The Empire County argus., 1855-02-03

VETo.--The Governor has vetoed the bill passed
at the present session of the Legislature appropria
ting $1,000 to each member, as their accounts
should be audited That such bill should evel
have passed is wonder. The following are some
of the reasons assigned by the Governor in his veto
But in view of the fact that the State Treasurer
reports that there is ut this date cash in the gen
eral fund, and also that the Comptroller and Treas
urer concur in opinion that for the reason that
nearly if not quite all the accruing under
the last assessment has been already received and
dlsbursed; sufficient amount of cash to meet the
requirements of the act, will not have accumulated
in that fund within the next seven months. | am
satisfied that its approval, far from benefttng
the members and officers Of the Legislature, would
in the end prove in furious to them and all others
directly interested injurious, because calculated
greatly to weaken public confidence in the ability
of the State to promptly meet accrrng liabilities,
and of course cause material depreciation in every
description of State Indebtedness.
At this date, the total amount of Comptroller's
warrants outstanding exceeds 100000. Most OF
these warrants were issued for materials and servi-
ces long since furnished and performed, and the
holders of them are doubtless desirous, and expect
ing to receive in cash from the general fund, the
amount called for on the face of each, which is
clearly their right soon as sufficient for their
redemption shall have accumulated.
But the act in question, if approved, would COM
pei the proper officer to postpone the payment OF
these warrants until each member of the present
legislature shall have received the sum of $1,000,
and each officer his per diem for sixty days. amount
ing in the aggregate to about Sl5O,OOO.
The knowledge of the existence of such legisla-
tive enactment it is believed would not only great
ly depreciate the civil warrants now outstanding
and inhict unnecessary hardship on existing cred-
tors of the State, but would also in the same degree
depreciate those hereafter to be issued thus largely
increasing State expenditures for the reason that
the amount of such depreciation would in almost
every instance be added to the cash value of arti
cles furnished or labor performed
On former occasion the Legislature passed a
similar act, appropriating $780, which at that time
was approved by the Governor, in alusion to which
he now says in his veto
In this connection, and in explanation, it may be
proper to state, that a former occasion | sane
toned act containing similar provisions with the
act herewith returned, but not only was the total
amount therein provided for comparatively SMALL
but the greater part of the sum appropriated was
actually in the general fund, and its disposition
clearly under the control of the Legislature at the
date of the approval of the act Now, however, a
different state of things exists The Treasurer at
this date reports that there is cash in the gen.
eral fund.- and the Comptroller and Treasurer con-
to come, sufficient cash in that fund to meet the
requirements of this act.
In conclusion, the Governor makes the following
recommendation, which ought to be Immediately
adopted The plan followed out will soon bring
the State to cash business, and then the occupa-
ton of sharpers will be gone.
I would respectfully recommend the passage Of
act requiring the civil warrants outstanding,
and all others which may be issued within the pres
ent fiscal year, closing on the 30th day of June
next, to be funded also the passage of another act
requiring all Comptrolers warrants to be register
ed, and made payable in the order of registry.
The passage Of these acts and few others, cur
failing expenditures of government, it is confidently
believed, would not only within the next thirty
days greatly increase the demand for and enhance
the market value of all State securities thus better
ing the condition of all the creditors of the State
but would also enable the State before the close of
the fiscal year beginning July 1855, to commence
and continue cash payments in all the legitimate
expenditures of the State.
The following Exhibit. accompanying the Gov
ernors veto message shows the condition of the
State Treasury Department, January 26, 1855 :
General Fund overdrawn. 27