The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-29
THE FUNDS OF THE STATE.
An Appropriation Available for the
Building of Secure Vaults.
The Public Money Must Be Kept in the
States Ssfes-The Treasurer's Liabil-
iUy for Its Safety.

Attorney general Hord yesterday submitted to
the Governor opinion upon the questions
which have lately arisen 10 relation to the laws
requiring the Treasurer of State TO keep the pub
lie hlnds on deposit in the vaults of the State
Treasury. The Governors communication,
soliciting the Attorney generals opinion upon
the different questions, follows.
"The first section of the act of 1859, entitled
AN act to provide a treasury system for the
STATE or Indiana, for the manner of receiving,
holding and disbursing the public moneys Of
the State, and for the safe keeping OF public
moneys provides that the room now occupied,
or when may hereafter be assigned to
cupied by the Treasurer of State, together
with the Safes vaults, and other necessary
means for the security aud safa-keeping OF the
public money thereto belonging. shall constitute
Inc treasury OF the State of Indiana, and the
treasurer OF State shall he required to use the
treasury so constituted as the sole place for the
deposit and safe keeping OF the moneys OF the
state, except as hereinafter provided, and the
Auditor and the Treasurer of State, under the
direction OF the Governor, are required to pro-
vide such additional locks, safes and vaults as
may render the public funds absolutely secure
against nre and burglars, and appropriation
Is hereby made of such money as
may he necessary to obtain the same.
Pursuant to the requirement of this act, the
governor not long after Its passage procured
safe. and caused a vault TO be constructed, IN
which the safe was placed. 1t is believed, how
ever, that neither the safe nor vault is wholly
Durgar-proof, and that to render the public
funds placed therein absolutely secure against
burglars, 1t would be necessary TO purchase
what is popularly called a burglar-proof safe, to
construct another vault In which to place the
same, and TO have guard composed Of at least
three courageous and trusty men, to guard the
vault and safe in the night time.
l desire your opinion whether the appro-
prlaUi0n made in the section above quoted
Is continuous, SO that it may now be used to
purchase new and better safe, aud to con-
struct vault in which to place said safe for the
purpose OF securing the public funds against
HIRE and burglars, and whether there is any
appropriation of which the Governor or Treas
urer might avail himself, for the purpose OF en-
pioylng competent guard to protect the vault
ana safe az ainst assaults, which might endanger
theft safety | also desire your opinion, whether,
II funds Kept by the Treasurer in the present
safe, or In new safe procured by the direction
OF the Governor, for his use, should
be stolen from the safe without
completely or fault on the Treasurer's part, the
State could successfully maintain a suit on the
Treasurer's bond to recover the money stolen. 1
desire your opinion, likewise, whether, If the
treasurer were to place a part OF the public
funds on deposit in a bank reputed to be solvent,
and believed by him to be so, and such funds
were to be lost by the failure of the bank he and
MS snretles would be liable on his official bond
for the moneys lost"