The Placer herald., 1859-04-30

Mr.. Laspeyre. Beg your pardon. That is not
Mr.. Stratton. | would simply suggest to the
House, that this report has Influenced some
Members are well aware that something is due
Gov. Walkup for his services at the State Prison,
but some say in consequence of this report being
against him, I'VE have heard that it is very
heavy and grave report. RI do not consider it
SUCH and we feel doubtful! about allowing this
claim" Now wish to show that there is nothing
whatever in this report which should induce mem
bers to vote against this ILL., | will proceed to
charge third, and the report upon it. 1t is alleg-
! ed that the Postmaster of San Francisco, re. l..
Weller was sort of banker for the State
Prison Directors that the Board were in the
habit of drawing the money appropriated for the
Prison in sums of $4,000 or 10000. and deposit
ing the san in the vault of the Post Office; sub
iect to the draft of the Warden: that Governor
Walkup drew at one time from the Postmaster the
sum of $1,000, and refused the receipt Of the
amount because Mr.. Weller did not present the
YOU her. Now if any man will, after reading
the charge, look at the report he will see that it
eXculpates him [Walkup.l The committee in re
ference to this go on to say
Mr.. Shannon [nterrupting.] If the gentleman
Will allow me one moment. The hour has arrived
for taking up the special order, the Revenue Bill.
! | move it be discharged and made the special
der for 30 o'clock Carried.
MR. SrRArroN. The committee say: "Whilc
your committee can see nothing in the tranSac-
|
was actuatcd by any motive other than a desire
TO secure himself and the Stat" from any loss
from any loss, and the committee themselves
say that Gov. Walkup desired to secure both
himself and the State and think it will he ad-
mittcd that no man is compelled to keep his
own books and accounts and those of his credi-
tors and debtors also and the committee do not
assert that the Warden attempted to swindlc the
State but quite the contrary There their inves
tigntion should have ended, and this transaction
with the Postmaster should not have been a
subject to bring up here--betore this House aud
before the people of the State. In their report
they go on to say that GOV. Walkup kept his
books loosely. 1t appears to me that they should
rather have reported that Mr. CharIeS Weller
kept HIS books and vouchers loosely. The com
mittcc did not charge that Mr.. Walkup refused
to acknowledge the voucher when it was found
and presented but that he declined acknowl-
edging the receipt Of the money until it was.-
What business man would have acted otherwise?
Will instance Il case in point. bill has been
passed here to-day authorizing the issuance OF
duplicate for a warrant (lor weeks pay, 500 lost
by IL member of this body. The Controller Of
State knows very well that such pay is due that
mcmbc~. BY going to the Treasurer Office he
could ascertain if the member hid been paid.
Notwithstanding this he or you cannot go to the
Treasury and draw unless with voucher.
contend that Gov. Walkup would have neglt cted
his duty had he allowed this $1,000 without the
voucher. The charge self eXculpatcs him.
Charge 4, is that the daily issue reported hy the
Warden to have been made to the convcts i'll
| beef, coffee. etc. were not actually issued The
Directors in their report state certain number
of pounds are issued daily the committee reports
| a certain other number of pounds as the durnal
| issue. | consider that stand-oif. Know
nothing of it. The report shows nothing.
| Charge 5. states that an officer of the Prison
gamblcd off u large sum OF money which he
stated to a friend to be money belonging to the
State The report in this charge says: 1t
appears that the Chief Warden, Governor Walkup,
has for some months been in the habit OF employ
ing Mr. Harrison in the purchasing depart
| mcnt. and also in the capacity OF Il dlsburSIhB
agent in various branches of the institution.
Mr.. Harrison was, consequently, ntrusted with
large amounts OF money belonging to the State"
What next? For | am trying to lind where cen
sure can be cast on Gov, Walkup
1T will be seen, by reference to the testimony
of Chas. +. Weller, that he informed Governor
Weller that it was rumorcd about the city OF San
Francisco that Mr. Harrison was gambling oil the
money of the State.
This information was communicated by Coy.
Weller to Gov Walkup. and the latter went to
San Francisco and investigated the matter, and
asccrtaned. as he said, to his satisfaction. That
though Mr.. Harrison had been gambling, ii was
not with the money of the State
We find by the report of the commissioners
supposed of course to be impartial that he
(Walkup) at once proceeded to San francisco to
investigate this matter and ascertalned that
though Harrison had been playing 1t was net
with the States money. ! suppose his nvcstgn-
ton ended there believe it should have If
we were to hear it charged that the State Treas
urcr was gambling away money, what would be
our duty? What the duty of the authorities OF
the State? Why TO go to the Treasury, examine
and ascertain if the money belonging to the State
was there. We could go no further. No! Gov.
Walkup could go no further lie or we could
only say, this is matter pertaining to the
State but if you have not taken the public
money we have nothing more to say" 1t seems
plain that the fact Of llarisons gambling was so
plainly known to occasion Its beng conmunl-
Gated to Coy. Weller. He iniormedGoV. Walkup,
who investigated it. The same charge was made
a second time against Mr.. Harrison Now, DO
not undertake to say Harrison should not have
been discharged. Indeed, | think such would
have been the proper course to have pursued
Relative TO this second charge the committee
state that Cows. Weller and Walkup took some
steps towards an investigation. which were sus-
pended on the appointment OF the committee
presume, they (Wecr and Walkup) considered
it then unnecessary for them to pursue the eX-
animation as the committee would OF course make
a research into the same matter. 1t viii be seen
by reference to the testimony OF >. G sheppard,
that Mr.. Harrison did at one time gamble on IL
large sum Of money belonging to The State But
the committee say further on that, they cannot
affirm that the State sustained any loss by the
Indulgence of Mr.. Harrison in this most danger
Gus and pcrncious vice. 1t is natural Tor Tue
committee to get virtuous AID moral upon this
charge, one of the members (Laspcyre) having
been, as am Informed, elected to his seat on
account of his morality.
Mr.. Laspeyrc (sotto voceD Slightly SO.
Mr.. STRATToN. The report goes on to say
"Apprised as they were, Of the charge made
against Mr. Harrison, it was, in The judgment of
your committee the duty Of Gov. Weller and Gov.
Wakup, to take Immediate and eflectual measures
to ascertain The truth or falsty OF the charge"
But they state Il few sentences preceding, that
they (Weler and Walkup) did take such steps