Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-09
THAT hartley CIGAR BOX

Holdrege citizen: The bill to free the
BARLEY bondsmen will not strike a very
responsive chord among the thousands Of
people who have become disguised and ex-
asperated by the arrogant nerve displayed
by BARLEY and his friends.
Tilden Citizen: The passage Of the bill
introduced into the state legislature for
lifting that cigar box lid" would be heart
lily endorsed by the whole state Of Nebraska
barring a few politicians. The people have
a right to know what was concealed in that
famous receptacle, but, unless the guilty
parties in the BARLEY steal get to quarrel
ing among themselves, the chances are IA
vorable for the whole matter to remain
shrouded in mystery until the day OF judy
ment.
Springfield Monitor: II the inquisitive-
ness Of some Of our legislators is gratihed
in reference to the BARLEY cigar box mys-
terry, which a resolution wants investigated,
1t may be the means Of restoring to the
state some Of its lost coin. The rcsolu-
ton also wants ex-Treasurer Meserve's
dealing with the states cash looked into.
However, It is pretty safe to say that with
all their attempts at investigation and eff
forts to recover anything from the de-
f~aulters, the state will never add an
other dollar to the treasury from these
sources.
Winside Tribune: It begins to dawn on
the minds OF the common everyday people
OF Nebraska that the legislature might have
made a good start towards providing a rev.
emu for the state II, on assembling. they
had brought one Ezra p. Savage before
them and forced him to open up the mys-
terious cigar hox which is supposed to con-
tain the secrets of Bartley's defalcation.
N. BIO avoid Misunderstanding, we will
explain that the above was not inspired by
any editorial in the World Herald.
Randolph Times: Representative Knox
proposes to take a peep into the BARLEY
"cigar box" There are others who would
like to know the secrets beneath the lid
Of that same box.
North Platte Tribune: A resolution was
introduced into the house by Knox of Buff
falo county providing for an investiga-
ton Of the official conduct Of j. S. BARLEY
and j. B. Meserve during their incum-
bency OF the ONCE of state treasurer. The
resolution provides for a committee of Eve
to conduct the investigation. This, we
| believe, is a step in the right direction.
The facts in the BARLEY defelcaion, which
has ever been surrounded by mystery.
should be brought forth, II such is pos
sible, no matter upon whom odium will be
cast. The committee should also fully in
yestieate the charge against ex-Treasurer
Meserve regarding his retention OF inter-
est collected upon money belonging to the
state.
Bloomington Advocate: A Joint resolu-
ton has been introduced in the legislature
/ asking for the dismission of the suit against
the bondsmen Of the defaulting state treas
urer. The bondsmen agree to pay the
costs II the suit is dismissed. II the state
have a good judgment against these bonds
men, we fail to see why they should drop
It at this stage of the game. The bond was
given to protect the state against just this
kind Of a loss and the bondsmen took this
risk when they signed the bond, and there
is no good reason why they should be re-
leased. 1t may make a hardship upon them,
but tina is always the case with those who
have to make good the losses Of principals
who are dishonest in the official capacity.
Grand Island Independent: The house at
Lincoln has adopted a report Of a COM
mittee ordering an investigation of the
"mooted" BARLEY cigar box, and a COM
mittee has been appointed by the house, Of
which, by the way, Representative Ferrar
of this county is a member. The people
of the state would like to have a thorough
investigation. After all they would
really like to know where the
money went to, even II they cannot re-
cover 1t, and in the meantime good business
sense would dictate keeping a firm grip
on the bond for what 1t may be worth.
It's an unpleasant subject, particularly so,
perhaps, for republicans, but the matter
ought not to be dropped until the bottom
has been reached.