Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-06
Report Of the Committee Of Ways and
Means Reloting to the Treasury.
In HOUSE on REPRESENTATIVES,, }
Nov. 20. 1850. {

IN HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,, }
Nov. 20, 1860.
The following resolution was read and amenG-
ed on motion of MIR. Colby, and as amended,
adopted;
. Resolued, That the Committee of Ways
and Means in connection with he Treasurer of
the State be, and are hereby directed to ascer-
tain why the taxes due, as appears by the Au-
dltor 8 Report, have not been collected by the
treasurer, as provided bysthe statute; also to
make full investigation In relation to the af
lars OF the late Treasurer cOnnecten with his
office, and in relation to all moneys deposited
with him as Treasurer, and all disbursements
made by him that said Committee have leave
to sit during the session of the House, and
have power to send for persons and papers, and
leave to employ Clerk, if they deem it neces-
sary." A true copy.
Attest, NJ. BARBER, Asst Clerk.
10 the House of Representatives,, ao,C in session :
The Committee Of Ways and Means ask leave
to report that they have followed the instruc
tons embodied in the foregoing resolution, as
closely as possible, and have made all the inves-
tigation in their power; but owing to many
circumstances beyond their control, the result
OF their labors must necessarily be very imper
feet
the towns or their constables, relating to taxes,
are full of errors, both ways. In some instan-
ccs, receipts are given for money not credited,
and in some instances money paid and no re-.
ccipt given, and money not accounted for and
in ono instance, at least, money was credited
which never bad been paid and the Commit
tee are Of opinion that the Treasurer himself
did not know how the accounts stood, and did
rot dare to press the collection for fear the er-
rors might be detected lie has kept the &C
counts go very loosely for long time, that they
are now generally a mass of uninteligible con-
fusion.
The Committee have, however, coma to the
following conclusion
Amount due to sundrv Banks, which is re-
ported as paid by II. NJ, Bates as Treas
urtr, $l8,O9l IL
(Amounts due to Banks, $22,752
80. Amounts received of sundry
Banks, $4,67l l6.)
Amount loaned to tho State by sun
dry individuals, not before report
ed as due, 27,O97 80
Amount collected on taxes and not
credited, the same having been re-
ported as due, including errors in
tax accounts, and claims of sun
dry individuals not yet adjusted, 3,705 80
Amount, $48 1874 40
Upon :" The Bank Commissioner Salary "
several sums of money have been received from
sundry Banks, which we're reported as paid
Tho said amounts wer1 forwarded in conse-
quence Of oirolar s'nt to them asking infor-
mntion.
The san, remarks apply to tax on = Foreign
Bank Stock Of the amounts to BE- paid, no
credit list has yet beer made.
SO many variations and errors are found in
nearly every department. the books are 10 mae
curatc, SO many vouchers are missing (Which
must be replaced,) that it IS impossible at this
tune to givea correct sta tement Of the affairs of
the late State Treasurer
AbIat sixty towns aro yet to 10 heard from
IN regard to tavAs Errors $500 6j--Claims,
$Z,Z37 80. NJ accurate mem 'rInda are as yet
found showing to whom (" the State Loan of
1887 was awarded or tho premiums thereon
The Committee desire to report, that whom
the Late Treasurer moved to Mortified, six or
seven years since, he was supposed to be the
owner of not more than $4,000 or $4,000, more
than he was indebted !; but that now he has
assigned to MIR. Carpenter and Mr. Belknap,
two OF his bondsmen, property valued by him al
$50 ,0OO or more, and estimated by the assign
ces to b. worth at least S30,00O. What this
property cost does not appear. 1t appears, fur
ther, that said Treasurers habits of living have
been somewhat expensive, and he has been en-
gagged in many sp citations, some Of which
have been unfortunate and disastrous. In on,
OF these relating to a patent, it appears he in
vested $4,000, and some proof tended 10 show
nearly $4,000
The assignment named above is to indemnify
the assgne9s from liability as bodsmen nnC
II there is surplus over their liability, the bal
ance is for the benefit Of the other bondemen
lhe assignment is in parol.
The Committee feel justified in further sta
ting that suspicious relative to the accounts OF
the Treasurer had existed for nearly or quit
two years and soma conversation relative to al
Investigation occurred between residents of
Montpelier, and Others, and application wa
made to him for exp lanaton lie always salts
fed those who applied that nothing was wrong
and attributed the rumors to alleged illwll OF
those who might be seeking the Office for others
The first absolute proof of this defalcation deyel
oped itself as the late Treasurer transferred thu
funds Of the State to the hands of the presen
incumbent, during the present session Al
prior to this time bad been mere rumor, so fal
as the committee are able to learn.
D. C. DENISON, for Committee.