American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-11
THE GREAT DIsCOyERER.

An interesting incident has devel-
oped In regard to the discovery OF the
unused blank books In the old state
house, and to make Il clear the story
of the discovery as printed In the
Capital News Is quoted In part below:
state officials made Ia interesting,
II not a mysterious discovery. In the
old vault OF the statehouse annex We'd
nesday when they brought to light
over $1,000 worth Of perfectly good
book records packed securely In ak
boxes. three books TO a box, but none
OF them opened. They are records
ordered under the direction OF former
administrative officials. delivered. and
a Is supposed paid for, from a local
nrm. whether the books were merely
ordered 10 pay a political debt and
then put away la the vault with no in
tentiOn OF ever using them. Is not
known. The officials propose 10 find
out They are satisfied that into the
books went some OF the taxes formerly
collected from the people Of the state.
Governor Alexander aud Secretary
Of State Dougherty made the discovery.
They are members OF the board which
has the responsibility OF the manage
mont OF the s%tatehouse The secre-
tury OF state IA custodian. While max
Ing the rounds of the state property
they went into the vault. In search
INK about the interior they ran across
six boxes, securely nailed MP. but ap-
parently containing something Of val
ne. tor they were quite heavy. Their
curiosity being aroused. they decided
% make IA further Investigation.
Reading the above account, one
would think that tho governor anne
hy accident on evidences OF political
graft that he thought would reflect on
Tho statesman
The governor and the secretary OF
state came upon these books at the
opportuue moment-just as some n
pleasant publicity vas being given 20
the dOings OF some state officials.
II seems. though. hat this was the
second time Moses had made this dis
covery-the first time was not oppOr-
tune. There was then q legislature to
come. and there might have been a
demand for a real committee on state
affairs 20 make a real report,
In December. 1916. Axel Hamstedt.
then a member OF the public utilities
commission. and MIR. Rinehart, an
expert accountant then In the en-
ploy OF the state. who was retained to
investigate state affairs and prepare a
new system OF account keeping, land
there Is another story connected with
that. made the first discovery OF the
unused books.
They notified the gOvernor OF their
md. but he a reluctant TO examine
the newly discovered volumes. and
they had To insist upon his SONG to
the old state house building and max
Ing an inspection OF the unused books.
Mr.. Rinehart, the accountant, rec
commended the books highly TO the
goYernor, and told the states chief
executive that II the volumes in qucs-
ton were used In the land department
there would be no possibility OF any
thing going wrong In the handling OF
state lands or land records. For rea-
sons best known 10 himself the gov
ernor turned a deaf ear TO these rec
concentrations. and kept 90 himself
the fact that the books had been dis
covered.
Tho governor knew OF these books
before the legislature met and II they
suggested 10 him a damned steal
why did he not bring them TO the at.
tention Of the legislative committees
Why should this great discovery be
kept from the public or nine months
II. in his opinion. Il pointed TO som,
graft. Why did he not bring Il out Al
once?-Ssatesman.
I The declaration Of Food Administra
tor Hoover. published in this issue
that there will be no changes in tn
wheat prices established, nor in tn