The Washington union., 1857-08-18
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.


TREASURY OF OHIO. o.--INTERESTING POLITICAL
HISTORY.
wAsnNGroS, Wednesday, July !, 1897.
10 he Editors Of as Eaqaira'
The late defalcation in State treasury well eaeu
lated In view OF all the circumstances to arouse the in
dgnaton of the tax paying people, who have been plum
dered and to induce thorough investigation INTO the
causes which produced it, we'll inquiry whether
there is not some radical defect in the law regulating the
fiscal concern OF the State and the why that de-
feet has not long since been remedied by legislation
observe that effort is being made TO throw the en-
tire blame the late treasurer of State, Mr Bresln
elected democrat and to charge the democratic
legislatures Immediately succeeding the adoption OF the
constitution, dereliction of duty, in failing TO
place the statute-books restrictions ana SAFE
guards TO protect the treasury in addition TO such as
were then in force not aware that the defacauon
of Mr. Bresln far as goes, il attempted to be exten
mated by his political friends The policy which produced
that unfortunate result denounced at the time by
democrats alone while the opposition either entirely
silent the subject by their voices and votes gave
evidence of their approval of his course.
But, with regard TO the majority of the democratic
members of the legislature elected in 1851 and 1858,
bold to say that part OF the responsibility for Mr.
Bresns course of policy or the still more runous policy
of his eccessor be trthfuy placed to their account
On the contrary the facts and the legislative records
full Of the evidence, that large majority of the dem
ocrc members elect to each of those Legislatures felt
deeply the necessity of legislation the subject and la
bed earnestly and zealousy to provide against the evils
which believed exist and which have resulted at
last SO disastrously to the State.
On behalf Of those sound democrats and faithful public
who labored with during those sessions of
the legislature in earnest efforts to place the statute
book further guards and restrictions against improp
of the public money propose now, in this letter,
to give brief sketch OF the proceedings had in the
legislature this subject with such references have
space make to the records in order that the RESPONSE
bty may rest where it properly belongs so far as the
action action of the legislature is concerned
To begin The first Legislature under the consti-
tuition met in Columbus the 1st Monday Of January
1852 The official reports of the executive officers dis
closed the fact that 500 900 of the public funds had
been loaned deposited with the Columbus Insurance
Company, by the former State officers, dr Bliss being
the treasurer Of Stae which then supposed to
be lost by the insolvency Of that concern Mr. Bresln
the newly treasurer of State entered the du
tics OF his Office few days after the meeting of the egs
lature and sunised that he would continue
the old practice of loanng depostng public funds
with favored individuals and banking institutions.
had been placed on the committee finance Of the
senate, (Ioe W. Wilson, of Seneca county, being chair
man and toward the middle of the session. if recollect
Alright brought this matter up in the committee, and
proposed the introduction of bill from the committee
providing for the organization of the treasury in
dependent basis and total divorce from banks other
corporations individuals, repositories OF the public
funds. On comparison of views, it ascertained
that majority of the committee to the prop
osition.
then took the matter into the senate and introduced
resolution nstructng the committee finance to pre-
pare and report bill to provide for reorganization of
the State treasury and for the collection safckeepng
transfer and disbursement of the public revenue. This
resolution either laid the table defeated by
direct votcon notion think, of the chairman of the
finance committee. l have not the journal of that
sion before me, and am, therefore, compelled to speak
from recollection but feel confident that ain subsan
TALLY correct This was perhaps toward the latter part
of the session. AT all events had bill matured and
the burning of the State house. the general arrangement
and confusion which ensued the amount of legislation
absolutely requisite to nnugate the government under
the constitution with the certainty of adjourned
session. all conspred to induce me to defer further action
at that session.
Accordingly, the Legislature adjourned until the 18th
November, 1852. On the third day of the sessonthe
18th NovemberI gave notice of the introduction of "a
bill to provide for reorganization of the State treasury,
and for the collection, saekeeping transfer and dis
bursement of the public !; and on the 1lth De-
cemberI introduced senate bill No. 165 under the above
title Senate journal for that session. page Sc have not
space here to give synopsis of the bill 1t had
doubtless many imperections all primary legislation
such subjects must be or less defective But it
contained mayprovisions admitted to be salutary The
bonds of the treasurer increased in amount,
close accountability provided by giving to the State
auditor checks he ddno formerly and frequent
examinations required, on which occasions the
money in the treasury to be submitted to actual
count
But the great leading featurethe life of the BILL which,
of itself, would have been refom-was section which
prohibited the treasurer of State and every officer charged
with the collection safckeeping disbursement of the
public money, from loanng to deposng with banks
bankers individuals, companies corporations, with
without interest, under any preence whatever from
investing the in any species of property merchan
disc failing to promptly account for and pay the
public funds when legally required. All these acts
defined as embazzement and made punishable by
imprisonment an the penaeHtiary
It is unnecessary to follow the bill through all its
stages would the limits of this letter allow it, Suf
flee it to say that the I'd of March, 1853 the bill pass
ed the senate by q vote of eighteen to tweve-those
voting in the affirmative being all democrats of those
voting in the negative six then known wings,
two frcesoilers and four democrats Senate jour
nal page 43ll On Saturday, March II, the last work
ing day Of the session. the bill returned from the
house. having passed that body with several amendments
by decided majority, the entire opposition voting in
the senate with few democrats against the BILL but
still enough democrats voting for it to give the consttu
tonal majority The senate refused to agree to most of
the amendments, and the bill Immediately returned
to the house On the evening of the day the bill
again returned to the senate with message that the
house .'nsss its amendments to the bill, and asks
committee of conference" The request of the house
for committee of conference granted The commit
tee met Immediately and, after consultation agreed
report by which each house to recede from
two amendments, and the balance modified Senate
Journal, page 600.
BY this time the night had far advanced and the senate
was thin. call of the senate was had and ten
bers ascerned to be absent and the balance of the sit
ting pretty well exhausted in motions to adjourn,
take recess send for absentees, &C. Finally vote
had agreeing to the report of the committee of
ference, which resutedyeas fourteen, nays eight So
the report failing to receive the constitutional majority
eighteen votes disagreed to- The vote was how
ever Immediately reconsidered and the senate
hour, adjourned until one o'clock Monday morning On