The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-06-25

STATE TREASURY OF OHIO.
-4pa7, 1856.
The Committees on Finance, instructed by
"a resolution of the Senate to inquire into the
condition Of the Treasury; its funds and ac-
counts, report that they have devoted to the
duties assigned them all the time and ,tt-
tention that their other legislative duties would
permit but have found it impossible during
the session. to make that minute examination
which SO important branch OF the public in
terest requires, and which would be necessary
to arrive at perfect accuracy in regard either TO
facts or accounts. This we trust will be an
apology for any errors INTO which the commit
tee may have fallen in the statements now sub
mttod. x
1t appears from a communication of the
Treasurer to the committee, marked I, here
with submitted, in answer to certain inquiries,
dated March 2S, 1856, that he then held, in
checks, drafts, bills of exchange AMI certificates
of deposit the gross sum of 500 29l 26, which
had been held, with but few exceptions, and
for comparatively small sums, from fifteen days
to upwards of two months without having been
presented either for acceptance or payment
The committee view this as a loose and irregu
lar mode Of managing the finances oil the State,
and fraught with great danger VI loss.
The committee have reason tu believe view
ing the condition of the funds in the treasury,
and the large balance due from the late treas
urer at the time Of giving up his office, the va
rious times when parts Of that balance were
p I'D to the presenJ treasurer and The fact that
there still remains a large balance in his hands
that most of the drafts, certificates ofdoposit,
and acceptanceS now in the treasury were paid
to the present by the late treasurer, and were
obtained by him with the understanding, on the
ptrt oil the parties furnishing the sama that they
would not be presented for payment until the
demands on the treasury should make 1t neces-
stry to demand their payment. This may be
fairly inferred from the statement Of the pres
ent treasurer, contained in document Z, III
which lie says: 81 have said to bankers that
would notify them, if possible, before using their
certificates"
In connection with the foregoing it may be
proper 10 advert to the fact that OF the drafts,
certificates Of deposit and other evidences OF
debt held by the treasurer on tie l4th day Of
NJ arch, and considered by them as cash, ,amoun-
Etlng in all to the sum Of S236 20l 26, nearly
one hall, to wit: the sum Of $147,O48 AZ, ,consis-
ted ofdrlttS, &c, OF the Scnaca County Bank,
land OF Tomb HusS & Co. II would seem from
the report Of Charles Remelln, Esq, who was
appointed to oeXlmine certain banks (pages l35
to 139,) that the S5naca County Bank, and
Tomb, lluss d Co., are SO intimately con
necled in their financial operations that they
may be considered, i'll regard To these operations
a5 substantially one concern. 1t also appears
that both the late and the present treasurers
have been ii they are not now, interested in
that bank. .....
When we consider these circumstances, and
4 s. the fact that an information in the nature
ofa quo warranto has been filed and is now
, pending against the bank to test the question
whethe; or noC its charter is forfeited, we can
no. hesitate 10 express our decided disapproba-
tiJn 0, the selection OF that concern as one o
the principle repositories Of the public moneys
Tie suffering Of its paper to lie in the treasury
wi hJuL presentation, either for acceptance OF
payment, is certainly very unusual and unbu
; siuess like course, aud, under the Circumstance
es, cannot fail to create a suspicion that the
PAL ef was procured to pay partot the balance
due from the late treasurer with the under
standing or expectation that payment would
not be demanded until the ezisenccs of the
p treasury should imperlouslY require it.
The committee are of opinion that safety de-
nlands the Immediate presentation Of all such
paper in the treasury, Tor payment or at least
for acceptance; and most of it is drawn on banks
that all such paper, payable in New York, be al
once transferred and endorsed over to the com
: missioneis of the Sinking Fund, and be by them
Immediately presented for acceptance and pay
ment. TO accomplish this purpose the com.
mittce herewith report resolution which they
recommend for adoption.
From the accompanying statement of the ac-
count of A. A. Bliss, Esq, late treasurer, pre-
pared by Robert Hume, Esq, marked y, it APP
pears that the balance in his hands, at the time
of giving over his Office to his successor, Mr.
Breslin, was S302, ll5 So 2. Mr.. Breslin, as
treasurer, subsequently gave Mr.. Bliss receipt
in full for the balance due by him (Bliss, to the
treasury, which receipt does not however, spe-
cjiy the amount of such balance. A copy ol
this receipt marked Il, is herewith submitted.
1t appears. from the statement Of
Mr. I'resn's account by Mr.
lIume, marked +, that the balance
dae the St1te from lresIu on the
-l5h day of january, 1896, the date
OF The delivery OF bis office w.
III Gibson, Esd, the present IN. .s
curnbent, was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S905, ,TU3 OF $
10 this sboult be added the fund in
the hands OIL treasurer IL redeem ,t
the circulation oi the Canal Baak
Of Cleveland, rot incluled III MI,
Ilumes statement. ........ ..... " $50 47O
-.s@ #} .H fAfr & siJ -.--------------
siiO!al....., ss.. .i.s...... Oio,334 Al
MIR. Gibson, in o communication TO the COM
nitteei dated March 90, 1856 herewith submit
ted marked G states that he has received at
various times. between Januaryll and March
5, 1856; from his predecessor Mr. Breslin the
gross sum Of 1896 101 81, leaving in the hands
of Mr. BFeslin, on the 29th Of March, an unpaid
; balance. Of $2i2, ,432 81 9. ~
!. Had the money Of the State been kept in the
treasury, or with repositories of unquestionable
soltency and pecunidry abilit the committee
cnn see no reason why this baiance should not
at once have been pad over by tie late treasur-
err 10 bssacoessor on the transfer Of the office.
This, in the opinion Of the committee should in
all cases be done, and w9 are gratiiied in being
ale TO state that he act passed at the present
scsionp positively requires it,
II However eppe4rs that large sums Of the