNVN tue pANHthl MOIIn Oh
$4,000, the value Of the coupons for ten
years. This explained why the $3.50 in eou-
pons was left attached to the boAds. Fodrea
sam he Thought the state got all the money
due 1t on the two checks.
Attorney General Prout testified to having
advised Mr.. Stuefer as stated above and
having heard Sutherland tell of the pending
Issue Of the Burt county bonds. He next
heard OF these bonds from stuefer, who
showed him a letter regarding them from
Neigh. He told stuefer IL he bought them
the Board Of Educational Lands and Funds,
Of which he was ex7of1clo a member. would
issue an order for his action at it's next
meeting. He, again heard from stuefer,
who feared they were trying to beat him
out of the bonds. -
Neigh then went on the stand and after
telling Of how he bought the Cunning county,
bonds for Charles S. Kidder & Co. OF Chi
cagoS and sold them to 'Stuefer, related the
history Of the Burt county bond transac-
ton.
The committee adjourned after IL o'clock
to meet at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.
1t expects to close the testimony Thursday
morning.
Revenue Bill in Senate
The revenue bill, with a few amendments,
will be reported to the senate in the MORN
ing and, will be made a special order for
tomorrow afternoon. This was decided to-
night at a meeting Of the revenue COM
mittee, at which we're present a majority
of the senators. With a few changes the
house amendments were concurred in. The
limit Of assessment for state taxes was
reduced from 7 to 5 mills and foreign cars
were put in the same class with Pullman
cars for assessment. The insurance and
afrnnk atIuuox -oN -
changed, despite the lobbyists, efforts.
Howell Of Douglas made an effort to have
the committee change the taxation on acci-
dent insurance companies, but was uhsuc-
cessful. The plan decided upon tonight is
to have the bill go through the committee
OF the whole tomorrow and passed Thurs
day. Some amendments will be offered and
a fight made to have them adopted, but it
is the general opinion among TIE senators
that the bill will be passed as it comes
from the committee
The twenty eight fusion members Of the
legislature availed themselves of an invita-
ton to spend the evening at the College
View residence of William J. Bryan.
Report on BARLEY Investigation.
The committee appointed by Speaker
Mockett to investigate the .so-called BART
ley Cigar box made this report to the
house this morning: 4
The committee appointed, entered upon
its duties and before it every
person whom 1t was advised could throw
light upon the subject under investigation
and has given an ample opportunity for
manner aid the committee IN its inquiry.
The committee has had before 1t for ex-
animation the following named persons:
]. E. Hill, Robert j. Clancy, Silas A. Hol-
comb, =. Ros ewater, Thomas Dennison,
Mead, Joseph Burns, c.. c. McGrew, whose
testimony Is hereto attached and made a
part Of this report. A subpoena was issued
not served upon Mr.. BARLEY for the reason
that he was not in the city or state, nor
has he returned to the city or state dur
ing the time the committee was taking evil
dence, nor since. The requested
the presence before il of Ex-Governor saw
age, making such request through the me-
oium OF a registered letter, the receipt for
such letter being hereto attached and made
IN Seattle, Wash, did not appear before
The committee directed its EFFORTS pri-
marily to endeavortng to run down the
rumored existence, Of a cigar box CON
tanning II o US" in favor of ex-State
loaned out on his personal account by Mr..
BARLEY, and to endeavoring to ASCERTAIN
loaned out state FUNDS on his personal Scg
count, and II so, to whom. ; j
The widest latitude was given every wit
AACS III OIdEI lidl dHN pObblDll CAAblnk |
clue might be unearthed which would
to respecting these points.
Finds No Cigar BOX.
With reference to the rumored existence |
of a cigar box" containing 81 o U.s.. the
evidence NInaS indicates md G thai such r1mST Is N,
eprang into existence in the following man
ner: In the first trial of ex-State Treasurer
BARLEY for embezElement Ex-Governor Hol-
comb in his testimony made reference to
a box like a cigar box" This box de-
iscribed at that time by Ex-Governor Hoi-
as 'like a cigar box" was undoubt.
eddy an ordinary drawer or till of a safe,
and, In fact, contained bank certificates Of
deposits, From ali the evidence adduced
the Committee is of the opinion that the
rumored cigar box Is but a distorted
Ex-Governor Hoscomb in which were kept
tn bank certificates OF deposit representing
Mr.. Bartley's balance Of state funds on1
at the end OF his first term. One
ether box was mentioned in the testimony.
1t was plainly not Of the size or character