The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-01-28
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, I
January "a, 1861.

January "a, 1861.
To tie House of Representatives. Of the State
Of Indiana:
learn from the Hon. N. Cunningham,
Treasurer of State, that there are not more
than $1,000 in the State Treasury. The
Legislature will at once perceive the neces-
sity of making some provision WHEREBY the
current expenses of the State Government
can be paid, and the credit of the State pre-
served 1t is estimated that $40, O0O will
be sufficient to meet all the expenses of the
government until such times as a sufficient
amount of State tax can be collected from
the various counties. As the law stands,
the county treasurers are not required to
make their settlements with the State Treas
urer, until the second Monday of April, and
the result is that only small part of the
State tax is paid in until that time. The
18th section of the act passed March LIST,
1859, to provide general treasury system,
provides that the Treasurer of State may at
any time call upon the county treasurers to
pay into the State treasury any money in
the treasury of any county belonging to, or
due the State but as there is no penalty
provided in the act for the failure to com
ply with the requisition of the State Treas
urer, it has, learn, been generally disre-
garded.
There are, no doubt, large sums of money
in the various county treasures, belonging
to the State, which, if paid over, would re-
lieve it of all embarrassment, and dispense
with the necessity of making loans to meet
the ordinary expenses of the government.
l therefore recommend that the act of March
lst, 1859, before referred to, be so amended
as to enable the State Treasurer, whenever,
in his opinion, the exigencies of the State
require it, to call upon the various county
treasurers to pay over to the State Treasur-
er whatever monies they may have on hand
belonging to the State, and prescribing suit
able and proper penalties for failing to COM
ply with such requisition. In this way,
think, adequate provision may be made to
meet any temporary loan contracted to meet
the DEFICIENCIES of the Treasury. There are
two sources from which the money may be
obtained, from the Bank of the State and
the Sinking Fund. The officers of the
Bank express their readiness to furnish the
money, if called for, and the President of
the Sinking Fund informs me that he has
now on hand some $50, 900 belonging to the
Fund, which he has held back from distri-
button to the various counties, at the sug-
gestion of the State Officers, that it would
probably be required to supply deficiencies
in the State Treasury.
As to the source from which the money
should be obtained, have no other recon-
mendation to make than this-that if it be
the purpose of the State to continue the
distribution of their Sinking Fund to the
counties, as provided by the act of March
lst, 1859, the loan should be made from the
Bank, and the distribution be allowed to
proceed as provided by law.
The act of May 81, 1852, authorizing
the Governor, Auditor, and Treasurer of
State to borrow money, does not meet the
present case, as it only confers authority to
borrow money, to pay the interest on the
State Debt. therefore recommend, that the
Governor, Auditor and Treasurer of State,
be authorized to make such temporary loan, |
or loans, not to exceed $4,000, as may be
necessary to defray the expenses of the
State, until the receipts in the treasury may /
be sufficient therefor.
OLIVER P. MORTON,
Governor.
Mr.. Branham, chairman OF the committee
of WAYS and means, denounced in the Sc
verest terms the practice of drawing money
from the treasury without authority of law.
He advocated a reform Of the system, and
hoped that hereafter all officers violating
the law would be set to breaking stone.
The communication was referred to the
committee on ways and means.
A message was received from the Govern
,r, inclosing resolutions of the Legislature
Of Virginia, relative to the condition of the
lines, and recommending a Convention of
of the States, to meet at
Washington City on the 4th day of Februa-
y, to adopt measures to secure the rights of
he Southern States, by adopting az an adj
ustment, the Crittenden Compromise. Re-
erred to the Committee of Thirteen.
Adjourned.