The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-27
INVESTIGATE BOND DEAL NOW.

deal to a proposed libel suit against tn'
State Journal. If the state officers con
cerned in this transaction were in earn
est and really wanted the matter airec
IN the courts the State Journal would
be glad to cooperate with them to have
the case tried at once so that the people
might have the facts presented in q
manner which would leave no doubt Of
their authenticity and before the state
election at which the people will vote
upon the retention of these men,
No one believes they will do this
Whatever else they may desire it is not
that this question be aired in the courts
before the election. The election means
much to these officials for it will de-
termine whether they shall be retired to
private life or serve the state for two
years more. Great pressure is being
brought to force the men concerned in
the charges to bring libel suits at once
not because they have been wronged
but because the managers fear that if
the charges made by the State Journal
are allowed to go uncnallenged they
may affect the election. Any suit
brought now would be for the moral
effect" upon the voters and not be-
cause the plaintiffs would hope for a
vindication.
But there is another way in which the
question may be Investigated and re-
port on the facts had without delay
and before election. The state has
man employed whose business it is to
investigate just sucn deals as the State
Journal believes the Comanche deal
to have been-a very bad business VEN
ture for the state and a misuse of the
school fund. Mr.. Rowett, the state ac-
l.. IL Of he
truth.
Why not have him make an inves-
tigation and give the people of Kan
sas the cold blooded facts? If the
State Journal is wrong or has done
the members of the state school fund
commission an injustice it will ac-
knowledge its fault and make due
apology. Of course it must be under
stood that Mr.. Dayhoff will allow Mr..
Rowett to examine the records OF his
Office.
William Allen White in long edi-
toriaI demands that Governor Bailey
order an investigation He says:
If the facts are as the Topeka State
Journal states them, and If the state
officers above mentioned are guilty
as charged, then Governor Bailey has
no right either as a citizen of Kansas
ment, to remain silent. Nor is mere
publicity all that is demanded of him.
If the records of the state show that
the law has been violated and that the
state has been corruptly loaded down
with unworthy securities-it is Gov
ernor Bailey's duty to bring these men
not merely before the bar of public
opinion, but to use every power and
influence of his Office to push them as
far into the penitentiary as the laws
of Kansas will send them. Surely
there are laws against robbing the
Kansas school fund.
Either these stories against these
men are true or false. If they are
false, Governor Bailey is criminally
weak in allowing them to circulate
undenied. The facts are where he
can get them. He has an accountant
employed who could give these men
bill of health in day. The story is
N the mouths of the people. 1t may
not be ignored. And if the stories are
.rue-then serious criminal malfeaS-
ance in Office has been committed. If
t is charged for political effect, the
nan who would do so is unworthy of
association with honest men. 1t makes
little difference what the voters DO;
he case-if Governor Bailey believes
he charges true-is for the courts
and not the people.
This suggestion meets with the entire
approval of the State Journal and it
will bring the question to an issue at
1nce and will give the people who vote
he information to which they are enti-
led. The acts of the state board of
equalization and the state school fund
may not have been crimt- |
lal but they were certainly of a char
lcter that requires investigation. For
he benefit of those who may not have
followed the bond deal from the first
he State Journal herewith summarizes
is charges:
That the state school fund commits |
sion invested s123,000 of the states
money in Comanche county bonds at IA !
per cent interest. That the same bonds
we're offered to the board drawing 6 |
Ter cent interest only a short time be- |
lore.
That the valuation of Comanche |
as returned by the county COM
nissioners was at figure that would |
Tot enable the school fund commission
rs to legally purchase the bonds. and |
hat at the request of A. A GODDARD, the |
,roker who handled the bonds, the
tate board of equalization increased |
he valuation of Comanche county so
hat the indebtedness would not exceed
8 per cent of the valuations
When this had been done the time
IGNORED rule of the board, by which |
,onds are bought on the basis of as
as returned by the county as
essors, was set aside. Then the school
und commission took the assessment
IS fixed by the state board of equaliza-
ion to determine whether the county
Iebt exceeded Is per cent of the as
essment, the limit fixed by the state
tatute as the basis for the purchase of
ponds.
1t was also charged that the state
chool fund already held many Conan
he school district bonds upon which
he interest was in default.
The bonds which were sold to the
tate drawing four and a half per cent
interest were not marketable when