Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-13
THE SANTA FE GRAND JURY.

The editor of the Journal has been subpoenaed
10 appear before the Santa Fe county grand jury
tomorrow for the ostensible purpose of procuring
his testimony concerning the disappearance of the
records Of the Finance Board from the ottice oil
the state auditor We accept that as the actual pur
nose and will do what little can in all sincerity
TO enighten the grand jury.
However, we gave the matter publicity as a
rumor only and did not assert its truth We are now
convinced of the truth Of the rumor. The Journai
expresses absolute confidence in the veracity ana
memory of Ex-Governor Lindsay who states that
minutes of meetings of that board were turned over
to the state auditor for preservation, The corroo-
oratve proofs which will be laid before the grand
iurv bv Governor Lindsay will be convincing con-
frmaton of his statements. We do not feel Justifeo
in giving these facts publicity prior to their con-
sideration by the grand jury.
Public records have no legs. They can not walk
away Some one had to remove them If they are
gone These records are gone. Who removed them
we trust the grand jury will make every effort TO
find out.
There probably is sufficient proof that the act
Of 1915 as amended in 1917, did become operative
even though the minutes OF the Finance Board are
gone If it became operative so as to bind the
state treasurer Mr. Strong has been guilty OF
felony in his dealings with the Santa Fe Bank. The
grand Jury will take notice. no doubt, of this fact.
The Journal would direct the attention of the
prosecuting attorney to the fact that the law re-
ouires state officers TO turn over by the tenth OF
the succeeding month"; all funds coming INTO lher
hands during any calendar month. me insurance
division Of the state Banking Department ala hot
turn over such funds for many months ana wheA
~ did do So gave the state treasurer check drawn
ON the Santa Fe Benk which he was unable to cash
and was compelled to deposit TO his credit IN that
hank This check was in excess of 100000 ana
renresented money withheld by the insurance de-
partment for months in violation of law
The Journal would also call attention to the
fact that during the late fall of 1921 the state audi
tor gave the state treasurer check OF exactly the
same character on the same bank which the treas
urer was compelled to handle in precisely the same
vav and that this also was accumulation of
receipts for many months, held by the auditor In
violation of law. The amount was in excess OF
$4,000.
The Journal would call attention further to the
fact that the daughter of the state treasurer VINO
is his office deputy well. told the editor OF tns
paper that a few days before the failure of the
Santa Fe Bank J. B. Read, state bank examiner,
directed her to call her father by telephone ana
tell him that he (Read) desired the treasurer to
give the Santa Fe Bank for deposit, check Tor
$4,000 drawn on the first National Bank and that
this request was complied with in direct violation
OF law 1t is rumored that Mr.. Read later pre-
sented Miss Strong with affidavit repudtating
her statements and demanded her signature thereto
which she refused
The grand jury may well ascertain what rela-
lions existed between the states official supervisor
and this bank which led to this astounding request,
IL It is found that such request was actually MADE
The grand jury is entitled to every chance TO
know why Mr. Strong had about s35O,0oo OF state
money In this bank. There was a reason. list
of the notes owned by the bank should be before
the grand jury. Whether or not interest on this
deposit was paid to any one, is probably ascer-
tainable.
The Journal suggests that w. V. Gano, public
accountant, can throw light on the admins
tration of the Department OF Education by ]. II.
Wagner.
There are many interesting things aside from
heckling the editor of the Journal which may well
occupy the attention of the authorities of Santa Fe