The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-09


made, and the work was awarded TO
the lowest bidder at price consider
ably below the Limits fixed b. The act
before alluded TO. Ny best efforts
| we're made to observe literally the
limitation imposed as 10 cost, and az
the same time secure such a building
as the wants Of the public service re
quired, and as would not be q re-
proach 10 the State ia architectural
appearance.
With the greatest possible care and
the most rigid economy, owing 10 nec-
essary changes in the original plau,
and additional accommodations which
were not thought Of when the speel-
fications were prepared. J. was com
pelled to expend ". 10 81 more than
the sum named IN the act, and TO leave
the Supreme Court room u an unun-
lished condition. Ii will require a
small appropriation 70 finish tins
room; and there should b. provided "a
stone platform, with iron railing ln
front Of the Offices on Washington
and Tennessee Streets.
| trust you will cause the building 90
be examined by the appro pirate com-
mittecs, feeling assured that yOu viii
find that the money was prudenuy ex-
pended, aud that the building Is well
adapted to the purpose contemp plated
by the General Assembly. il have
prepared a detailed statement Of tho
moneys received and disburscd in the
erection OF the building, which L viii
submit with the contracts and vouch-
ers, and such explanations as may be
necessary 70 the committee TO whom
/ IL L. t.r. ssr4Ntl
The act authorizing the erection Of
the building appropriated the sum OF
$40. .000.f to be provided by loan Of
this sum out OF the Sinking FUND.
No provision was made for che OBJ.
tanning of the money necessary TO
carry out the intention Of the act be-
yond the $4,000.
L was fully convinced chat sound
econo ny and the safety Of the public
records, required that the building
should be erected with the least prac-
ticable delay; and as this could not
be accomplished without the necessa-
rv pecuniary means, the whole sum
expended, namely, S52 l29 ~, was ad-
yAnced BY the Auditor Of State out
Of the Sinking Fund. and bond was
I given to that fund for the sum Of $4O,-
/ iJ.
pursuance Of the requirements Of the
act. / respectfully recon mend that
the appropriation be mace from the
State Treasury Of the entire amount
SO advanced, and that 10 be re-
Maid to the Sinking Fund with
+. out delay. and that the forty
thousand dollars given 90 that
! fund be cancelled. There is nothing
in the condition Of the Treasury,
J present or prospective. 10 prevent
) such an appropriation, and although
I the matte. escaped my notice when
: the bill was presented fer approval
: and was / suppose also overlooked
3 by the General Assembly in passing
Y the bill, since il is essentially
: a law authorizing q debt % be
} \ awarded on behalf Of the State,
and that debt is not for one of the
SDunposes authorized by the C0nsti-
ssftion. The Constitution declares
!, Nat no law shall authorize any debt
a. Ee contracted on behalf of the
81 . xcept ia the following cases,
NJ To meet n casual deficit IN the
rover, e. - pay the interest ou the
State d ebt; 20 repel INVASION, Sup
( press ms urreet ion, or - hoatiiitle8 be
threatene q, to provide fo.r me pupllc
defense. Z there fore trust .'naL the
4 debt thus jnadvcl tentiy authoi '4eQ
contrary 20 an inhibition Of the Con-
stitution, will be speedily liquidated
by the necess ary appropriations. It
may be proper 20 add in this connec-
/ ton that the building has been oecu-
pied by the State officers and Judges
Of the Supreme Court.
MORGAN RAID COMMISSION.
The General Assembly. near the
close Of its last session, passed a c0u-
current resolution, after bil some
what similar in its nature had passed,
directing the Governor 10 appoint
three Commissioners, whose duty 10
should be to hear, determine and ad
just all claims for losses which had
heretofore accrued by reason of the
injury, destruction, loss or Impress
mont of property had or held By
any inhabitant Of this S8te, By reb-
ell forces under commend OF John
Morgan, il the year 1868, or caused
by the State or national forces en-
gagged 10 repelling said invasion,
or cansed By organized and
equipped troops to reprl the
threatened invasion Of the State by
the rebel forces under Adam John
son 10 the year 1864 The resolution
also directed the Governor 70 ap-
point an attorney, who should be
present at all the meetings Of the
Commissioners TO act as the attorney
of the State, and look after aud pro-
tect her interests. Although this
resolution had not the force and
effect of law, it was q positive and
unmistakable expression Of the will
Of the General Assembly that i feel
IL to be my duty to respect 10 by
cheerful compliance with its re-
quircmonts. / accordingly, ou the
18th day Of March, 1865, aD-
pointed Hon. John 1. Morrison,
Of Marion County, Colonel John Me-
Crea, of Monroe County. and Colonel
Smith Vawter, Of Jennings CJuniy.
Commissioners, for tie pa pose ind-
Gated in the resolution also APP
pointed Colonel Charles w Chapman.
Of Kosciusco County, Attorney tor
the State under the resolution. Col
onel Chapman resigned the position
about the time the Commission en-
tered upon It's labOrs, and / appointed
General Thomas NJ. Brown, Of Ran
dolph County, Attorney for the state
Ia his stead. The Commission was
authorized by the resolution % APP
point their own clerk, and they
did appoint William Il. Brown
ing, OF Monroe County, TO that
position. After the C0mmis-
sion had entered upon its labors, it
was ascertained by experience that ita
operations would be much delayed
and the expenses enhanced, unless