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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1893)
THE OMAHA I DAILY BEE. TWENTY-SECOND YEAR. OMAHA , MONDAY MORN'ItNG ' , MARCH 27 , 1893. NUMHKR 278. What Say'You , Citizens of Nebraska , Are the Officers Who Helper ! to Perpetrate Monstrous Frauds , Guilty or Not Guilty ? READ THE CELL HOUSE TESTIMONY Speak Out Now Tliroiili | the Press to Your Representatives in tliu Legislature , or Forever Hold Your Peace Report of the Cell House Committee , ami the Evidence on Which it is Mused. The paramount question now before the legislature and the people of Nebraska ii : Can Attorney General i las tint's , Secretary of State Alien nnd Commissioner Humphrey bo impeached for malfeasance in oHIco ? Docs the report of the house committee on penitentiary cell house investigation sub mitted to the liouso March 10 , and ihe evi dence adduced before that committee now oti Illo In the liouso of representatives war rant the Impeachment of the members of the State Board of Public Lauds and Buildings under the constitution and the law ! For the purpose of determining these mo mentous questions the house appointed an advisory committee composed of Judge Donne , Judge Pound and W. L. Grcon. The decision of the commission must neoesiarlly be based upon the report of the committee nnd the testimony taken before it. When this report was made and the testi mony was submitted to the house Tun Un published a synopsis of the testimony and the report in full. Now that proceedings looking to impeachment have been begun the public will naturally desire to familiar- hoi' self with the storv of the cell house frauds as drawn out before th'o investigat ing committee. For this reason wo repro duce the committee report and that portion nf the testimony which furnished the basis for the conclusions reached by the commit tee : To TIII : HONOHAIII.E HOI-SB OF HEPHIISCNTA.- TIVI'.H OP Till ! KTATl ! OT NEHHASKA : Your COta- mittco appointed to investigate the state penitentiary submits the following report : The last legislature made an appropriation of10,000 for buildlm ; a new cell house by day's work. The evidence taken has been almost entirely In reference to the expendi ture of this money. This cell housoabuts on the main building and is about 218 feet long by forty-four feet wide : Its west wall Is the cast wall of the main building ; its north and east walls the north and cast walls that sur round the penitentiary grounds , and its south wall a now one entirely. This work , under the laws of the state , was under the direc tion and supervision of the Board of Public Lands and Buildings , consisting of the land commissioner , secretary of state , treasurer and attorney ircncral. On or about the 1st day of May , IS'.ll , the board appointed W. II. Dorgan Its superintendent with full power to employ all labor and purchase all material nnd to oversee generally the wcctlon of this cell house at a salary of $ " > 0 per month. At this thro and up to Febru ary 1 , Ib'J'J , ono C. W. Moshcr was the prison contractor , nnd TJorKiin was his manager , nnd had full charge of all his Interest at the penitentiary. Including subletting of convicts to third parties. On the 7th day of May , 1HU1 , Dorgan entered Into u bond In the sum of $10,000 for the faithful performance of his duties as the representative of the board. Itnko-Olf on Cnnvlvt Labor. The method adopted In expending and ac counting for the money was this : The board would allow an estimate In favor of Dorgan prior to any outlay on his part for a certain sum , as rPOO , and Dorgan would make re ports to the board of his expenditures. In conformity to this plan Dorgan drew $32,100 of this money and made live reports , which tire now on Illo in the olllco of the secretary of stato. The amounts charged for labor . nnd stone constitute by far the largest Items , nnd convict labor hail the preference over free labor. Of $1 1,00'J. 17 charged to labor by Dorgan. jy.OIU.fiO was for con viols and only fUft4,07 ! for free labor. This convict labor Is charged at the rate of $1 per day , while the average price paid by others who iub- contractcd for convicts Is only at the rate of 40 coats per day. But Dorgan as the representative of the Board of Public Lands nnd Buildings , contracted with Dor- pa * ! , as the representative of Moshnr , the prison contractor , with the above results. Again , there were days when the convicts could not work on account of the weather or luck of material , yet , u charge Is made the same as If they had. The most Klaring in stance of this i < Ind is from January Ul to January 81 , XB'.L' . Nice l.lttlo Dcnl on Stone , Dorgan purchased nil stone for the con struction of the building of S. II. Atwood & Co , of Plattsmouth. The stone was shipped from Cedar Creek , where Atwood's quarries were located , and from Neiiiana county , this Btato , a part coming from Johnson , from the quarry of one John W. Xook and the balance Irom Auburn from the quarry of Van Court & Hood. Dorgan paid the freight In all in- elnnccs On all stone from his own quarry Atwood's price was by the hundred pounds , viz : Hubble. 0 and 8 cents , dimension 10 cents nnd coping 1(5 ( cents , and was sold by actual weight. This stone weighed about 105 pounds to the cubic foot. The evidence shows that the same kind of stone uns worth about ono-lmlf of the above figures , or less , On the stone from Nemaha county Atwood paid for the dimension stone -f'j ' cents per 100 pounds and turned It In to Dor gan nt 10 cents per foot , estimating only 10(1 ( pounds to the cubic foot , whereas the stone \vciphcd about lf > 0 pounds to the cubic foot. In other words , for a car of stone weighing 40,000 jxiunds Atwood paid $18 and charged Dorgan $04. For the dimension stone , plugged to size. Atwood paid 10 cents a foot nnd charged Din-gun ? . " > cents a foot ; or for a car containing 2X ( ) feet of this stone Atwood would pay MO and charge Dorgan $70 , thus clearing JM per car without in any way handling it. What bass been s-ild of the stone holds true of the sand also. Atwood had the con tract for It tit the rate of ? 