The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-09-07

Republican VIII be readily seen from the
following showing, which I give without
comment. The House stood 10 Democrats,
"a Republicans, old line w1igs, one
American and one Independent, (see the
list of members reported by Dir. Eikins,
where each member gave his own politics.
The Senate, my recollection is, stood 25
Democrats, and 25 Republicans. 1t is true
that the Republicans managed to elect the
speaker, but the Democrats were able TO
elect all the officers. That the Legis-
lature was somewhat extravagant, and more
so than desired, am willing to admit
yet it cost less per day than the session of
1857, by $76 60. That such is the fact will
be seen from the following showing. The
special and regular sessions of 1858 8 occu.
pied ninety-fVe days. costing S75, 600 76,
or $3.50 48 per day. The regular session
for 1857 occupied sixty days, costing $751;
go so, or 1866 IL per day. My judg-
ment is now, and was at the time, that the
special session of 1853 should never have
been called. Yet the Governor had the
power so to do, and saw fit to exercise it,
and as matter of course, must bear the
responsibility. He may say. that we ought
to have confined our Legislation to the
matters recommended by him but the Leg
islature thought it very impolitic to put but
two or three committees to work, investi-
eating the matters by him recommended,
and let all the rest of the members lay idle,
waiting for these committees to report. We
thought best to enter into general Legisla-
ton, and give all the members work, and
thereby do up as much business as possible,
and cut short the regular session so as to
make the time of the special and the time
occupied of the regular session together not
more than sixty days; but. the wise and
economical legislation of the special ses-
sion which made arrangement for the Dor
rowing of money and its safe keeping and
disbursement until 1860, when the State
would be better prepared with means to
provide more thorough and complete sys-
TEN, wes scattered to the winds and we left
to begin anew at the regular session.
In complaining of the action of the last
Legislature, the Governor tells you that it
spent more than three thousand dollars in
the hire of clerks and emf loyees to examine
the public records, and then says after
thorough investigation is there
one of them who will say that they found an
error" I answer that there are quite a
number who will say it, and I propose to
give the facts upon which they base their
assertions, so that the people may say who
is right. But before doing so, let me brief
" state the reasons that induced the exam
nations. When the special session met in
1858, it become necessary for the commit
tee of ways and means to provide revenue
to carry on the affairs of the State In ex-
aiming the offices of Treasurer and Audit
or of State for the purpose of ascertaining
their condition, how did we find them p
propose TO give Democratic authority as
FL,
made by Hon. Hamilton Smith of Perry
county, who was a Democrat and member
of the Committee, found on page 202, / vol
Legislative Sentinel 1853 In speaking of
the financial condition of our State and the
manner in which it had been managed, he
said From an examination of a treasury
where everything was in confusion, where
acceptances cf The Treasurer were charged
and bills receivable were credited as cash :;
Of an Auditors Office where the books were
closed every official year without even the
form of trial balance of the Office of the
State deot sinking fund which had been six
years in operation without giving single
report as directed by the law aud where
from S25, 900 to $4,000 had been allowed
to accumulate apparently for the sole use of
its custodian ?" Who was its custodian
The Auditor of. State. How was it, if
his books were all kept right as the
Governor SO triumphantly claims, that
this interest which accumulated in his hands
on those bonds preserved in bis Office, was
never reported nor accounted for in any way
prior TO 1858 d? Was the Auditor pursuing
the law, made for his government in refer
ence to that interest and was the Cover
nor doing his duty in seeing that that law
was faithfully executed Sec. of the law
I ba Sfafa Habf cip Ii; ,nl
| R. s., page 400, provides as follows :
The Auditor of State shall keep a record
of all such bonds and shall state in his an
nual report to the general assembly, the
number, description and amount thereof ;
! the amount of interest received thereon, and
| how the same is invested, and such other
matters as he shall deem of public interest
Now take up the reports of the Auditor,
and not one word do you find in reference
| to this interest not even in his report for
1858, until this matter is ferreted out by
the committee of ways and means. Then
what do You find ? The Auditor coming
forward with an "addenda" to his report,
and accounting for S28, SIT 81 and in render
ing what l can coustrue into nothing more
nor less than an excuse for his official mis-
conduct, says The amount of cash
on hand as stated above has been held in
common with Otner IunQS 10 De uSeu Oy the
State in case it become necessary" See
Auditors report 1858. page I94. Is that
what the law required him to do to hold
it in common with other funds to be used
by the State in case it become necessary
Why did he not report it in his hands be-
fore Why did he not make some entry OF
the same on his books. The section of the
law quoted above required him 10 keep a
record of it, and sec. of tie same law, re-
quired that the interest should be disposed Of
in certain way. 1t provides " The inter
est acruing thereon (that is on the bonds in
the Auditors office shall be paid semi an
nually as on other bonds of the State, and
shall be invested in the further purchase OF
the bonds aforesaid, in the same manner as
the original fund is directed to be invested
Is that the way in which the law is to be
disregarded? Why was not this money
f expended in the payment of the debts of the
State BIZ purchasing in the bonds of the