The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-01-12
STATE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

STATE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
In nv message to the last Leglsla-
ture recommended that State Treas
urer B. r. Lacy be reimbursed the
1914 "a embezzled by Mr.. Martin, who
was institutional clerk under former
Treasurer Worth. 1t is impossible Tor
any Treaeurer to take charge OF his
office and conduct it for the first lew
DAYS OF his term with new clerks.
Yielding to the necessity OF the situa-
ton when Treasurer Lacy first entered
the office he retained IN the Office the
clerks OF his predecessor for lew
DAYS until the clerks OF his own seiec-
ton could learn the routine OF the
Office. During these few days Mr.. Mar
tin embezzled 1914 "a from the funds
belonging to the State penitentiary.
State Treasurer Lacy almost lmme-
diately detected the ENLIGHTENMENT, and
began a search which showed that Mr.
Martin had embezzled under former
Treasurer Worth's administration
SIG, O6O,O4. At Mr.. Lacy's instance Mr..
Martin was thereupon arrested tried,
convicted aud sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary and former Treasurer Worth
paid into the State Treasurey the
amount of said embezzlement. The
service rendered to the State by Mr..
Lacy in this matter, his entire free
dom from fault in connection with It.,
the fact that he could not have avoid
ed by any diligence or foresight the
wrongful act of Mr.. Martin, entitle
him to generous consideration at the
hands O! the Legislature. again re-
new my recommendation that he be
reimbursed tie amount which be has
paid, to wit: $374,84 am aware
that objection Is raised to relieving
Mr.. Lacy ON the ground that 1t will
establish a precedent, but it can es-
.bllsh no precedent which is not
proper, and that is that where the Of
ficer is in no way to blame for a de-
fault be should not be made to suffer.
This principle would meyer excuse
ono whose bad judgment caused him
to appoint incompetent or dishonest
clerks or who failed to keep proper
supervision over his clerks.
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
transmit herewith the report Of
the Secretary of State and concur in
tie recommendations made by him.
cannot too strongly urge upon you the
needs for a Hall of Records. The
State is paying cut now annually
something more than $500 for rent o.
buildings in which to store books
documents and records, and even then
they are poorly preserved and are sub
ject to be destroyed at any time by
lie. The State owns 4 lot on TIT
northwest correr of Salisbury anG
Morgan streets !24 by los feet, upor
which suitable building for the pur
pose indicated, and for the furtbel
purpose of supplying office room to-
the Attorney General, Superintendent
OF Public Instruction and the Com
missioner and Labor and Printing
could be erected at cost which woult
not exceed the sum upon which tn
State now pays interest in the wa.
of rents. We have great number o
mcst valuable historical document
which are being daily menaced by fir
and which cannot be restored II ono
destroyed. I urge upon you therefor
provision for the immediate erection
of the necessary building for the pun
poses indicated. It seems 10 ne
would be proper to authorize the Sex
rotary OF State to employ some suit
able person whose duty 1t shall be t
: put in disable form all the variou
documents in the different department
of the government and to gather fror
the various parts of the State letter
and public documents and paper wri
iug Of importance bearing upon til
history of the State. Many of til
most valuable papers relating to til
early history of this State are mike
up with worthless matter and packe
away in boxes and drawers in til
different rooms in the capitol bullt
:. ing and elsewhere.
e SENATOR MATTHEW WHITAKER RANsos
On the 9th day of October, 1904, tn
y great man "fell on Sleep" He was
It soldier, scholar, orator and statesma
d who gave much to tho State and serve
l North Carolina with conspicuos abilit
b In many different positions. He new,
o made speech that did not uplift tt
It neopie and make them long after bett,