1 per yard at the pit. while It.as worth not toexcccdlOcents n yard , It Is In evidence that pi lor to Dorgan's t > n- terlng Into any agreement with Atwood & Co. to buy stone and sand of them that other parties had offered to furnish the same to him ut reasonable prices , viz : the Nemaha county stone at the ilgurcs at which Atwood & Co. purchased thn same , us above given , nnd for the sand and Cedar Creek stone at llguros ranging from one-third to one-half of the amoun's charged by Atwood & Co. Dor- pin denies that ho ever consulted anv ono except S. II. Atwood prior to his agreement with that linn. Ho states that ho was not a practical stone man , and did not know what it was worth , but relied on Atwood & Co. to inaku him fair and reasonable rates. Dllier l.lttlo ii ; Oil-ran. From February 1 , lS'.rj , Dorgan was the prison tontractor. Moshcr having assigned th" contract to him on that date , but Dorgan hus never entered Into a bond as such con tractor. From that time to March 15 , lt > W , ho , as a representative of the Beam of Pub lic I .a mis and Buildings , contracted with har.selfns prison contractor for all convict liil'or employed during that period , nnd as prison contractor kept iho time of the con- vK-8 On March 15. Iftt. ' , Dan Hopkins was iippointrd superintendent in place of Dorgun. Ins comiicnsatlon bolnif nt the rate of ? . " > per tlnv Ho set ins to have followed the general kiltcy of Doigan. He continued to purchase etono and sand of S , II. Atwood & Co. at the name exorbitant prices. He did adopt a sys tem of keeping the time of the convicts so that no charges for such labor were made , so far as the committee is nwaro , when they were Idle. In ono of Dortran's statements there are two Items , ono of $500 , expense of board , and the other , WOO to Dan Hopkins , for which -thero are no vouchers. The first was used on u trip taken by the secretary of state , attorney general , the land commissioner nnd the then warden of the penitentiary , Dan Hopkins , to inspect other prisons as to methods of ventilation , etc. There is no pro- tcnso of a statement as to the actual expenses paid out by these gentlemen , and it is in evidence that they had transportation except for n very short distance. The second was used on n trip taken by the then warden ( Hopkins ) and the then chaplain ( Howe ) , tea a prison congress held in Pittsburgbut there Is no itemized account of their expenses , noi ls it apparent to your committee how this fund could bo used for such u purpose. In the first place the money was paid to the secretary of state , J. C. Allen , nnd in the second to Dan Hopkins , and in each case prior to the trip being entered upon. Ionto HostileMnthod * . Within a few months after Hopkins be came superintendent , a portion of the south wall that surrounds the prison yard fell in and it became necessary to repair It. Al though Mr. Hopkins lias not filed any re ports with the Board of Public Lands and Buildings , ho submitted to your committee an Itemized statement of his expenditures up to January 1 , 18'J : ) , on the south wall as well as on the cell house. There is ono item of $ lliJ4.U8 , for stone , being twenty-one car loads , all of which , with the exception of ono piece of coping , was used in the cell house , that Is charged to the sonto wall. This , Mr. Hopkins states , was done on the authority of the board to balance a like amount of labor ( estimated ) that was actually per formed in build1-1 ; a stockade around the [ open space where the wall had fallen in and which had been charged to the cell house. The attention of the house is called to this to indicate the loose manner In which this whole matter has been conducted. AccordIng - Ing to the books in the secretary of state's office , there is yet on hand on the cell house fund $1,700. but something like J1,10J of debts for work and material are yet out standing , and then when the above Item of $1,6'24.48 is charged where it belongs It will bo seen that the fund is moro than exhausted. As above indicated. Mr. Hopkins has not filed a single voucher with the board to en lighten that body or any other how helms disbursed the money intrusted to him. Mr. Dorgan has filed a number , but he fails to return any for 33,151.77 , which ho claims to nave spent. It is the opinion of the commijttco that this work ought not to have cost over 2:2,000. : PuyliiR ; tliu Cniitrui-tiir'H Dolitx. A receipt attached to ono of Dorgan's statements shows (5,500 ( flro brick , costing $ -03 , and six barrels of fire clay , costing ? ' 2J. Tills material was used in suiting some boilers that belonged to the state. Tnes1) hollers , with others , uro used to venerate steam to heat the penitentiary buildings ( in cluding the now cell house when complete ) and to furnish power to run Iho machinery Your committee is of the opinion that under the contract with Mo.sher , the prison can- tractor should bear all such expenses him self. In this case the state not only furnished the boilers and material but the labor also and all is charged to the cell house fund. Hill Dorsrin't Honesty. Your committee , after hearing the testi mony of ox-Treasurer Hill , Commissioner Humphrey , Secrelary Allen and Attorney General Hastings , is compelled to believe and report to to this house that the interests of the state were not guarded by even ordinary euro. Instead of throwing every safeguard which honesty and business methods would suggest around the ap propriation and its expenditure , the way was left open for extrav agance nnd corruption , which expanded and grow moro rapidly than did the walls of the cell house. To bet-in with , Mr. W. H. Dor gan , who was chosen superintendent of con struction , did not sustain that high character - actor for honesty which is a perquisite in such a position ; but had that not been true , ho was disqualified because of the fact that ho was agent or foreman for ( ' . W. Mosher , whoso Interests constantly came in conflict with those of the stato. Under such cir cumstances , wo are unable to coinprelionl by what process of rcasonin-r the board could expect an honest disbursement of the money. The prices paid for material indi ciito Ills total unlltnoss for the trust reposed In him , or his utter lack of business integ rity or honesty , and in n somewhat milder form , the same Is true of the present super intendent. Tot il Lack of C.iro. Members of the board had n very imper fect knowledf-e of the matter , some of them i-Hlmaling , when questioned by .tho commit tee , 'hat they were too busy with other du ties to give attention to this. It appeals from the evidence that the board as such , ami the Individual members as well , utterly failed to excrclso any supervising care over the building or restraint over the superin tendent , establishing n condition of affairs that made waste and collusion Inevitable ; and while members of the board spent $500 or $ IUX ) , drawn on Dorgan's check against the cell house fund , on a trip toother states , made ostensibly for the purpose of enabling them to Improve on our prison management , the convicts have not had the advantage of the most ordinary rules in regard to sanitary nrramroments , as evidenced by the flltliv condition in which your committee found the cells. U Is the opinion of the committee that Justice would compel ox-liovcrnor Boyd and ox-Warden Mallon , ex-C.overuor Tliaycr and ex-Warden Hopkins to share the bl-una with the board for this condition of affairs at the prison. We are thoroughly convinced by the circumstances which have boon bitught to our attention during this investigation that the public service is being drmoralUo.t and the public interests jeopardi/ed by otllcial neglect ami carelcssnrss which merit the severest censure , nnd It is recommended that the authorities take immediate action to re cover the amount corruptly diverted from Its proper channel. TKSTIMONV IN T1IK CASH. Some I.lcht l.i-t In on the Very IVt'iilliir Method1 ! I'in-ilo/i-il. The formal report of the committee to the house sets forth in n brief ana condensed form some of the thln-fs which w-jro un covered by the Investigation , but It Is in the exhibits from the report of the expert , thereto attached , that are tound the most Interesting foatuivs In connection with the fraud , .steal and Joblwry associated with the appropriation ami the b-jlldlng of the now cell house. The "rc'xrts" | tiled by Superintendent Dorgan with the board are live in number , but thcro arc no vouchers for anything but the freight. Out of tt,100 drawn by him from the fund by the consent of Iho board , there are no vouchers for $ T > .1M. ? * . and for the W.-W1.15 received by Hopkins from Dor gan. no vouchers have ever been filed. The evidence shows that before expending the money for material , Dorgan received bids for the furnishing of stone and sand , but notwithstanding this fact , ho bought the material of an outsider , paying in nearly all cases two or three times as much , and In some cases four times as much as would have been the case had the material been furnished by the bidders , or by others nt the prices bid by them. A liberal estimate for the stone used is computed by capable nnthotitlcs at fJ.H'JO.O'J , while the state was compelled through the extravagance of the superin tendent and the connivance of the board to pay therefor JS.777.it ! , an overcharge on that ono Item of nearly * f ,000. Sand was a lesser Item , but In that particular there was an overcharge , as shown by the report of the expert , of $25 ! ) 4" . Uibor cost the state $1S,897.25. while had a private con tractor been leasing the same help from the same source It would have cost but J'I1 ! . ! K ) , Hero is a steal on these three Items of nearly 14,000 on a $40,000 ap propriation. It is further demonstrated that ttio appro priation was much moro than sufficient to liavo completed the buildlnjr , but , as It is , the appropriation Is moro than exhausted , the building has been barely Inclosed , and thcro arc debts as yet unsatisfied for work that has already been performed. The evidence - denco shows that several other matters were allowed to figure as a part of the cell liouso deal , nt the expense of the state , although they had no connection with it. Herewith Is reproduced some of the evi dence submitted before the committee : Kx-Trrinmrur IIIU'H Testimony. J. E. Hill testified that ho had been a member of the Board of Public Limls and Buildings for four years ; that the board hail had charge of the penitentiary under the law p'issed by the legislature two years ago and that it superintended the expenditures of that institution. Ho related in detail the several improvements that had been made at the penitentiary under the supervision of the board , stating that the work had gen erally been put H the hands of some compe tent person. The work on the new wing authorized by iho legislature two years ago was done by the day under the direction of William Dorgan. The board held that the provisions of the law precluded the necessity of advertising for bids or for a superintend ent. When the board took up the n.attcr of building the ' -ell house Mr. Doriran was em ployed as superintendent at a salary of J50 per month. Mr. Hill stated that ho was hon est personally as far as the employment of Dorgan was concerned , and that ho believed that Dorgan was a straight man ami would make the money go as far as possible. Ho could not tell whether any plans or speciiica- lions had over been adopted by the board or not , but ho saw what purported to bo the plans for the now wing while visiting the penitentiary some time after the work on the building had been commenced. Ho had always believed that plans and specifica tions of some sort had boon filed with the commissioner of public lands and buildings. Trusted to DorRsn'ii Integrity. Heferring to the employment of Dorgan as the superintendent of construction , Mr. Hill was asked if the fact that Dorgan was act ing as Mosher's agent at thojsamo time had not been considered by the board. Ho re plied that the matter had been discussed afterward , but no stops were taken to rec tify any mistake that had been made in the selection. Ho thought , at the time that $50 a month was a pretty small salary for the services required , but that ho had at the time every confidence in Dorgan'a business integrity. The matter of employing con victs on the work as well as the purchase of material had been left almost entirely to Dorgan. who from time to tlmO wouhl make reports to the board , accompanied by vouchers and receipts. The board examined these reports from time to time. The board examined the bills and vouchers for material , but never made any inquiries as to whether the material had been actually furnished or not. Ho admitted that there had been many items reported by Dorgan which had not been accompanied by vouchers. Tlicso items were placed on Illo to bo considered In thel'mal settlement , and a few weeks before the board's term of ofllce expired Dorgan was ordered to present the receipts , but witness did not know whether the receipts had been furnished or not. Mr. Hill was then examined as to the as signment of the contract from Mosher to Dorgan. Ho said that the assignment had been made In February , 18112 , and that the board at once discharged Dorgan as superin tendent and employed Dan Hopkins , ex- warden of the penitentiary , at a salary of $150 per month. Ho thought the board took stops to require Dorgan to put up a bond under the assignment of the contract , but he could not say whether that Individual had ever done so or not. lie could not remember the names of Mosher's bondsmen. Took it rioiinaiit Trip , Attorney General Hastings was examined as to the particulars of the junket made by several members of the board a year ago at the state's expense , the ostensible object being to examine the management of other state penal Institutions. Ho testified that the party consisted of himself , Secretary Allen , Commissioner Humphrey and Warden Hopkins. Dorgan handed them ? 