Show r I Just Jus Just t Another Political Scandal Scand r ri i IT TT Tr IS 15 amazing that the state treasurer state j auditor and board of examiners remained utterly ignorant of any irregularities in the public funds for more than two years while Chief Deputy Treasurer David J. J Pugh was embezzling Pughs Pugh's confession branded himself the rankest betrayer of public and party trust and a contemptible crook But amid all the scathing pub public ic criticism that is deservedly heaped upon the embezzler the laxity of the system that permitted such flagrant thievery needs to come in for scrutiny scrutiny scrutiny tiny and condemnation There was nothing especially especially- deep and cunning about Pughs Pugh's high-handed high looting of I the state treasury he simply drew more money out of the bank than was needed and nd pocketed sums of a few thousand dollars at a time He juggled the books it is true but merely counting the cash on hand during the period of his peculations would likely have led to to discovery of the steal The definite responsibility is placed on the treasurer auditor and board of examiners examiners exam exam- iners to protect the taxpayers against Had their vigilance even approached that contemplated by the law Pugh would have been caught before he got a fraction of the S The law requiring thorough audits of all state departments does not in intend intend intend in- in tend that supine confidence in a chief deputy be allowed to jeopardize e the public cash The laxity under which such an open and flagrant crime was committed is inexcusable and demands correction correctionS As a matter of fa fact t a sweeping inq inquiry iry into all departments is demanded right now when several officials are about to retire and new new ones come into office Theres There's a party responsibility too for such thievery as that in the state treasurers treasurer's and Salt Lake county treasurers treasurer's offices These embezzlements have reflected odoriferous discredit on the Republican party that placed such dishonest henchmen into opportunities for looting the public funds The honest elements within the pa party ty that are demanding a thorough purging need to go into power within the political ranks Pugh is quoted as saying that he lie has a great burden ff his shoulders now v that he lie has confessed I slept well for the first time in two years he lie said yest yesterday Does he think that one confession will remove the blot from his life tife His is a breach of faith that should never allow him peace of mind Placed in a position of power trusted implicitly implicitly implicitly im im- im- im by his superior he turned out to tobe be a common thief By itself the term in prison that he will receive would be light punish- punish nent for his ignominious crime The deeper significance however of I Pughs Pugh's defalcation is the warning that every possible safeguard must be erected and enforced enforced enforced en en- forced a against the possibilities of embezzle embezzle- ment Those who ou ought ht to catch such irregularities irregularities cannot escape their share of the blame It is criminal for or a state or county or city to have such laxity in the handling of its public funds that it becomes an almost irresistible temptation to men men to steal That is damnably wrong So while Pugh is paying the price for his crime serious attention needs to be given io to enforcing every legal check against dishonesty dis dis- dis- dis honesty in office |