The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-22

raising the valuation higher than the
year before. although the average raise
was only one-third as high as last year
The fiat statement is further made
by GODDARD that at this time not a sin
gle member Of the board knew anything
about his transactions regarding the
bonds Yet Treasurer Kelly had told H
L. Kelley, while Mr.. GODDARD was hunt
ing for the owner of the bonds. that
Mr. GODDARD could sell the bonds to the
school fund commission. He must have
known that the only way in which the
deal could be put through was by rals-
county.
Further than that, Mr.. GODDARD made
his arrangements with the county COM
misSioners of Comanche county to re-
fund the bonds some time in June,
about a month before the board of
equalization met. Does anyone suppose
that Mr. GODDARD deliberately allowed
those bonds to be refunded at AZ per
cent, cutting down the income from
them from $3.50 a year. to $685., or
cutting off more than 5000 year from
the income from them-does anyone
suppose he did this without an under
standing that he was 10 be able to sell
the bonds to the school fund? If Mr.
GODDARD made any such contract with
the county commissioners of Comanche
county in June-and the State Journal
has proof that he did-without knowing
what he could do with the bonds, it
shows a remarkable lack of financial
ability which does not do credit to
man of Mr.. Godard's financial interests
and experience.
MI GODDARD says he did not secure
his information as to the owner of the
bonds through State Treasurer Kelly.
This is undoubtedly true. 1t is believed
that Secretary of State Burrow secured
that information when he went to New
York last April and visited the states
fiscal agency there personally.
The allegation is made by Mr.. God
- a. - an
and straight one from beginning to
end Yet every step has been made
with the utmost secrecy and Mr.. God
AID and his fellow conspirators have
been very much alarmed for fear the
State Journal would find out about it.
The State Journal does not pretend to
know all of the secret facts with refer
ence to putting this bond deal through
If an opportunity should be given in
the courts much more than the State
Journal has told could doubtless be
brought to light.
The value of the bonds is matter of
judgment. 1t is certain that they are
speculat tive bonds and not worth par
Even if the six per cent bonds had been
worth par, the Az per cent bonds, bring
ing an income of % per cent less, would
show that the county was Overbonded
and that an outrage had to be perpe-
rated on the citizens of Comanche
county by raising their assessed valu-
alton IN Order TO get SemDlance OF
authority on which the deal could be
made at all. The State Journal has
ilso shown that a large per cent of Co
nanche county bonds which were in
he states school fund at the time of
he past published auditors report.was
iefaulted bonds, and this should nave
the purchase of the bonds, !
wen if it could have been legally and
Without any SubterfugeS-
1t is noted that Mr.. GODDARD carefully |
efrains from mentioning the $4,000 |
ake-off which he secured by refunding |
he bonds. One hundred and twenty !
hree thousand dollars was the limit |
he state school fund commission could |
Jay for the 6 per cent bonds. 1t could |
Jay the same amount under the law /
or Az per cent bonds Mr.. GODDARD |
persuaded the Comanche county COM |
nissioners to pay him $4,000 for re |
unding the bonds. That is why they /
we're refunded and Mr.. GODDARD cleaned |
ID the neat sum of IS 900 in which he |
vas ably assisted by the Kansas state |
chool fund commissioners who of course
rot nothing but Mr.. Godard's good |
ufl1