500 the day they started , and this amount was used for the expenses of the trip. They visited Lcavenworth , Kan. , Jeffersjii City , Mo. , St. I ouis , Chester , 111. , Chicago and ono or two of them went to Michigan City , Ind. They had transportation as far as St. Louts and some members of the parti had passes from that city to Chicago. The others paid their faro. They were gene about two weeks. They made some investigation of the matter of ventilating cell bouses , etc. , and made some sort of a report to Dorgan when they returned , but iho witness didn't know whether the Ideas worn adopted in the Ne braska cell house or not. Ho had never made an Itemize. ! statement of his expenses on the trip , but was positive that ho had spent all the nua y that h.id bj2n given t him. him.Cicneral Cicneral Hastings was then questioned closely as to his Iinowledco of the manner in which Dorgan had been permitted to draw money on the cell house fund from time to time , but his Ideas were not very clear on th i subject. Ho felt sure , howovjr. that Dogan was never allowed any money until af I . ho got the bills for the work. Ho admitted that several thousind dollars of the fund might have boon checked out for which no receipts had been presented , but ho claimed that he had no knowledge of the fact. Ho asserted that the board was Iu the habit of going over the claims very carefully , but that ho never gave the matter much atten tion himself. Where Information Miy : Ho Mail , ' I think if you go to Mr. Allen or Mr. Humphrey , " said the attorney general , -either oncof them can give you very definite information as Mr. Allen Is secretary and Mr. Humphrey Is president , and my ortieo is attached to it simply as a matter of orna ment , 1 suppose. I was attending to making briefs In the supreme court and attending to the affairs of my office as attorney general. " Ho admitted that ho probably did not glvo critical attention to the matter of expend itures , claiming that his duties as nttornoy general made It absolutely impossible for him to stay in the other olllces and cheek over accounts. As tin attorney ho considered that a bond for $10,00' ) was reasonably suf ficient for n man who had to expend $4.OOC ( ) of the state's money. Coming to the matter of the assignment of Mosher's contract to Dorgan , the attorney general stated that the board hoard of the assignment as a rumor ami till not consider it its duty to take anv action In roard to It , Ho rattier held to the view that the orl''in.il bond given bv Mosher to the state hid not been released. When shown the original iMiitl the attorney general admitted tint he' had never HCUU it boforo. Simply Took \VIHIiim * * Worn. Secretary of State Allen took the witness stand and told the committee what ho knew about the trip taken by sovor.il members of the board to the p.'nitenilarloa of several eastern states. His statements did not varv much from the ones made by the attorney general. The party twk $50J nnd spent [ CONTINUED ox SECOND I-AQB.J IN FRENZY ) ; FLYING State House Gang Turioos Over The Beo's ' Courageous Stand for Honesty. WILD ASSERTIONS OF THE STRICKEN ONES All Sorts of Daninls and Oountor-Ohargcs Made by the Discovered TJoodlors. REFUTATIONS THAT DO NOT REFUTE Larao Attempts to Throw Off t'jo Force of The EDO'S Exposures. MR. S. L. WILEY TELLS A PLAIN STORY Ho Itulntt-ft In Ilvtnll the Mitnnrr In Which HeUisro IIU Information ( 'onceniliiK the ( iovcrnor'H Dmiiiimt fur LINCOLN , Nub. , 'March " 0. [ Special to Tun lice. ] Whom the gods would destroy they llrst make mad. A week ago today Secretary of State Alldu opened his mouth and put his foot in it by devoting nearly two columns in the Lincoln State Journal and the Omaha World-Herald , which arc con stantly defending the cell house robbers and state liouso booJlors , to show that Itose water lad changed front with rojU'u to the re sponsibility of the Bo.U-d of Public Lands mil Buildings for the depredations upon the state treasury. ' Mr. Hosowater's smithing rebuke to Alien ind his associates did not luavo the trio a 'oot of ground to stand upon. And now the fool friends of Attorney Gen eral Hastings arc tryincf to got tip a diver sion. On Saturday afternoon Chaplain Murlin and several ether political swash bucklers went to Omaha to confer with cmi- icnt attorneys , presumably at railroad head quarters , with a view to Having Hossvvator irrested for criminal libal. It is whispered among the gang tonight ] that this action is , o be taken tomorrow , so Js to dr.uv the lire 'roin the Impeachables , niHj muzzle THE Bcc rortho remainder of tliospj8ion. , Tlie alleged libel for which Mr. Hosowater s to ho arrested is the publication of thodls- , ) uted interview between ( lorornor Crounso and Attorney General Hastings. Inasmuch is every jack-leg lawyer.lu'.nvs enough to enow tliat the reported utterance of the gov ernor does not constitute n criminal libel , the proposed proceeding can only have one object , and that is to create an impression upon the legislature tlntj'iUosew.Uer is an unprincipled calumniator and slan derer , and that. f the attorney general and his ' associates are innocent victims of hls.spleeji. Tills has been the song of the gang ilay injinil day out ever since the investigation into their dishonest methods was begun b.y the legislature. Wull of tliu Organ tirlnilcrH. First , Hostiwater wai eliai-god with organ izing a star chamber oommlttea to smirch and convict honest ofiictals without a hear ing. Then Keeklcy was charged with re- ccivini ; his instructions from Hoscwatcr as to the lawyers and stenographers to be cm- ployed by the committee. Finally the organs of the cell house crooks charged Hose- water with writing the report , and groomed Sheridan for his dra matic arraignment of the committee which wound up with the charge that Hoso- water had not only inspired , but had actually written the report. Although this statement was publicly denounced as false and baseless by Koekley , Horst , Davics and Scott , the ringstcrs and their organs still kept on harping about Hosowater engineer ing the whole investigation. Now they are ringing the changes on the Crounse-Hastlngs controversy , and this morning's State Journal declares in bold , black typo ; "The Governor CompletelyUn.nasks the Boss Fakir of Nebraska. Upsowater Caught Bearing False Witness : 'Does Flo Ever Tell the Truth ! Ho Goes Too Far in His Fight on the State Officers , and is Exposed as a Liar and a Snc.ik. " Under these head lines the penitentiary organ devotes a whole column to what ft calls an exposure of a most dastardly at tempt at misrepresentation , and then follows this letter of denial and explanation from the governor ; Ll.vcor.N , Neb. , Maiol25 | , 1803. Hon. George II. Hastings , Lincoln. Nol ) . ; IK-nr Sir I am JnM In receipt of your "note ruined In ; ? the ur- tlclo which nnpuur-i Iti llils morning's HEI : unilur the head of "I'rouniO In Action. " Tim article was a surprise to mo as It no cloiiht was to you. THE HUE has certainly been Imposed upon , for as you know you wuro not In my olnVo yesterday. As I best rom'Mii- liur you linvo not In-tin in my olllco for sovoial days , and at no limp or nlaco has an Interview itch as Is reported In TUB Hue takt-n place. Uospi-ct.'ully , ii. Umii/'NAC. Below this letter , which must have been written from Omaha , where the governor still remains , notwithstanding the Lincoln date line , the governor is represented as having visited Tun Br.E olllco Saturday morning , and calling upon the managinr editor , "to whom he gave his denial posi tively and unqualifiedly. " but that fiotwith- stan ling this Tun BEI ; came out with "a weak denial in its evening edition. " etc. ItViis the ( liivarunr * * I/uinn ; ; . When the attention of Mr. J. B. Hayiics. tlio managing editor , was called to this charge this afternoon , ho smiled audibly through the 'phone , and said : "I took down in shorthand every word the governor wanted us t ? say , ami It was so publlshe.l. If there Is' auy weakness In the denial 1 am not responsible for it. " Anybody who will iv.ad between the lines of the governor's letter of denial and ex planation must sco that > it Is not ixisltivo and Is moro notable for. yrhat it omits than for whit it says. . H After charging Koss-vater with having in vented the whole stpr.v-aiiU denouncing It as ' .iminalllledly false , the , veracious and voracious cious State Journal says : "Tho governor had not seen the attorney ueiural all the day mentioned in the report , and the only tlino ho had seen Mr , Wiley , the gentle man on whoso authority the story is sup posed to have been based , was upon the Monday before the conversation Is alleged to have taken place. " This lots the cat out of the bag. Tlio.TournalndmUsthatHo.se- watcr did not fabricate this story , aivl the only discrepancy about.the report is that the conversation overh ur/t by the gentleman tvhog.ivo the Information occurred last Mon day and iiot-on 'Ihursday , as reported. Tint fact Is immaterial. Mr. Wlltiy Dili Hour It. Mr. Wiley himself , whom the reporter o : TUB BEU Interviewed after the report hai heen denied away anl explained away by Mr Hastings , ( Irmly unhorcJ to hi istory , except as to tno day. Hj callml attention to the fact th it U was on the Jay whan the- republicans - licans iMiu-ussjd over tlw mlris ibillly of sjpp-trtlng Impoach-nent ivs ilutlous , which was last Monday. Kxplanatioiu and denials being in order. It miy rut bo n.jt of place to explain undo ? wh u einm'n tan < -es the re- pan of the CrJUiiHB < t.iBtlir.i lutorviuiv was communlo.itcd to Mr. Itwnv.ilar. Mr. Wiley la speaking of the matter says "Mr. Itodowater anJ mysof ! had Iwen talk Ing over the glojaiy outlook for the ropub lican party on account of the Mosher col In pro , the cell hoa.ii SMiidal , ana frail Is litho the various state institutions. Mr. Kom water expressed the opinion that the parti was absolutely wrecked unless its ropresen ativcs in the legislature helped to purge the tarty from corruption and throw * overboard he onicers who had been implicated in the rands at the penitentiary and criminally legllircnt In their ways of doing business. Mr. Kosewater then expressed himself as sorely disappointed over the governor's seeming IndlfTerenco and inactivity In what 10 thought to he the greatest crisis the party lad ever experienced in this stato. 'Gov ernor Crounsc. ' said Mr. Host-water , 'Is the latural leader of the party. Ho was noml- lated because the party wanted to present a candidate for governor whoso Integrity was inimpcachable , and whom the people beloved - loved to bo courageous en. > .nh to stamp out eorrmnion wherever it night ho found. This is the opportunity of his life to s.ivo thcuart/ : rom lissoliillon and render a great service to the stato. I propose to call upon him through Tun Urn to rally all honest republicans In the legislature and Impress upon | them the gravity of the situation and the imperative necessity of demanding the resignations or voting impeachment of the three state offi cers who hold over from the old State Hoard of Public Lands and Hulldlngs. Thru Mr. Wile--Tol.l II. "It was In answer to this that I told Mr. Hosewator l ho would have no occasion to write the proposed editorial , and then In substtnco related to him what I had over- iicard on the precedlnir Monday in the execu tive apartments. Mr. Uosowater expressed : iimself as highly gratified that the governor Had llnally nerved himself to Uie. cmerKenoy. I'ho governor's memory and mine do not seem to agree perfectly , and I very much regret that ttio matter has gotten into print. " So far as the conversation between the governor and the attorney general Is con- orncd , there Is no controversy as to the time that it occurred , both the governor ind Mr. Wiley agreeing that it was upon last Monday , while the attorney general will lianlly deny it , ns his assertion of yesterday , to the effect that ho had not boon in thogov- rnor's office for a week , was couched ingcn- ral terms , and was made to convey the in formation that ho had not been thcro for four or live days. MH'CIMI I'lno Dlntlnrtlnn , The only particular in which there Is any lifTeronce is regarding the manner iu which the resignation of the attorney irencrnl was talked of by the governor. A line distinc tion is made as to whether the governor de manded u , or suggested It , or asked for it. That it was the subject of conversation Is idmittcd by the governor , and that it so ex cited the ire of the attorney general that ho has not been in the governor's office since ho loft there last Mon- .lay afternoon In a towering passion Is a fa-t on which all familiar with the circumstances nrofigreed. U will bo noticed that the de nials are ch icily remarkable for the clover manner in which they are worded and the things that they do not deny. After sifting the matter to the bottom , and piuiilii ! ; those who are disposed to squirm down to bed rock , it will bo soon that the story Is fully corroborated In all its essenli'il particulars. TUIIX TI1K KASCAliS UUP. Opinions of Republican * on Imjinnrliinctit rrnccpillncH In tlin IciUhiliirr. In order to ascertain the public sentiment In Omaha regarding the Impeachment pro ceedings under consideration by the legisla ture , reporters for TIIC Bnn have inter viewed leading republicans of the city and secured the folio wing expressions of opinion : John B. Furay If I understand the condi tions and they seem to bo as they have been published the accused having offered no denial of the charges then the men who have been in office and those