The Harrison times., 1915-07-31
State Capitol Letter


sational is expected from either OF
them. The governor handles none
of the states money, except an
occasional fee for a notary or other
commission. The Supreme Court
Clerk handles fees for the filing of
transcripts and other services pro-
vided by statute, providing fund
out of which he aud his deputies are
paid.
Everyone that has been concerned
in the probe thus far has been smut
ted more or less with the same
stick. Even the members Of the
committee have been themselves
sued by former employe, |, +.
Thomas, one of the expert account
ants for sos, 600 damages for alleg-
ed defamation Of character Every
office examined thus far, with the
single exception of State Treasurer
Mcdaniel, has had its share of criti-
cism, ranging from charges OF care
lessness to what is admitted should
be given a rigid examination by the
grand jury, Ghe career Of the In
vestigators has been beset with CON
trogersy from the beginning 1t has
been a game of give and take since
their official status was discredited
by the Supreme Court, down to the
present time when they and Attor-
ney.general Moose are challenging
each other 20 60 before the Grand
Jury. But the Grand Jury does not
meet again until fall, and in the
meantime the public can only await
the next development The Com
mittee says that the Attorney.gener-
al, as the states chief law officer,
should take the initiative, but Judge
Moose is silent as to his intentions,
Within the next three or four
weeks a report should be torthcom-
ing from an audit Of the books and
accounts of the Secretary of State,
Mr.. Hodges has requested Col
George Thornburgh and Hon Clay
Sloan to select a third man to con-
stitute committee that shall select
accountants and make thorough
audit of the Office. Mr. Hodges will
pay all the bills himself
Some good must come TO the state
out ofall this hodgepodge OF scandal,
insinuation, charges, heart.aches,
lawsuits, lawyers fees, petty poll
tics, shattered TSitical hopes, and
campaign thunder. None can deny
there is something wrong. One
thing that is unquestionably expos
ed is the lax business system that
has been evolved in many depart
nents OF the state government
through years Of indifference, 1t is
not for the unofficial observer to say
that there has been crimnality in
the conduct of the states business
IN any department But II is ap.
parent TO all that there has been
gross negligence and an inexcusable
lack of business method in some
quarters,
These are the conditions that
must be remedied by the next Legis-
lature or it will itself be open TO a
Just condemnation (Which, it
must be admitted, would not be ex.
actly novel experience for the
General Assembly, For the benefit
of chose who pay the taxes, for the
protection OF the creditors of the
state as well as Tor the sake of the
officers and employees of the state, n
system must be devised that will
remove all temptation from those to
whom is entrusted the states
money A start was made by the
last Legislature but it did not 60
far enough The conditions reveal
ed by the reports Of the Inyestjgat
ing Committee, considered without
regard to the personal equation in
any particular must be taken as the
basis for rcadlustment OF admins.
tratiyc methods There must bc a
system Of checks aud balances Just
rs a successful business concern de-
mands, if the state is to get the beat
results, There must by periodical
audit of all offices aud departments
To adopt bultlccry of 1914
Turn ON the Light" No honest
man ever suffered from It, and no
dishonest man should be entitled to
consideration If he objects
There is a fcvulslon OF feeling in
some quarters of the state against
$50 much politics" aud rightly 50
But It is the quality of the politics