Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-10
TIE STOLEN BILL.
Remarkable History Of the At
tempt Last Spring to Protect
the Treasury.
Mr.. Buffers Connection With
ihe Various Measures Look
ing 90 this End.


..r|. AmNlltaht W
The Governor, in the eighth SEQ
tion of his proclamation, and in his
message to the second called session
OF the Legislature, opened the door
ior locking after the safety OF funds
in the treasury. Accordingly, Mr..
Jarvis, carly in the extra session.
introduced House Joint resolution
No, 3, page 9, Ii. j asking forreports
irou the Comptroller and Treasurer
After four days Of delay the resolu.
ton was adopted, strongly opposed by
Butler and others. When the resolu-
ton came up Tor final action. after
much delay. Mr. Butler moved its
reference to the Committee of
Finance, Ways and MeaDs, of which
ne was chairman (page S8, Il J)
The re>o luton was adopted, 80 ayes
! noes, Mr.. butley voting no" Pend
'nV the adopuon OF The resolution in
opposing it Mr. Butler said, ut will
AXE month 10 mike the statement
required in the resolution Coulter
md Others answered that 1t eould
be done in an hour it the books we're
rlght After ten days OF more DELAY.
The report iTom the Treasurer was
made, hut tailed TO show where the
s6o5 496 were. Mr.. Coulter offered
dcuse Joint Resolution No. 25, de
'nandins supplementary report to
show where the funds we're, in what
banks dep '4ited This resolution was
opposed By MIR. Butler aud others
Sho said it was unwise to expose the
location OF the Statos funds; il would
create jealousy toward Mr.. Polk, from
uniayored banks, etc, The ayes and
nues we're not called on the adoption
OF this resolution. This, the supple.
mentary report, came In thirty mia.
utes before the hour fixed for the
adjournment of that session.
/ Mr.. Coulter assailed the Item Of said
report which claimed credit of S23.
5l9 paid on reeeipted accounts for the
engraving and preparation of the 100 B
bonds, without tue OomprolIers war
rant, asserting the payment TO be
without law OF precedent. Butler and
others assailed Coulter, saying thai
this charge was an imputation be.
'mlrehing tho character OF the purest
and best official the State had, a Dem
oeratf and the CHARGE made hy a Dem
ocrat, unjust and uuealled for.
In the last called session tpage 20
House JournaD, Conlteroffered Hous,
Joint resolution No II. looking 20 IN,
safety Of the State Treasury, moved ,
suspension Of the rules to consider th,
resolution, This was lost, MIR. Butler
opposing it. The next day it Wal
adopted, with no call for th,
ayes and noes. AS chairman
OF the committee appointed
under the resolution, Mr.. Coulter
reported that the Treasurer had n,
bond, etc, and recommended that tn,
J surplus fund in the Treasury shal
be promptly invested 10 Interest bear
ing registered unitod States bonds
With suoh guards aud restrictions al
; VIII etieotually project any surplus u
the State Treasury Aocompanyin,
said report was a bill 10 this effect
No. l6l, entitled. "Au act to betteI
secure tho funds IN tie Stata Treas
urY, On second reading this bil
was referred TO tho COMMITTEES O
finance Ways and Means, Of whicl
Mr Butler was Chairman, and wal
laid on the table By report Of sale
committee (H }. page 9l). IL being
we'll known that the bill would b