who arc still in should bo kicked out cither for want of in tegrity , or on account of imbecility or in- competcney. Take cither reason and kick them out. The republican party should do this and I liavo been a republican all my llfo ? Frank Kaspar I don't see that there is anything else to do but impeach the men ac cused of such misconduct In olllce. Such work has been countenanced too Ions already. St. A. D. Baleombo If the evidence as published is found correct by the attorneys appointed to investigate the matter , then the impeachment proceedings should bo pushed at once and the entire gang cleaned out. out.P. . L. Perlne The republican uarty can not afford to do anything else than push the Impeachment proceedings. Its salvation in this state depends upon breaking up the unholy combine that has been in power so long at Lincoln. Kd Haney Anything to get the boodle ring out of the control of state affairs. A. W. Clarlc There is apparently no hope for reform and huiioU administration in state Institutions unless some action of the kind proposed is taken. Joseph II. Blair If the evidence published is found to bo true the guilty officers should certainly be impeached. E. i * . Davis There are too many men down there who seem to be afraid that if the mess Is stirred it will stink , The state ofllcers implicated should be impeached and if the legislature fails to take the necessary action the guilty officials should bo prose cuted by the cltixiins in the courts. W. II. Hall The men who have allowed such outrageous steals should bo removed from oltlco at once , and if any of the stolen or misappropriated funds can bo recovered action looking to such relief should bo taken promptly. W. 10. Peebles of Ponder While the state onicials may not have been guilty of col lusion with the contractors it is evident that they were criminally careless in awarding pnblic contracts and expending public funds , and that is groun-ls sunlciont for impeach ment. W. D. Mcllngh I have no knowledtro of the matter except that which 1 have gleaned from the statements published in the papers. 1 think that if the facts alleged are true the guilty men should certainly bo impe.icho.l mid the state protected as far as possible from the effects of their dellmmoncv. M. O. Maul If the facts which liavo been given publicity through the press concerning the conduct of sonic of the state officials are well founded Impeachment , is certainly the only proper course. No guilty man should escape. The facts , whether true or not , are to bo regretted , as they have a ten'tency to give the state a black eye In the cast an I with the capitalists who have money to In vest in Nebraska. lr. H. M. Stone The republican party owes it to Itself to thoroughly investigate the charges made against the loaders and if the o'urges are pi-oven worthy of credent o , to join most vigorously with all good citizens to iuipsach. I believe the evi dence warrants the conclusion that the.su men have rubbed the state and think they ought to bo Impeached. The party cannot afford to bolster them up ; its skirts should bo cleared of the disgrace. Gustavo Anderson In this matter party should cut no figure and a thorough and care ful Investigation of all ot the facts should be Instituted. The only way to weed out the offenders is by a th'u-ou'-h purging. From all of the reports I am of the opinion that the legislature should go to the bottom of this whole matter and shieldno person. Then If the men are guilty they can bo pun ished , while If they are Innocent they will In able to forever hush the scan-lal that h is been brought upon the fair name of the stato. Such an investigation would strengthen the republican party of the state , white a smothering of the facts would work political run ami dlsistcr. John Steel Thciv ought to bo an Investi gation of all of the farts and clivumV.airjcs. If these men li.ivj dune wroii'i , tin 1 the ro- iKirt of the committee * Indicates that they liavo , they slioul 1 bo shown up an.1 forever braii-l''d. I am a ropubllc.in , but this cuts n. > llgnro with in ; . 1 want to s jo an Imu-st adailnlstratlon of the affairs of the state an J I want to see every boo.Uer and crook pun- Isho.l to the full extent of the law. If this invent ! ration is throttle4 nine-tenths of the poonle will ari'Kv at the ciielinim that those state ofllcors were guilty and that they were afraid tc mool the driiycs Simeon 1)100.1) ) My opinion is that if thus MUCH are not guilty , ill . > have iiivn grossly nngligeiii- All things in Jii-itc thit frauds of the most harcfaccl UuU have boon perpetrated While the state oflleials may not have taken u hand , they have stood silently by watching the schemes without over raising n hand to save the state from being deliberately robbed. They h ivc cer tainly allowed the treasury to bo plundered , which fact Indicates that they might have been Interested to some extent. They have allowed this to continue for a long period of time , much airalnst the Interests of the people ple and the state at large. James Allen If they are Innocent , why do they fear to go to trial and take the eon- sequencesf This Indicates to my mind that there is , or has been something very rotten. As a ropublic.ui I say that wo cannot afford to overlook this matter at this time. There Is too much at stake , and the Impeachment proceedings must bo pushed to the end whether thn men are gnlltv or innocent. Hen S. Halter If the state olllcors are Innocent they can well afford to stand an Impeachment trial that they may bo com pletely vindicated. If the proceedings nro throttled the opinion will always prevail that they were iruilty of the charges which have been nude. ThU Is not a question of party , but a question of rujht to both the people and the state. When discussing this matter I only speak with an opinion formed after reading the report of the committee. The republican party of the state and the state Itself Is biirger than anv man or any sot of men who liavo over filled the ofllccs and for this reason I s i.v that these men should submit to an Invest IjMllon of every thing connected with the charges. Party ought not to enter into the investigation , as the motto should bo people ( list and party next. ( ! oort"o KletTncr Ily all means bring the Impeachment chaigos against these men that the public may know whether or not the state has boon robbed. If they are In nocent they cinnot bo hurt by any of the proceedings. If they are gul.ty they must bo punished tint the fair fame of Nebraska may bo sustained. W. J. Clalr I have watched the proceed ings of the legislature and h ivc coino to the opinion that those state oillcers should bo Impeached , us everything points to the fact that there is something wrong. If they nro innocent