The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-05
THE MAJORITY'S SPOKESMAN.
Representative Patton Champions Treas.
urer Cooper.

Hon. James B. Patton, OF Sullivan, Chair.
man of the Committee on the Investig of
the State Treasury, upon moving the adoption
of the msjority report, on yesterday spoke
as follows:
Mr.. sPEAKER-As member OF the committee 10
whom was referred the Senate concurrent resolu-
ton appointing Special Committee Of five mem
beers OF each House 10 examine that part of ex-
Governor Porters biennial message relating to the
State Treasury and to report by bill or otherwise,
what legislation, if any, was necessary In refer
investigation into the affairs OF the State Treasury
by Legislative Committee is at this time
probably necessary or proper, l would say
double duty was imposed upon US by the resolu-
ton. and think II but proper and right TO state
TO this House in detail the extent OF the examina
The Auditor of state ]. H. Rice, furnished the
committee with the following statement, viz:
The following IS the condition OF the State
Treasury appears by the records OF this Office
November ], 1854, balance cash in
January 81 iss receipts to date sS6G % %
JanusrT % DISBURSEMENT to sSi ga 3
Balance IN Treasury at close OF bust
ness January 2s, lsS5....... ......... 4s6,SSl OF
(Signedl J. II. RICE,
Auditor OF State.
After the receipt OF this statement the CON-
miitee proceeded the Office OF the Treasurer of
STATE, aud then and there made a full and con-
%.
safes. books, vouchers, papers, drafts checks,
ofders, certificates and money on hand pertain.
ing to said Treasury. The examination developed
the following state Of facts as 10 the assets OF said
Treasury:
]. Check on Maverick Bank, Boston s. 10000 co
2 special deposit in First National
8 Six certificates of deposit In First
National Bank OF indianapolis for S10-
to- each. and dated Deem Der 80, 1854,
sggresating ...... 90, 900 co
Nofs nal Ran h of Vvndf lie
airy 2 1855. So. $4,000 90
Bank. Indianapolis. January p, 1855. 10000 90
6. -Four certificates of deposit in Merd-
ian National Bank, Indianapolis
dated December 81, 1884 agrlesatIng. 10000 90
was turned over by Hin to Cooper. 1000 90
5. Six cashiers certificates OF deposit
in Merchants National Bank. dated
Novem Der 10, 1884 aggregsting 81 1872 CT
9. Cashiers check on Meridian Nation
al Bank. dated January q, Iss5....... 1000 90
10. Certificates on Meridian National
Bank. Indianapolis. dated January Is,
1885 ....'. 1000 90
National Bank. indianapolis, dated
December 81, lSsi.... ........... 6OOO %
II. Check on bank at No5lesvills. Ind.
dated January 20. 1857 ................... 257 p
Is County Commissioners order on
Hamilton County, dated December e.
1884, bearing per cent interest......... 1000 90
IA. County Commissioners oder
Marion County, issued January /, 1881,
per cent from date $4,000 90
-. County orders of various denomina.
tions and dates, with per cent. inter
est, sggregating ....................... 1869 81
A large portion of these orders were received by
Mr.. Hill, the former Treasurer, and turned TO the
present Treasurer as cash.
l6. Exchange First National Bank
cincinnati ......-... .......-.....-..... 20O0
Il. Cash on hand ........................... 1900
is. ARRANGEMENTS made to judges and
H. Warrants cashed after AUDITORS
statement and before committees ex-
amination......... f7s 20
Io'al assets....... sisl. 292 81
sub committee examined the special deposits
In the various banks and found the amounts to
correspond to the certificates In the Treasurers
OF their power under the resolution to ascertain
the true condition of the State Treasury. 1t is
strictly complied with but this Certainly has not
been the fault of the Treasurer, he had no
authority or power to do more than receive
and disnurse the public funds, hedged in by
the following restrictive statute: the room
now occupied; or which NAV be hereafter as.
state. together with the safes. vaults and other
ad o sh gnc for 9e and
ing, shall constitute the Treasury OF the State
OF Indiana, and the Treasurer of state shall be re-
Tred to use the Tress1ry 50 as the
m0nyes OF the State To the unsophisticated
1t would seem that Treasury
vaults and safes are well guarded with iron bolts
bars and time-locks, ana imperyious to fire and
burglar. Not SO: gentlemen; IN, 7 The rooms are
pdity on the part OF the Treasurer OF State to even
contemplate depositing any large amount of
state Treasury" Burglars would go through it
as easily as a buzz saw through paper box
that the Treasurer would seek more secure
place OF deposit for the public funds add indeed
IN doing SO he but exercises the prudence OF a
mended Tor his action instead OF being traduced
ana M omsligned as law. breaker and fslon
o. MS predecessors in office AMI is
neither better nor worse than they.
The committee IN its Investigation after il ascer
and good c0llaterals in his hands to more than
cover his liability, had DO inclination to pursue
pessimists, or to be very profoundly impressed by
the vap0ry mouthings OF the subtle sans culotte
Ex-Governor, who. during the first two years of his
executive CANNON and humble solictude for the
safe keeping OF the States money, did net think
II proper or expedient 10 recommend ''such sddi-
honal locks safes and vaults as would render the
pubic funds absolutely secure against fire and
burglary" but with heavenly -pensiye serenity
permitted his Republican state Treasurer to as;
depositing the states moneys in the various
banks OF the city OF Indianapolis, collecting inter
unconditional and unlimited engagement
which he assumed in giving his Off.
h us aud of uP Se o 6m ssd
when his term of Office had expired the most DO
tent Ex-Governor. with competency equalied
only ey his magnsnimity, soaped his exit with
the unctious Oenediction of well done. thou
good and faithful servant depart in peace" We
are led TO infer from the ex-Governor's message
that up 10 the summer OF 1883 he had no knowl-
edge Of the condition OF the Treas ~ or the re-
hottest idea OF how or where the public funds
were kept but was reposing in blissful ignorance
OF the whole subject, although for more than two
years he had constantly been in close relationship
with the banks OF the city and daily association
with the Treasurer. and. in fact, occupying Guber-
Material rooms in the same building.
II therefore seems TO me that the worthy ex-
Governor has not only been conversant with all
the facts and knowledge in relation TO the con-
dition OF the State Treasury and the practices OF