Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-06
Associated Press Report.

NASHVILLE, January 5.-The announce
ment from the State capitol, this morning,
of the deficit iu the State treasury produced
a genuine sensation throughout the city.
The following is the report OF the legislative
committee:
"The joint select committee 10 settle with
the comptroller and treasurer report that
they have visited the Office of the treasurer,
and, upon inquiry, find the treasurer away
from the capital, and has been for two days,
and they are not advised when he will re-
turn. His clerk states that he cannot go
into settlement OF the treasurer's accounts
until his return. They also have informa.
ton from the bondsmen, or some OF them,
that the condition of the treasury is such
that they feel justified to recommend that
the workings of the treasury be stopped I'M
til an examination can be had"
The Senate adopted the following joint
resolution:
WHEREAS, The Senate has reason to be-
lieve that M. T. Polk, the present State
treasurer, is defsulter for about S400, 900;
and whereas, the bond given by said Off
Ger is nst sufficient in amount 10 secure said
deficit; therefore, be il
Resolved by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sertatires, That the attorney general of the
State be, and ia hereby instructed, to attSch
instanter all avail liable assets belonging 10
said M. I. Polk, provided that sufficient
grounds exist, TO the end that the same may
be held for the satisfaction Of said deficit
The State treasurer's official bond fee was
100000. His boudsmen are VIM. NJ. and
A. +. Duncan, OF Newell, Duncan & Co.,
brokers; Msx Sax, cashier of The Nashville
Savings Bank; VIM. Morrow, former Slate
treasurer; Will Polk and ]. E. r. Carpenter,
all of Nashville; J. K. Polk, F. T. D. Alli-
ID ~ 8 aA
A S. Horseley. of CoIumbis. At the last
extra session of the Legislature bill was
introduced to increase the bond of the State
treasurer, but the bill was stolen from the
desk of the clerk OF the Senate the night
before the bill was TO come up for hual pas
sage, on the day before the time fixed for the
| final adjournment OF the Legislature. The
| amount of the deficit in the treasury
cannot be accurately sscertained until
after a thorough investigation. One oil
| the bondsmep, who has been exam.
lining the accounts, says they show thus Al
deficit of $3S0,000 The same bondsmar
says the treasurer's books and accounts alone
| OF the banks show a discrepancy OF ovei
| $50 900. Just before Christmas be said he
1 drew out of the Bank of Pulaski $4,000. Ths
| State funds were distributed in various bank
| at Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis. The
| AdhNo az SAPpOoco W nav 49,
lost in speculation, or loaned 10 personal
friends engaged in speculation in bond
and stocks. Treasurer Polk left Nash
! Vile Wednesday, and was last hearC
Of at Milan, Tenn, from which poin
he wrote back that he would return Sunday
HIS family here do not know Of his where
sbouts. Treasurer Polk is 6fy-one year
old, a graduate of West Point, and served
four years on the frontier. He wss captain
OF artillery in the Confederate army, il
ghesthams division, and lost leg at th'
battle of Shiloh. He aiterward served or
the staff OF Gen. Leonidas Polk, to whom b
was related. After the var he resided on
farm near Bolivar, Tenn, until elected treas
urer, six years ago. He was a nephew OF tn
late President Polk. He has large family
and occupied high eocial position in TIL
city and State.
Gov, Hawkins, in reply TO an inquiry 10
night il steps you'd be taken for his appre
hension said "no.F