they ought tu > court a thorough In- vcstl-ratlon. John Jenkins -Of course I am not prepared to say that those men are guilty , but it looks as though there had been a vast amount of the most crooked work. If they are gi Illy they certainly should bo impeached and If they are not guilty they can have no fears of the results ot a trial. K. W. Simcral If there is any rottenness it should bo rooted out and guilty men should bo made to suffer. If they are innocent the Impeachment proceedings should go on for the good of Ilia stato. If for no other reason. Should they bo guilty they should bo tic- posed from olllco. D. H. Wheeler If the facts areas reported by the committee , 1 am positive that the im peachment proceedings will go on. I don't say that any of the men are guilty , but If they nro not they should stand trial and clear up their records. John Grant The report of the committee indicates guilt , and upjn this basis wo must figure. Those state otlK-ers ought to bo will ing to go before the people ami show their hands. Then , if they are Innocent , they will bo in better shape than ever before , but if they are guilty , they must ba driven out of the party. I'1. M. Wapplch Yes sir , impeach them , and if they are as iruilty as appo trances in dicate , put them info the pententi ! rv where they belong. Plunder of public funds should bo stopped. Sol Prince If , after a thorough investiga tion , it is asccr'ainod that the charges are true , the mcmb'-rs of the board should bo impeached. They should be put on trial and if they are not guilty they can prove their Innocence. Councilman Munro It is the proper thing for the republicans to do to go ahead and sift this thing to the bottom. It it essential to the party and to the stato. If the mem bers of the legislature do not do it the party will bo held responsible for H. It Is the duty of every republican member to the party and to the state to go ahead and prosecute vigorously without regard to indi viduals. It is either the building up or wiping out of the party , for if they succeed iu covering it up , a man would bo a fool to take a place on the republican ticket next fall. "In justice to the oflieials themselves , the proceedings should bo pushed , as the members of this Board of Public Lands and Buildings now stand guilty in the eyes of the people- the state , and will so remain until proven otherwise at a trial at which every thing will bo uncovered. WILL M.IK1S IT .1 TK r O.ISX. Suit llegnn lit liurlliiKtuii , in , , of Impiirtnnro to All Cities fthit : Mat is CEDAU H.u'ins , In. , March 20. [ Special to THK Bin. : ] A case of far-reaching import ance , and one of interest to taxpayers in every city In the stato. has been commenced In the district court at Burlington. The case is brought by a couple of citi/.ensof that city to enjoin the proposed grading of a street , and it will bo made a test case of the validity of all city ordinances and the legal ity of all council resolutions authorizing the anticipation of tax levies for grading purposes and of collection of special grading assessments thereunder from property owners. The plaintiffs in this case seek to enjoin perpetually the cily auditor from borrowing any money under the ordinance providing for anticipation of the tax levy for grading purposes , to enjoin the city treasurer from paying any warrants drawn oy the auditor in payment for the improvement and to enjoin the contractors from proceeding with the work. They take the ground that the law permitting the city authorities to proceed In this manner is unconstitutional. IC.illroail Iin.irovjincMU ut Oil ir It'iplds , Cniun lUriiH , la. , Mirch 20. [ Special to Tin : BiiJ 1'ho Uhic'io ; & Northwestern Hallway company will put in a spur track from the main line between Mcchanicsvillo and Lisbon this S'lmmcto s-ip the immense stone quarries aloir ? the bank of the Cedar river , near the mouth of Coon creek , the purpose being to use the stone for ballast. A number of farmers along the line of the pro posed spur have sold out at goo 1 ilirures and liavo the privilege of remaining on their farms during the coming so.ison. DlistUll"ilrltn I'10 l.nv. CKDAII Hu'im , I'l. , Muvh 20 'Spa-i.il to Tun BEK. ] There is much dissatisfaction among the people of the smaller towns of the state with the work In ? s of the Australian ballot law , and the next le-rlsuituro will bo potltbncd to either ropal It or modify it greatly. The law is not nndoi stood and in a number of places the wishes of the people have been defeated. No less than a . do/.en contests have been begun as the result of this , besides a number of damage suks. \\itnliol , n Aluycir. Four Ooimii , la. , March * ' . [ Special Tele gram to TUB Una.jTho town of Amos Is without a mayor. At the spring election Turner MoLain was elected to succeed Mayor Sheldon. After ho was elected ho found that the olllco would Interfere with his private business and refused to qualify. The olllce then rovcrtod to Mayor Sheldon , who re fused to perform the diiitos of It any longer. Citiicusaro in a quanJr.iy as to how to got an executive In a lo al way. Arrcit or an Um.ilri .Mini In Slnnx City ! .SiuL-x CITY , la. , March 20. [ Special Tele gram to TUB BKB. ] Fred S. Turtle ol Omaha has been arrested hero for cm holding 3\30 \ ! from D. Appleton it Co. of Now York , for whom ho was a collector , uinl forging orders and embezzling money from the agent of the Century Publishing com pany hero. Ho will ho prosecuted In both cases. Wyoming'Vinl Crop. CASPRJI , Wyo. , M irch 2Y [ Spjc'.il ' Telo gramtoTiiK Bar. ] All the nluepinjn of central Wyoailir. * h.ive mot Ini-o to arrange nbout blicvirlng. Owners ofIIK,0)0 ) ( ) head of ah < ep are present. Tw- > hundred and JIfty th.us.in I will l > she-Hivd hero. tiU.lfoj'ut Douglas and -"aooj at Lusk. The rest will bo sheared at private JKMIS and at Hawllns , The meeting was a grand success , Shearers from all sections are coming hero. SENTIMENT OF THE PEOPLE Expressions from Business Mou nncl Tax * payers on the Impaachuieut , DISHONEST OFFICIALS MUST BE REMOVED Glvo Tlirm it I'nlr Trl.il nnil I , t the Unllty .Sillier lor TliclrVron - DoliiK I'lnln Wnrili from 1'laln Tun Hen thinks the public the people of Nebraska should Irivo Its siy : on the nll- Important topic of pursuing the plunderers of the treasury to the end. U gives this morning the first Installment of a largo number of expressions by taxpayers and solid . business men of the state , showing the trend of popular thought on the question. , They ' ncod no communt. Siiiitlincnl at Norfolk. NiWKOi.K , Neb. , March 20. [ Special to Tin : HUB. ) A number of the most prominent cltUciiK nnd heaviest taxpayers of Norfolk and Madison county expressed themselves in relation to the proposed