The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-23
CITY NEWS.
ASST, GUNDERS
IS ELIMINATED
PUBLIC EXAMINER JOHNSON HAS
REQUESTED RESIGNATION.
The Discoveries Rejecting Upon Cum
ders' Administration as Auditor OF
Blue Earth County Prompted john
sons Action, Tho Other Grounds
for Dissatisfaction Existed.

Public Examiner S. 7. johnson has
requested the resignation of P. A.
Gunders, the second assistant bank
examiner who has achieved such no
toriety in the past two weeks. the
step was taken for two reasons, either
of which was considered sufficient by
Mr.. Johnson. Gunders has not given
| a satisfactory explanation of his con-
duct in writing the letter to r. G.
Dunn, openly stating later that his
chief could do as he pleased, as the
''other fellows had promised to take
care of him. However, the irregulari-
ties in Gunders' administration as
county auditor of Blue Earth county,
just discovered by his successor Ed
gar Weaver, are such as to convince
the public examiner that he does not
J care further for the services of his
subordinate. While 1t is not believed se
| that the county lost anything by
manipulation of the salary warrants,
the facts indicate that Gunders had
| the use of county funds not belonging
| to him for some time, and theS county
commissioners have instructed that
either civil or criminal proceedings be
commenced, as the facts seem TO JUS
tify.
public Examiner Johnson made
public to-day the letter written last
l week to Gunders, calling him In for
an examination. It is as follows:
st, Paul. Feb 16.-P. A. Gunders, Sec
o11d Assistant Bank Examiner, New Ulm,
Minn.-Dear Sir: It grieves me greatly to
have to again call your attention to the
necessity Of absolute silence, at all times
concerning all matters in anything touch
| ing the work of this department.
You have often been accused of making
indiscreet comments concerning the worn
you have been detailed to do; you have
always denied the truthfulness of these
| r h. all ,fo a
ments. altho to sustain you has brought
much criticism on the department. Now
YOU have presumed to write a letter which
has found It's way into the public print, as
Stunning to reach conclusions concerning
the records and legality of the acts OF tn
state auditor, which the law requires TINS
department to examine-your only possible
| knowledge concerning these subjects be
ing that gained when you were detailed
| last spring to assist the accountant EN-
ployed by the legislature to examine tn
state auditors office. This examiner, b!
his report, raised so many questions, AM
the work was left so incomplete, that tn
legislature, as you well know, referre'
' them to this department for thOro exam
inatio and reconciliation.
To carry out the request of the 1egisla
ture as we'll as the requirements OF tn
law, you also knew that 1 retained tn
same accountant who had been employee
| by the LEGISLATURE, VINO, aS you are Wel
4 aware, has not, as yet, made any repor
{ to me concerning his work.
Now you, occupying a subordinate posi-
ton in the department, knew full we'll tina
l. you had no right to report or comment o
any department work, much less this In
complete and very important matter, t
i anyone other than myself or Deputy Elk
/ aminer Kerst, but by doing SO to an IN
terested private citizen and by the falls
pretense of authority assumed in attach
ing your signature as deputy Examiner,
gave it an air Of authority which you
position as ''second assistant bank exam
iner' could not give.
Only the governor is invested with tn
i authority to make public any findings {
i facts that the department becomes pos
sessed Of; therefore you have comm1tte
an additional and very grave indiscretio1
| the proof Of which does not, as hereto
1 fore, depend upon hearsay. The facts {
I your transgressions Of authority are s
] complete, and your want of discretion
I so plainly indisputable as to prompt me
= request that you report to this office will
j out delay for an explanation Of your act
4 Yours truly, Is. r. Johnson,
Public Examiner.