The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-03-02

aS IOIlOWs.
1855, Cash balance in Treasury sS,ss2s,Is
1856, 8S8,0l5 ~
1871, lee,oSo ID
Total amount Of balances for years si,oos 800 so
Being an annual average Of 1884 ,44s II.
During the former period of seven years,
on an average surplus revenue of $685.
e73 7S, the interest paid into the treasu-
ry for its use was 81 ,553 SO, being less
than one fourth Of one per cent.
From the comenct ment of the present
administration the avcrge balance in the
Treasury has been $354,443 IL, upon
which tho interest paid into the Treasury
amounts TO SCI, l,4s4 55, being more than
sepenteen per cent upon the average balance
for the average time, and at ratio sixty
six (66) times greater than the interest
paid into tho Treasury under former ad-
ministratons.
The fiscal year closes on the S0th No
vember and the cash balances above stated
are ascertained at that date. The balance
in the Treasury at the close of the fiscal
year 1854 is stated at $4,000 os; but
during the month of December following.
and before yielding possession TO their sue
cessors, the then administration paid out
of the Treasury, upon sundry claims, appar-
emily audited for tho express purpose of
reducing the balance on hand, the sum Of
Ss3,962 81, so that the actual amount de-
livcred to their successors was S469,04l-
81, instead of $3.50 ,Oo4 Os balance No.
vembcr 90th, 1854.
1t is not only due to the present admin
istration TO notice tho difference between
the amount received from their Iredeces-
sors, and the balance at the close of the
fiscal year 1884, but the character of some
of the claims allowed and paid, IL the
short space Of thirty days, is such as to re-
quirc a more extended notice at the hands
Of your committee.
The limits Of This report forbid the in.
PRODUCTION of all the items constituting
the $4,000 81, and the committee there
fore SUI NIT the following.
List of Claims aAowed by the late
Board, subsequent to the date Of the last
annual Report, being from Dec. lst to
Dec 81, 1854, and not appearing in tie
Annual Report Of the late Board
Dec 2, 1854.
Gilbert d. Co. damages by reason Of
Misrepresentation of the Commits
sioner Of Internal Improvements
made to induce II low bidding on
letting contract on Clinton and
Kalamazoo Canal. S2,2O4 20
Phenix Bank, N. York, claim for
advance of $l6,4OU on State
Bonds delivered Cashier Farmers
d. Mechanics Bank, Detroit. by
order of Gov. Mason for use Of
the State, March 10, 1888, and
interest thereon, 35,6o3 "a
Dec. Is, 1854.
Job Brookfield, second branch of
claim, being for expenses and
cost Of suit in defence of his title
to fractional quarter of Sec. 30,
z. S. range II w. and depre-
citation in value Of said land in
consequence Of action OF tho
State. $4,000
Bronson, Knight & Ingalls,, claim
for damage by reason Of misrcpre-
sentation Of Commissioner Of In
ternal Improvement, to induce
low bidding on letting contract on
Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal, 6,234 7S
These claims in the aggregate, amount
tc $4S,042 81; and it is believed that
not one dollar of tho amount was Justly
due from the State, or to the individuals
who obtain tbs money. So manifestly
unjust was tie claim Of the Phenix Bank,
that the Attorney General commenced a
prosecution in the Courts of Now York
for the recovery of the money, and OBJ
tanned Judgement against the bank for
the amount; and it is probable that like
success would follow prosecution in the
other cases did the responsibility of par
ties justify such proceedings.
These claims were some fifteen years
standing, and had been repeatedly rejected
by the State authorities, who wero famil-
lar with their origin.
Less culpable, because more likely to be
the result of carlessness, was the allowance
to Geo. w. Peck of $3.50 on the 18th of
May, 1853, and again on the 18th Of
August, OF the samo year, another allow
ance of tho same amount for the samo
work, making double pay within three
months, for binding $500 copies of the
session laws. Copies of the vouchers are
herewith submitted, marked B. M
1t is with great reluctance that the
committee arc compelled, in the discharge
Of their duty, to refer to fraudulent is
sue Of the bonds Of the State by Auditor
General Swegles, by which the State los
es, 80 far as known at present, only the
small sum Of $4,000 40, and interest there
on. The insigni6canco Of the amount
and tho high character and position Of tho
gentleman involved in the transaction
would preclude belief in the premises were
the vouchers not on file in the department.,
which furnish indubitsbls proof Of the fact
Yosr committee are driven 10 the con.