impeachment of Htato officials. All are of the opinion that an Investigation should bo had , and arc willing to pay the additional expense in curred by the continuance In session of the legislature. Colonel S. I' . Cotton If the reports as wo read them are true and the officials have been dishonest they certainly should bo Im- poiclicd. And as a taxpayer 1 think the legislature should not adjourn until a thor ough examination h-is been made , and If the ollcers shall have been found derelict In their J duty , then laipoachment proceedings should bo iiistituto'l. 13. II. Tracy. City Treasurer Thcro cer tainly should be an investigation made and if the utllciils nro guilty of malfeasance In olllco they certainly should bo inipeache'd , and the loTlslaturo should not adjourn until It Is settled for tin- Interest of both the state and the parlies so accused. Judge N. D. Jacks > n It is duo to both the taxpayers and accused ortlcrrs that an In vestigation should hi' made an 1 the legisla ture should not adjourn until the matter is horoughly purged. Hon. C. F. 13sitry ! The whole outfit , 'apuld bo turned out and honorable men np- Kint"d. ) If this Is not done the republican iarty In this state is gene beyond redomp- ion. The character of the state officers should bo above repro ich. As n taxpayer I hinlc that an Investigation would bo money veil expended , and that the legislature should not adjourn until this matter is at- ' ended to. Dr. D. H. Daniels , County Commissioner . liavo read the reports In Tin : Bnn and other .tapers , and if the assertions are true the state board should bo impeached. In any event the investigation should bo furthered. i\s It now stands , It certainly could not inure - uro the board to have the investigation con- .tnuod. If it is guilty it should suffer the icnalty. If innocent then it should nnd would bo exonerated , and the stigma which low hangs over it would bo wiped out. Yes , is a taxpayer , 1 would say lot the investigation _ - tigation go on. I vill gladly pay n.y portion of taxes an 1 think in the end it will provu much cheaper , as at the present time the state tax iu enormous , and if the steals had not been perf.otnited it would liavo been mu 'h less. ' Hon. C. A. Mast , President of the Citizens National Bank I am In favor of n fair and impartial trial , and if found guilty they should suffer the consequences. 'Hon. A. J. Johnson , Member of the City Council As a taxpayer I am in favor of making a thorouah investigation and purg ing all corruption , letting the burden rest where It belongs. A. N. Yost 1 think the thing should bo [ irosecuted to the bitter cud. I think that every citizen who has road the papers would see it in the same light unless ho has some personal interest. > Frrniuulnrs 1'uvor It. Fisr.MONT , Neb , Mircn 20. [ Special to Tun Bi'.n. ] The following answers were received to the question , "Do you think the Board of Public Lands in Nebraska should bo Im peached ! " J. W. Stevenson U they cannot clear themselves they should bo impeached. Mark M. Coad I think they should bo im peached. C. W. Hyatt , Editor of the Flail If there arc any rascals there they ought to bo Im peached and turned out. J. W. Love It is what any party should do Impeach them. J. W. Hyatt I think there ought to bo something done with tliani. Judge William Marshall If they are guilty they should be impeached. B. W. Reynolds , President and General Manager for the Nebraska Binder Twine Company Hegardlessof whether guilty or innocent , the public Is entitled to an investi gation. If found guilty they should bo Im peached. Wilson Reynolds They ought to bo prose cuted for the money they have squandered , and If the evidence is sulllclent they ought to bo impeached , but it will be remembered that Aaron Burr escaped. J. W. Goff I would like to see a very thorough Investigation of the whole thing , HaitUiifiyn : Invcstlciitc. IlASTiNOS.Noh , Mirch 20. [ Special to Tuu Bun.j Public sentiment hero may bo Judged from the following : W. II. Canning Lot no guilty man cscaps. William Kerr If they are guilty I nm in favor of seeing them punished. C. II. Dietrich If they are guilty , arid especially the attorney general , of us gross negligence as the reports of the committee and of Tin : BII : would In licato , they should bo Impeached. The attorney general has moro work to do than any man can do and do It well , but in tills case the negligence is too glaring. From u I'aiiier In thn I'.irty. llrsinouiT , Nob. , March 2.1. To the Editor of Tim mr. : i want , in my hiimblo way , to congratulate you for your manly and determined stand against all boodlorlsm , let It eomo from what source it may. and to advocate what Is right and fair oven if it should bo detrimental to the republican party. I am a republican and my first vote was cast in IKM for John C. Fremont /or president which was also the beginning of the grand old parly , and I am not yet ashamed , today for upholding that party. But I can't for the life of mo see. much resemblance In the republican party of today with the grand old party from 18.V ) up to IbSD. It .scorns to tno it has got to bo the party of the capital ist and for olllco only. Wo all know that In all our conventions wo resolve , etc. , that wo are opposed to all monopoly , against all trusts and combines , and for a fair railroad rate and also an tvoiunilcal administration of both state and natinn'il affairs. Can any unprejudiced inlirl nay honestly that they have kept their promise ! I think not. Sol say let the good work go on and wherever wo find our onicials falling of their whole duty let republican opinion pour red hot shot in their front and flank and drive them from their positions , ami , as in the case at our capltol today , lot them every one guilty not only ba driven from their positions but lot thorn bo disfranchised from over having any prlvllt-gcs as American citizens again , Anil , as In the en no of Mo h r , the bank swindler , I say all such men should no sent to the peni tentiary for lifo. not at hard labor , but in u dark lonely cell and bo deprive i of ever reading or ho.irln ; anything from the out side. I would bo glad to hear all honest men speaking out from all over the country through the no\vspipers , condemning every thing tint Is of a boodle nature , As to that man that in ulo the co.v.ir.lly assault fin you , all Hiich should be debarred from oxcrclulng 'any privileges in our legislature now and forever. This Is a country of the good poo- lilo ami for the u'i < ' ( lt of all good citizens , but It Is not a coim'ry to uphold bullies lind swindlers and boodlors. May the good work goon until every corrupt onicial tihall bo rooted out and cast In a pit where there shall bo weeping and walling. GKOKOU L. KOOKI ,