The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-31
WILL he ACT?
Mr.. COleman's Attitude in
Treasury Shortages.
Was Once Before Instructed to
Begin Proceedings.
IGNORE DIRECT ORDER
Governor Bailey's Positive De-
mand for Action.
Text of Some of the Letters to
the Attorney General.

Governor E. w. Hoch's statement in |
the matter of the state treasury ex-
animation, which promises to be one |
Of the chief things which will work
his undoing before the people of Kan
sas. is being contrasted today with the
letters which were written by ex-
Governor Bailey to the attorney gem
eral on the same subject.
Three different letters were written
by Ex-Governor Bailey to Attorney
General Coleman demanding and in
structing that Mr.. Coleman bring legal
proceedings against Grimes and Kelly.
not only to recover the money which
the state had lost, but to bring to JUS
tice the guilty parties.
These letters were made public at
about the time by the State Journal
AS is well known, Mr.. Coleman paid
no attention to them whatever.
Since those letters were written,
Governor Hoch has had a more COM
plete examination of the treasury
made, showing much larger shortages
than were discovered during the
Bailey administration, and yet, with
resignation of Kelly in his hands, Gov
ernor Hoch issues a statement which
is an acquittal for Kelly so far as his
right to his office is concerned.
One of Governor Bailey's letters to
ten on October II, 1904, when Charles
Rowett, assisted by j. d. Buckingham
Of the Moxey Audit company, com
pleted their report on twelve counties,
showing large shortages. This report
was transmitted to Mr.. Coleman by
Governor Bailey. In the letter Gov
ernor Bailey said:
Upon this showing made by the
state accountant and his assistants,
there is a serious and grave condition
existing in the accounts of the state
treasury covering period of nearly
six years, and calls for prompt ana
vigorous action from those charged
with the enforcement of the law. ou
are therefore hereby officially directed
and required to take charge of the
matters raised by the accountants re-
port, and to represent the state IN any
and all actions and in all courts neces-
sary to recover this money TO the state
treasury and to bring to justice those
who are responsible for the shortage.
SHOULD you desire in the prosecu-
ton of this case, the assistance of 9TH
er counsel, if you will notify me there
Of I will see that it is promptly fur
ntshed."
Sends Another Letter.
The letter did not produce any re-
suits, and so on October %, 1904,
Governor Bailey sent another letter
transmitting the Rowett report for 20
counties of the state, showing 39 addi-
tional items of shortage. In this let
ter the governor said:
You will notice that there are SO
additional items showing shortages.
OF course this is a. serious and impor-
tant matter for the people of this
state, and for those charged with the
enforcement of law, and demands
active and vigorous measures to bring
those who are responsible for these
shortages to justice, and to recover as
soon as possible to the state the
money that is due.
] That IF 10
from Pratt county represent the coupons
that were sent to the hscal agency at
the same time with the Garden Clty cou-
ponS. From the evidence at hahd II ap-
pears that Treasurer Kelly must have
had knowledge Of who received this mon
ey, and it feels that II IS que yourSeil.
as we'll as the executive department of
this state that vigorous measures be uSed
to bring the facts to light, in order that
Justice may be done. 1t will not do, IN
the face of the report of the state &C
cOuntant, who is a sworn OFFICER OF the
state, to let these facts go unnotlceu ana
/ lynchallenged. and I further believe it is
due to the bondsmen of the treasurers
I during whose term OF once these snort
1 ages occurred that Sucn treasurer pc cail-
/ ed upon to make these shortages good at
/ once, for if during the continuation Of
/ the investigation the same rate or snort
/ ages is maintained it will be a serious
matter to all concerned.
Third Letter With No Results.
On January 6, just before turning over
/ the office of governor to z. w. Hoch,
Gov. Bailey again appealed to Attorney
+ General Coleman to act, and sent him the
/ RoWett report complete for 81 counties of
4 the state. This letter says in part:
AT the time of submitting the two
1 former reports I urged upon you to be-
gin without delay to recover to the state
] this money. Upon the time of writing
/ this letter I have no information, official
/ or otherwise, that you have taken any
steps in the matter whatever. This is a
matter of sincere regret to me and be-
4 lieve also to the great majority OF the
4 people of Kansas, who look to those
/ whose duty it is to enforce the law to
4 protect the good name of our state. Y on
are familiar with many Of the items and
1 have expressed to me in personal con-
! versation your opinion that the money
+ could be recovered to the state.
II wish to urge upon you again, and IN
so far as I have authority to do SO, to
! instruct you to proceed without delay to
+ bring such action as IS necessary to re-
cover to the state the money that is due,
i and to bring to justice those who are re-
| sponsible for the shortages
This will be the last communication to
/ YOU upon this subject that I viii write
+ as governor but I assure you that my IN
4 terest in this matter will be no less ard
/ ent as a citizen than it has been as an
1 official and in common with every citizen
+ of the state who believes in law enforce
I ment will expect of you, the sworn OFFICER
/ 0f the state with your instructions and
/ information, to leave nothing undone 10
| bring the guilty to justice and to recover
4 to the state what is her honest due.
MARSHALL FIELDS PICTURE.