The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-19
THE STATE TREASURY.
Mr.. Cooper's Opposition to the Proposed
Investigation Of His Accounts.
The Dilemma of the Democratic Members Of
the Legislature-The Possible Embar-
easements of an Investigation.


bers of the General Assembly so much as the
proposed investigation of the affairs of the State
| Treasury. They are wholly undecided as to what
course to take and there is much worry about
| the matter. 1t is feared that if the investiga-
ton is ordered there may be discoveries which
| would embarrass the party, and yet if they re-
fuse to examine into the condition of affairs which
is said to exist, they win be held culpable
for willfully negecting a possible means of pro-
tecting public interests. The agitation of the
question is evidently making Mr. Cooper very
nervous The Treasurer and his son have both
been circulating among the legislators night and
day, and all the influence that they WELD is
being exerted to prevent the investigation. Since
the adjournment of the Legislature on Friday
evening they have been about the hotels most
of the time, actively engaged in button hole
siege upon the members of the Legislature who
remained in the city.
| OPPOSED TO AN INVESTIGATION.
| did the Indianapolis correspondent of the
| Cincinnati Enquirer speak authortatively If
stating that you desire an investigationT a
Journal reporter asked Mr. Cooper at the Bates
| House. last evening.
ment" Mr.. Cooper replied, ''as there is in any
! thing Jawhawker ever writes. His letter is di-
| recty contrary to what said to him. He came
| down to my Office with letter vilifying Gov
ernor Porter, which he desired me to sign
He had prepared it as an open letter,
| which he wanted me to sign and
| allow him to publish it. / told him that would
see him in - (modernly alluded to as Hades)
before / would sign it."
DO you object to an investigation" was
asked
| II don't think that it is anything to my credit
to be suspected of dishonesty l don't feel that it
will be anything to my credit to be investigated
It's not going to be any credit to me to be in
dicted by the grand jury as d-n thief and
then have an investigation to prove that
| I'm not. I can't get any satisfaction out
of that sort of thing, and l don't
desire it. The mere fact that an investigation is
| ordered duplicates mans honesty, and it's not
a pleasant thing. The law makes it the duty Of
the Governor to inquire into the condition Of The
| States funds, and Governor Porter might have
found out at any time whether or not there was
| anything wrong. I'm responsible to the State,
| and it's not the fair thing to give the impression
| to the public that I'm dishonest by ordering an
| investigation
|
/ Treasurers bond from $3.50. 900 to 81 900 0002"
| 'The present bond is sufficient / think, be-
cause the Treasurer is liable to criminal prosecu-
ton if he employs any of the funds in his hands.
A bond of a million dollars is great hardship.
1t forces an officer to take a great many men on
| his bond that it will be unpleasant for him to be
under obligations to- The present bond is high
enough--a million dollars will be hardship"
| ITO BE OR NOT TO BE2'
The resolution of Senator Foulke, pro-
posing the appointment of special
committee to be composed of mem
bers of DO tn branches of the General
Assembly for the purpose of conducting the in
vestigation, will come up for consideration in
| the Senate to-day. A Democratic Senator
stated to Journal reporter last night that there
was some doubt among the Democrats as to
what they should do. Some were disposed to
| favor the investigation, but others were opposed
| to it, and few were wholly undecided as to
| how they would vote upon the matter
what action do you think the House will
| take upon the resolution providing for an inves-
tigation of the State Treasurerg" was asked
Representative McMulen, at the Grand Hotel
| last evening.
''Well. sir" Mr.. McMullen replied, II haven't
much of an idea of what the feeling is among
| our members. There is no agreed opinion about
| the matter. | believe that most of the members
| are undecided about what is really the best
thing to do, and just how they stand can only
| be learned when the roll is called | don't feel
| like voting for an investigation simply because
it was recommended by Governor Porter; and
yet, under the circumstances, it seems like the
best thing that can be done is to have an nvesti-
CATION. Probably it would be better still for
| us to place the whole responsibility upon the
| Governor, who is authorized by law to- make an
investigation at any time when it may be
| thought advisable. / am in doubt as to how
shall vote upon the matter. If the roll were to
be called now | would have to hesitate about de-
| Gliding how / would vote"
| 'sWhy do you suppose Mr.. Cooper objects Do an
| investigation"
Cooper isn't opposed to an investigation be-
| cause there is any danger of all the money not
! being found in the Treasury He can show up all
| the money in an hours time. know thathe can.
He is opposed to it because he is afraid that an
| investigating committee will discover how much
| he has been receiving from the interest on the
funds guess that it is safe to estimate that he
| has received fully $4,000 from interest on the
money in his hands. think that he is afraid
/ that if the committee should discover that he
has been getting interest he might be compelled
/ to turn it over to the State. The money, | am
sure rs all safe, and, SO far that is concerned,
| / don't think there is any need of an investga-
| ton. believe that the bill fixing the Treasur-
er's bond at 81, 000,0 600 ought to become a law,
because if any bond is required at all it ought to
| be sufficient
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
| many or Cne meHDerS spent SATURDAY and
Sunday at their homes.
/ The caucuses on the nominations for United
/ States senator will be held this evening.
i A delegation of Pike county citizens have
been in the city endeavoring to get bill through
the Legislature removing the capital of Pike
from Petersburg to Winsow.
The committee on ways and means, of which
| Representative McMullen is chairman will
recommend the enactment of Representative
Kruegers bill, prohibiting the sale of property
for taxes delinquent for shorter period than
one year.
There will probably be several amendments tc
the Constitution proposed during the present
session. Kruegers resolution fixing the terms
of county officers at four years is regarded with
| favor by tire Democrats. and it will doubtless be