The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-17
Accountants Report Confirms
Condition in Treasury.
Sixty Thousand Discrepancies
i'm School Fund.
IT COVERS TWO TERMS.
Attention Called to Coupons Not
Accounted For.
Comanehe County Bond Deal
Referred To.
RECORDS MUTILATED
Auditors Bond Books We're
CIumsily Altered.
States Stamp Erased From
Cancelled Coupons.
RECORDS MUTILATED
Auditors Bond Books We're
Clumsily Altered.
States Stamp Erased From
Cancelled Coupons.

At 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the
governor made public his summary of
the Norris report. on the condition Of
the state treasury.
This summary of FIVE columns was
printed in a state Journal extra issue at
o'clock last night
This new report fully substantiates.
the Rowett reports made to Governor
Bailey. goes much further and adds
other irregularities.
Tt shows total shortage i'm the state
treasury of about $4,000. of which
100000 is due to missing coupons from
bonds owned by the state school fund,
and $4,000 due to the loss of interest
on warrants issued to the state of
Kansas by the territory of oklahoma.
Most Of the shortage is found to be in
the Grimes administration. The short
age under the Kelly administration is
Considerable
AS forecasted iu the state Journal,
disclosures of a most sensational ma
ture concerning erasures of the ''state
property" stamp from the back of
coupons and muHlation Of records in
the state treasurer's and state au-
ditOrrs office are made
Frank Crimes upon whom the bur
den of the responsibility is placed
makes "a long statement published
today. lie denies absolutely any re-
sponsibihty for the Oklahoma warrant
interest and says that he is able to
account SATISFACTORILY for all the cou-
pom shortages except sL215. Il am
willing TO make good whatever short
age I am responsible for" says Mr.
Grimes
Grimes puts the blame for some of
the grave discrepancies upon his chief
clerk. O.. r. Richey. He says that
Bichey kept the cash book from July
is. 1900, to November p, 1900, and
that if any Irregularities exist Richey
is tile man to explain.
The report shows that the state paid
interest ON its own money in Comanche
county bond transaction and declares
the amount should be refunded. This
was shown in the dispositions in Com
anche county case. taken in libel case
against the State Journal
No Shortages Before Grimes.
A point that has never before been
brought is that the Norris report goes
back to January /. 1898. year and
fourteen days prior to the time Grimes
became state treasurer. This year and
fourteen days was while d. II. Hefe-
bower Populist was state treasurer
During that time not a dollars short
age was found i'm the state school fund
and the only Discrepancy of any kind
calling for explanation was shortage
of S34.71 i'm connection with Oklahoma
warrants. The shortages seem to have
.f4-
Grimes administration.
The summary given out by the gov
ernor reads as follows. The sub-head-
ings are sometimes supplied by the
State Journal
The Governors Summary.
In accordance with authority Of the
legislature, as expressed i'm chapter 4e1
OF the session laws of 1905. 1 employed
the firm of Haskins & Sells. certified
public accountants, of Chicago and New
York. to make an examination and re-
port of the condition of the state treas
ury. The examination has been made
covering the time from January 1898
to June 30 1905. and the report has beer
submitted to me.
I have made the following sun,n,ar,
of the contents of the report of the eral.
ial accountant in order that a clear mn
delstanding of the substance of the re-
port may be given to all who are inter
esled- / do not desire to be understoo,
as saying that I have i'm this slInl1nar-
set forth everything that may interes
the public, and at the same time viii
say that I have not Intentionally with
held anything which would i'm nv indie
ment, be of special interest to the nI1hIi5
The report is so extensive that ohase
OF the Teport of very great interest +
the public have not been elabora ted b,7
concurrently with and following the DIV
ing of this summary. I shall treat tn
report as public document to whic
all persons interested may have aces
at reasonable and proper times.
The report as it concerns the v-ar-rs mt
issued by Oklahoma territory is i'm suh
stance as follows:
1he state of Kansas upon its con
tracts to keep pris Jners for Olzlabor,
has for number Of years received nav
ment i'm warrants issued by that terri
tory Nearly all if not ALL these v5aI
rants have not been paid upon nresenfa
ton but have been stamped tv tn
treasurer of Oklahoma Not 7said fl
want of funds. and thereafter unf
called" by the territory for pavu7er
have drawn interest at per cent ms
annum. Using now the language Z
the report:
state Loses $4,000 From Olzlahom,
t.The face value Of these warrants bs
been properly accounted for on the stat