The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-09-15

Il
letter containing comparative statement
of the expenditures under the the old officers
in 1855, and those under the present State
administration in ls57-being the first year
of the official term of each. Under the
head of Z" Ordinary Expenditures" the ex-
penses of the State were in 1857 SiS6,227
In 1855 they were l47,442
Making an increase of $50, 7s5
This apparent difference was caused, Mr..
Dodd says, by the increased expenses of the
last Legislature and its specific appropria-
lions, which exceeded those of the session of
1855 by the sum of $4,000; and also by
change in the administration ofthe Peniten-
tiary, which, in 1855 was, conducted upon
the contract system, under which, the only
expense of the State, was the mileage OF the
Sheriffs, in conveying the convicts to the
prison. Since that time, however, the State
has herself taken charge of the prison, and
all the expenses of feeding, clothing and
guarding the prisoners, as well as the re-
ceipts arising from the hire of their labor,
are reported to the Auditor, and entered
upon the books as ordinary receipts and ex-
penditures.
This change has made an apparent in
crease in the,expenditurcs of $50, 000 but it
is, in fact, covered by the receipts from the
labor of the convicts. The increase in these
items of Legislative and prison expenditures
is upwards of $50, OOO which deducted from
the aggregate expenditures of 1857, leaves
the sum of $l34, 600, which is S12,O 900 less
than the amount expended by the former
State administration in the first year of its
existence. By these statements the charge
of extravaganza seems to be conclusively
refuted if the figures be correct.
From this letter we learn, for the first
time, how the January and July interest fol
1853, on the State bonds, has been paid
1t has been alleged that the State officers had
borrowed the funds by issuing State bonds.
But it appears that the January interest
was paid out of moneys in the treasury
arising from taxation as usual. The money
to pay the interest, due July lst, 1858,
(Sl64,OOO) was borrowed from the Sinking
Fund; for this there was no authority Of
law. But 1Ir. Dodd says had not this course
been taken, the credit of the State would
have been dishonored, her stocks dcprccia-
ted, and every man in Indiana who had q
free bank bill in his pocket would have sut-
fered loss, inasmuch most of their cur
rency is secured by our own stocks. Be-
sides, the failure to meet the semi-annual
interest upon the public debt would violate
bondholders, and afford them an additional
pretext for attempting to throw the Wabash
and Erie Canal back upon the State. The
Auditor says it will become the duty of thu
Legislature, at its first session, to provide
means to restore the sums taken from the
Sinking Fund.
In conclusion, Mr.. Dodd says u can not
with Justice to the Hon. Aquilla Jones, Hon
Daniel Mcclure and myself, refrain from
adding that we have endeayored to perform
our duty faithfully and honestly, and Il
conduct the fiscal affairs of the State pru
IDENTIFY, and in such II manner us would NEE
the appreciation of the people" He give
as no insight into the present condition o
the treasury, which is matter of deep i'll
terest to the people. No revenue having
been collected the present year, the treasury
must be empty, and the State government
be supported by using the trust bonds.