The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-04-07
Report

OF THE MAJORITY or THE JUDICIARY
~ COMMITTEES, ON, SENATE BILL N UM-
! RER "a. CONCERNING THE POWERS
AND d TIES OF THE STATE AUDI.
TOR. IN SENATE, FEBRUARY IL, 1s49.
~ Y r. 'a79 [coNcLuDED.l 'th Z" alro
~ The twenty first article OF the consti-
'stiiution expressly provides that 'sno
money y shall be drawn from the treasury
but 10 consequences Of appropriations
made BY law" The Trainers Of the
constitution no doubt thought that they
were erectinga barrier ngainst waste
sul prodigality-in expenditures Of the
pdblic money. But What do paper
barriers avail against the efforts Of un-
scrupuIous men, intentupon she graliii I
cation of their avarice, Il they can i'm.
pose upon the supineness. delude the
judgment, or betray the rcon6dence Of
the membersof the Assembly, Except
sas 10 the trifling sum raised and expen--
'ded by the Legislature, this article, for
Ill practicable purposes, might as well
be expnnged from the constitution. =
And il is worthy Of observation that
the salaries Of few public officers and
the sum necessary TO support our benev-
!olsni sasyiums are susceptible ofgthe
easiest computation, their amount can
scarcely be mistaken, while the great
expenditures abandoned to the discre-
tiop Of a single man, or Of iunto Of
Two or three men, are susceptible Of
the grosssst abuses. What efectual
check can be devised TO prevent profit,
gate extravaganza in the expenditures
Tor the repairs Of our public works, ex-
cept open investigation, examination
and discussion BY the peoples represen.
tative.. Yet nothing Of the kind takes
place, neither The people nor their rep
resentatives are consulted about the
matter. The Governor has reported
il his last annual message, an expendi-
aure Of more than four hundred and sew.
enty.two thousand dollars, made during
the pas, year. for the repair or the pub
lie works. Not one dollar Of this mon
;sy was appropriated BY the General
, Assembly. 49,. . ! { ~ '''s ~
= But Senators on the other side Of The
chamber, can,end tha, the Board Of
Canal Fund Commissioners consiling
% before remarked. Of the Auditor and
Treasurer Of State, and one other me m.
Der make these appropriations. And
they are clearly borne out by the AS.
ssmbly act on The subject. But neither
she Senator nor the Assembly act can
discourse ipielligibly, on, ,hs matter
without using language which prssupl
poses the repeal Of the above mention.
'Sd.article Of The constitution. 'aa,0 G
The 4th section Of the act Of the Cd |
II March, "A. d., 846, 10 prescribe The
dDsiss Of The Board Of Public Works.
ths, Canal Fond Commissionsrs,. tile |
Audisof and Treasurer Of State, in re,
gard 10 the receipt and disburser rient 81
ihe canal fund. &C., provides id gsner.
Il that the Board Of Public Works NAV
make reQuisi,ions On the commits oners |
81 de canal fund for money. and ,hs
commissioners cf that fund shall appro.
psiats such portion Of the gross rsve.
nOes received into The State Treasury
from each of The public works of thq |
STATE, q shall be Necessary to meet |
sOch ssqnisitions, fof re- palfs and super.
iutsnde ehce. And the same ssclion uses
sihS slins term appropriation" three /
times IN reference TO the sction Or :his