Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-09
Liquidator 0uez MiSapprOpriates
100000 Derived From
Sale Of Property.
CREATES GREAT SENSATION.
Republican Press Offers No Eycusc-
Catholic ans lioyalist Papers IlN-
press Glec over Exposure

Paris March s-The arrest of 81
Ducz following has confession that Do,
/ had sapur1rrial.d something like g.
oJUooJ off tle funds derived from On,
salo of church property for which De
"H- thc liquidation. has created great
sensation. limitations are freely mad,
that other liguidators iu the employ
mcnt of the government are similarly
involved.
The Republican press found NO words
ot excuse for the disuraCcd official and
lay much of the responsibility for the
condition of anairs upon tine immense
amount OF work assigue. To- "a single
liquidat0r
40 the same time the papers accord
the government unstintoT praise for
its courage ,u boldly exposing the scan
dal on the eve of the general elections.
when IL Is sure To become powerful
weapon ia the hands of its Catholic ad-
vcrsaries
The Catholic and Boyalist opposi-
tion press generally manifest glee over
the exposure which they declare CON
firms the suspicious long entertained
that the property of the churches
monasteries and converts appropriated
by the state. Instead of furnishing $780,
100000 for old age pensions and other
social reforms as the proletariat has
been taught 90 believe at the times sop
aration of church and state was voted.
had disappeared into the prockets Of
thieNing politicians.
The L'Actiou Franchise today re-
marks cynically:
"Duez being charged by the govern
ment TO steal the church property ran
hardly Doe blamed FOR taking "a part of
the booty for himself"
GOVERNMENT CLAIMS.
The government. while admitting
that the task set for the liquidators was
too large i'm one case, "a single hquidat-
CO.. having charge % the disposal Of the
property of z congregations. claims that
when the report of Irregularities was
first bruitcd two years ago IL did its
fun duty by relieving some Of the
liuuidators Of part n their work,
calling for their accounts and appoint
ing an investigating commission, of
which former Premier Cpmbes was
president. besides initiating the legal
investigations which resulted i'm the
arrest of Duez
Duez was what Is known as an ''ofi5
cial receiver" which Is a sort OF branch
of the magistracy In addition TO his
shortage in the congregation accounts.
the liquidator admits ne is short $500
O00 in connection with other affairs
conhdcd Co his charge
He had the management for rs con-
grcg3tions. involving more than 100000
documents These are i'm such Confu-
sion that IL Is impossible to determine
accurately the total Of his dofalcation.
It Is believed the scandal Will prove
90 have had wide ramihCatious.
The cabinet considered the affair to-
day and decided to detail auditors from
the ministry Of finance 10 inspect an of
the accounts.
MAY BE t2.O0000O
The papers submitted 10 the senate
commission today 10y NJ Combes show
that Ducz's defalcat,ons approximate
g. 100000.
During discussion ui the affair by
the commission the psbHc prosecutor
was severely ceusured for not having
acted more promptly and the commits
sion was unanimous Boa AN expressions
that fatal mistake was made In con-
filling So many cases To- "a single liqui-
datur
The commission adopted resolutions
proyiding for an investigation Of the
circumstances and Influences surround
ing the appointment and retention OF
Duez and inviting tire government 90
have AN of the accounts of the liquida-
tors audited by the ministry Of finance.