The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-08
Given Out Another About Treas
ury Shortages.
Now Mr. Crimes Administration
Is Behind $1,000.
lore THAN DOUBLED.
Was First Given Out as Being
So, 200.
Governor HOch Knows Nothing
Whatever About ItE

The Kansas City Journal this morn
ing prints a story which is apparently
an effort to let State Treasurer Kelly
down easy" It pu2ports to give
more or less completely the report Of
the accountants who have been inves-
tigating the treasury.
1t seems to be the plan to make it
appear that all the shortage occurred
under Frank Grimes administration,
and that Kelly, who was Crimes as
sistant, is in no way responsible ''be-
cause he was helping run the state
campaign" Apparently, Kelly has
fixed it up that Grimes shall bear the
burden of the shortage, and publicly
assume responsibility. The public is
not supposed to know who puts up
the money to cover the deficit Grimes
has a good reputation, and can shoul-
der the responsibility better than can
Kelly.
According to this very latest bulle-
tin, the shortage in the Grimes ad-
ministration will be $1,000. A few
weeks ago, the Kansas City bulletin
stated that the shortage would be
Governor Hoch said today concerning
the report alleged to have been given
out concerning the result of the treas
ury investigation:
I know nothing whatever about this
report; 1 can say that ii did not come
from this Office, and that I am not in
a position to give out any information
whatever as to What the report contains.
do not even know when Mr.. Morris
viii return from Chicago with the re-
port
J. c. Gafford the state accountant,
said: Nothing about the report has
been given out from this office. feel
confident that the contents of the re-
port are not public. Mr.. Morris is still
in Chicago, SO far as we know, though
we expect him back here in a few
days"
The Kansas City Journal a defender
of kellz. seems to have means of get
ting at the investigating report before
the governor can see it.
This is what the Kansas City Jour-
nal says about it,
ID. c. Morris. the expert accountant
who has conducted the treasury in
vestigation, is expected back from Chi
cagO within a few days. Upon his re-
turn he will submit his report to Gov
ernor HOch. He has it in Chicago now,
checking it over with his superiors,
HaskinS & Sells. From Kansas City,
Kan, comes a story to the effect that
Charles Rowett, the state accountant
under Governor Bailey, who made a
partial investigation for political pur-
poses, has been given assurances that
his reports will only be discredited in
SO far as they relate to State Treasurer
Kelly's administration. Rowett was
assisted in his investigation by J. D.
Buckingham, who was tOuted at the
time as being with the Moxey Audit
com pany. It now develops that Buck
ingham was really an employe of Has
kins & Sells and was loaned to NIoxey.
Haskins & Sells are making the pres
ent examination. Mr.. Morris repre-
sents them. SO the Morris report will
report, except that it will not try to
fasten on to Treasurer Kelly as a
shortage first coupons clipped by
bond brokers upon agreement with the
school fund commissioners. 1t was
this that discredited the Buckingham
ROwett report.
while no shortage has been found
IN treasurer ke1ly's accounts it is un-
derstood that the shortage in the
Grimes administration now foots m
S7,080 This is for Intermediates cou-
pons, as follows:
Kingman county ..............S 225
Johnson county Observation-Disclosures. 2625
Cowley county Observation-Disclosures. I. $40
Reno county (tWO series) ).......... 1 $50
Brown county OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $50
Total ................ ...........s7. .O80
Mr.. Grimes and Mr.. Kelly are stfl
trying to trace down the records for
the purpose of throwing more light on
the transactions. So far they have been
unable to find anything. The report
will show up some other discrepancies
under the old administration such as
the cashing of a few coupons stamped
state property which did not get into
the school fund. But the bond brokers
claim they got those coupons under
agreement and that the clerk in the
auditors office made mistake when
he stamped them state property The
$1,000. For a while the shortage was
placed at s3,200 but final examination
brought it uD to 81, 0s0.
Asked what he knew of the report.
Governor HOch said today: I am nCE
familiar with it, as it has not been
turned over to me. No matter what it
shows on the Grimes administration, I
was dishonest. Grimes is a self-made
man, diamond in the rough, and,
believe, honest to the core. his ad-
ministrat ton turns uD short, 1 Gont
know of anyone who will ever believe
that Grimes got the money
Fortunately for Tom Kelly, who was
Grimes assistant, all of the transac-
tions that cannot be explained happened
at a time when Kelly was out OF the
office helping to run the state cam
paign. The books in the state treas
urer's office show that they We're kept
by another employe during that period
Grimes has stated repeatedly that he
will fmmedia tely make good any short
age that may be discovered in his ac-
counts"
Temperatures Of Large Cities.
Chicago. Dec. 81 a. m. tempera-