The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-01-26
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Concluded from last meek.

hold out year. The price OF provisions
kept up, and being scarce aud commanding
ready cash market, could not b. Obtained
on so long credit except upon terms at
once eXorbtant and inadmisSihle. An al
tempt on the part Of the lnspe tors to effect
loan OF money for this purpose proved IN
successful. was forced to the necessity of
opening the prison doors or FURNISHING the
requisite supply. This latter alternative was
adopted, but only accomplished th,ouci, he
co-operation and indulgence OF the Auditor
and Treasurer Of the State, who permitted
me to take some six OF seven thorsand dol.
lars OF the revenues whilst in trn;.stu from
the county collectors 10 the State Treasury
upon my personal receipt. it viii he necrs.
sarv for you to legalize this transaction. 7
apprehend, and have the treasury credited
with the requisite amount, and this | ask
may be done. Where by oversight or mis-
calculation the appropriation has failed to
meet any emergency OF this DESCRIPTION.
submit whether il would not he well 10 au.
thorize the census Board or some other acen
CIV or power 10 supply the deficiency until
the sitting OF the ensuing General Assembly.
! regret TO make known the fact that there
has been some misnnder> landing aud disa.
greement among the officers of this insli;u-
ton and between them and Prison coat,ac-
tors, which have led to much irritation of
feeling, complaint and finally litigation. It
is unnecessary for me TO express anv opinion
upon the character Of these difficulties with
a view Of dete rminins where the blame lies.
But it does appear 10 me that il the Warden
was not dependent upon the Board of In
snectors for the term OF his Office, and the
duties and powers of each were clearly de.
fined by law, il would seem to check abuses.
a,'d tend to secure both harmony and indie.
pendeDce OF action.
Rem esentations made to me last Nav tonch.
ing the discipline and condition of the pris.
on accounts and of abuses in the financial
management Of the same, satisfied me that
the interest Of the State demanded an inves.
t'gation with view Of aScertaning the con-
d'tlon OF the one and the manner and system
observed in conducting the other. Iaccord
Inglv commissioned Thomas s. Espv, Robt
A. Russell and Fl. @. Jennison to make an
examination of the affairs Of this institution
and renorl as contemplated and required by
an dct 10 authorize tho Ee~~-..--.,- sv---,-
point Comm 'asiopsrs 10 e,nmide the orcou Is
of State oficers ondto define tie d"ti's Of
tie Goceracr IN cert0ia c0see." The verv
fuOfOuTn anu satisfactory feDOft maze Nv
these Commissioners is suDmit eel to you and
should be considered in connection with that
OF the Board Of Inspectors.
You win not fail to perceive from careful
inspection Of their repot that the affairs of
the institution have been conducted careless
" and without system. That the books of
accounts were in confused condition and
could not be balanred that $1,000 had been
traced as deposie into the hands Of bank
ers, and had been lost sight oGbv The officers
and would in all probability have been lost
to the State but for this investigation. Much
ofthis irregulariiy and confusion in the ac-
counts undoubtedly is attributable to The
acts Of an incompetcnt book keeper-which
demonstrates the Importance of having a
professional accountant 10 keep the books in
an institution where large sums of money are
to be disbursed for various purposes under
distinct appropriations.
To the report Of the Commissioners is ap-
pended general balance sheet, obtained on
ly by re-iournalzinc the books and correct
Ing the errors, and supplying the omissions,
and which comes down from the commence
ment ofour State organization to the 1st OF
June, 1859, exhibiting the following result !:
DR.. Cr.