Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-25
FULL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS
COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION: =,


The following is the report OF the
committee appointed by Gov. Phelps to
settle with the auditor and treasurer,
and inquire generally into the fiscal af-
fairs OF the state. The committee has
been engaged in its Investigation since |
the 10th of December. and the report |
will be found of much public interest.
To the Honorable the President OF the |
Senate of the Thirtieth General Assem- |
blythe committee Consisting OF NJ,
H. Phelan. senator from the thirty-third |
district. Dabney c. Dade. representative
of Greene county. and Francis Nj. Har-
rington, Representative of Adair county,
Sc ected and notified by the governor to
settle with the auditor and treasurer. and
to examine into the condition and affairs
Of the registers Office, and inquire into
the validity OF the bonds given by the
various state officers (Wagner. p. ]. $40.
met at the capital, on December 10.
1873, and after subscribing the oath of
Office, indorsed and certified Ell their re-
spective certificates of election. as pre-
scribed by law, entered upon the dis
charge Of their duties, and continued
their investigations until the present
time. The results OF their inquiries and
OF their action are embodied in the fol-
lowing VIZ t' TIL
The committee personally inspected
all the books, vouchers and papers in the
AUDITORS OFFICE, '.".'
So far as they related to the years 1877
and 1873.
The books are kept properly and ac-
curately, and although the committee,
l with the assistance OF an expert, tested
! them thoroughly, no error was found.
The plan in use with its checks and bal
l ances ls such that with a competent and
experienced clerical force it is not pos
sible for an error in figures, unless in
/ territorial, to remain undiscovered. As
the entire financial system of the state
hinges on the auditors Office, there is
need in it, more than in all the other
state departments together. of thorough
ly skilled accountants, who are also Ia
miliar with the duties to be performed.
The books of the Office are sufficient wit
ness to the competency OF the clerical
force, and especially of the chief ac-
lcountant.
1t may not be out of place to remark
that the auditors Office furnishes COM
plete check on the treasurer; SO much so,
that even without having recourse to
the books of the latter, accurate and de-
tailed Information respecting the finan-
cial condition of the state, or at least
what it should be, can be had. Every
demand must first be presented to the
auditor, and passed upon by him. II al
lowed, it is numbered and becomes a
voucher, and upon it y warrant or order
for payment is issued. A list of all such
warrants is furnished from time to time
to the treasurer, and no money can be
disbursed legally except on such order
An account OF the several funds and o.
the appropriations made by tho general
assembly is found in the auditors books
so also of receipts. No money is pait
into the treasury without the auditor be
ing informed. In word, 1t is impessi
BILE for any lawful disposition Of tn.
lpublic funds to take place which is no,
shown in the auditors books.
The auditor, however, is not the abso
lutte accounting officer of the state. Al
his acts are reviewed by the examining
committee. and finally, on their report
by the general assembly, the last judg,
in the premises. =
THE BONDED DEBT.
The fund commissioner report O
1874 gives 1887 900 as the total bondec
debt falling due in 1878, whilst that O
1876 shows but $4,000. The forme
also mentions Up. y demand on tn
part of the United States. the owner, fo
the payment OF $4,000 Missouri 5 yea
bonds issued in 1851, which, it seems
had been overlooked for long time
These contradictory, or at least confus
ed, statements induced the committee t,
endeavor to ascertain for themselve
from the original sources of information
and independently OF any reports, tn
precise amount and condition of tn
state debt. and with this view the,
spent some time in examining what i
called
THE BOND REGISTER.
This book does not furnish the neces
sary data, nor could they find sufficien
to warrant them in making a statemen,
Auditor Holladay's present report (pre
pared. it is believed, with great care,
in SC far as it relates to the bonded debt
is probably correct or at least the error
If any, is not very great.
The committee express their uu
qualified condemnation of the "Bon
Register" rs totally unsuited to the put
poses Tor which it is used, untrustworth
and misleading. A register of this Kind
= unless thoroughly and completely ae
curate. is worse than useless. Alse tn
manner in which cancelled bonds al
d coupons are preserved and filed is mo.
;. Objectionable; it would be better, rathe
n than continue it, once for all to cast int
the fire these evidences of former debt
= The present auditor found in his otfic
IA the book and the system now so strong
ly objected to. which had been in us
- - many years but it seems that, thoug
r; not satisfied Herewith, he did not fe,
nt authorized to make a change witheu
some legislative direction.
NJ ~ The committee recommend, as abst
a. lutely necessary. that the present entll
system be abandoned at once that tt
- Bond Register" be put out OF the of1ic
and what is known rs the "Scrap-bo
~ Bond and Coupon Register" substitute
er for 1t; and, furthermore. that all Il
~ ~ cancelled bonds and coupons be assortt
d. and placed in it without delay. A s
rs that book of convenient size, with a.
e propriate printed headings, be procure
s. and all bonds now unpaid. and tho
hereafter issued, listed in it in the usu
way.