The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-10
Warden Haskell and Auditor
Nation Clash.
Penitentiary Manager Wanted
to Have His Way About Cash.
S In LEAVEN WORTH
State Official Said 1t Belongs
in Treasury.
After Stormy Interview the
Warden Capitulates.

AS result of a conference held
here Monday afternoon between War
den w. H. Haskell and Director John
Seaton of the penitentiary, and State
AUDITOR James Nation, Attorney Gen
eral r. >. jackson, and Governor
Hoch, the latter being a sort of advi-
sorry participant, Warden Haskell will
be required to bring to Topeka and
deposit in the State treasury about
$4,000 of state money which is now,
J and for the past two years, has been
Kept In two of the Leavenworth
banks.
Warden Haskell was also required
| by State Auditor Nation to make an
accounting to the auditors office of all
| receipts of the state binding twine
plant, and all receipts from interest
on the state funds while on deposit in
Leavenworth. The interest receipts
must be turned over to the states gen.
eral revenue fund.
These requirements of the state
auditor were enforced by formal no
tice that unless they should be COM
piled with, the auditor would refuse
to audit the penitentiary pay rolls.
Warden Haskell and Director John
Seaton both objected strenuously to
complying with Mr.. Nations instruc-
tions. and they lined up Governor
Hoch in their behalf. The matter was
eral, for an opinion on the legal
phases. The attorney general held
that the question was largely a mat
ter for the discretion or the state audi
tor Having discovered that the
state auditor was the holder of the big
stick in the controversy, the peniten-
tiary representative capitulated. and
agreed to comply with all his require
ments.
The controversy is concerning the
binding twine plant; fund commonly
known as the revolving fund.- In
January, 1906, Warden Haskell drew
$4,000 of the state treasury, all that
remained in the revolving" or twine
plant fund, and placed 1t to the credit
of the twine plant in two Leavenworth
banks. 1t has never come back to the
state treasury, nor has the present
warden ever made any remittances to
the treasury from the twine plant. All
the receipts from the sale of twine
have been added to the twine plant
fund in the Leavenworth banks, and
payments have been made out of this
fund on the warden's checks. The
state treasurer has had no check on
the fund, and it appears that in sew
eral respects the warden has failed to
comply with the law. The law re-
quires that all receipts from sale of
twine shall be turned into the state
treasury. and that all moneys not
needed for the operation of the twine
plant shall be in the custody of the
state treasurer.
Ih1S mas NOT Deen QOne. IL also
provides that. the state auditor shStl
receive monthly reports from the war
den of the penitentiarv setting forth
the sales of twine for the month. This
report has not been made to the state
auditor. Mr.. Nation wanted the war
den to turn the interest received on
the fund from the Leavenworth banks
2 per cent on daily balances-into
the general revenue fund of the state.
as required by law, instead of credit
ing the interest to the fund itself. He
also demanded that the money not
needed for immediate expenses be
placed in the state treasury, where it
might be properly safeguarded, as is
all money in the state depository
banks. AS long as this money stayed
in the Leavenworth banks. the state
was entirely without protection. The
money there draws only 2 per cent, |
while money in the state depository
banks draws, on an average, 8 per
cent.
Had Stormy Interviews.
Mr.. Haskell declined to comply |
with the auditors orders at first, and |
it is said that some stormy interviews |
have taken place, in which Governor |
Hoch took a hand in behalf of Mr. |
Haskell. Through Mr.. Haskell, the |
matum. The banks said that if the |
state, cut down its twine fund ball !
ance with them to less than $4,000, |
they would refuse to pay the per
cent interest on daily balances. They |
also threatened, in case the state |
withdrew it's deposit to refuse to |
"clear" the paper of the state penf- }