The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-05
The Majority Report.

The majority report was signed by all the
Democratic members of the committee. Repre-
sentative Patten, the chairman, who a noisy
advocate of a thorough investigation early in
the session, was, under the force of the caucus
rule, compelled to join in the report, which was
as follows:
Mr.. Speaker: Your special committee, appoint
ed pursuant to concurrent resolution to consider
that portion Of Ex-Governor Porter's message
which refers to the State Treasury and to re-
port by bill or otherwise what legislation if any.
is necessary with reference to the State Treas
ury, and also to report whether or not an
investigation by Legislative committee into the
affairs of the State Treasury is at this time
probably necessary or proper. have had said
matters under conside ration. A majority Of the
committee beg leave to make the following re-
port and recommendations:
On the 29th day of January 1885, the commit
tee examined the books in the Office of the Audi
tor of the State, and also the assets on hand held
by the Treasurer of State. The Auditors books
show that on the LIST day of November, 1884.
the Treasurer chargeable with balance on
hand of $431, 206.59; that between the 1st day
of November, 1884, and the close of business
hours on January %. 1885, he had received the
further sum of 81 400 l54 %: making the total
chargeable ST. 857, 800 SO; and that from the said
1st day of November 1884, to the 28th
day of January, 1885, the Treasurer had
disbursed upon warrants according to law, the
sum of ST. 364 7S, leaving total balance
chargeable against the Treasurer Of 1885, 88l. 04;
and thercupon the Treasurer exhibited cash as
sets in the sum of $491, 500 "a OF the sums so
exhibited $40 900 consisted in National bank and
! United States Treasury notes, and silver and
gold certificates commonly called paper money;
$3.50 consisted of silver coin; $4l0 049 81 consisted
of drafts, checks and certificates of deposit is
sued by various banks of Indianapolis, and such
as commonly circulate among merchants and
the business world in general in discharge of all
obligations, and are convertible into cash at any
moment; and $74 069 80 of said exhibit consisted
IN county orders 500 900 of which was upon
| Marion county and $40 900 upon Hamilton coun-
| ty, which orders good, better than the
| cash. The Treasurer has an arrangement by
| which he can convert the same into cash at any
| moment that it is desired The sum of 81 069 33
| consisted in various county orders which are
| good, but as to them the committee has
no information as to the Treasurers being
| able to convert them Immediately into cash ex-
cept by supplying their place by cash from his
| individual funds. Your committee also called
| upon the various banks of the city and learned
from them that the Treasurer had deposited with
| them the several amounts represented by the
various checks, drafts and certificates of deposit
held by him. and the money on special deposit
was exhibited to the committee.
| Taking into consideration the fact that the
! State furnishes the Treasurer no safe place in
| which TO keep the money, and that he is com
| PEELED to deposit the same in one or more banks
| for safe keeping your committee is of the opin-
|
the money deposited secures to himself, his
bondsmen and the State the least possible risk
| of any great loss that could be secured by any
| disposition of the same. 1t enables the Treas
urer of State to pay at any time he may be re-
CURED by law any all of the amounts with
| which he is chargeable.
The majority of your committee further re-
port that they discover no reasons whatever why
a legislative committee should be appointed al
| this time to investigate further into the affairs
of the State Treasury; but If it were desired for
| any reason to investigate thoroughly or com
| petely, such an investigation would of necessity
| involve detailed examination of the books in
| the Office of Auditor of State, because in those
| books the accounts of the Treasurer kept.
| Such an investigation could not be made thor
| ough and complete by any committee in the
short period of sixty days-the time allowed for
the regular session of the Legislature Hence
il any such investigation were necessary OF
should become necessary, it would, in the opin
ion of the majority of your committee, be better
for many reasons that the same should take
place under the order and direction of the Gov
ernor and Secretary Of State. who have now full
power to order and direct such investigation un
der the statutes of the State Inasmuch as it is
claimed by the Ex-Governor that SIS is not enough
to pay an expert for the purpose
of investigating. the committee recon-
mend that the statute be so amended
as to allow the Governor to pay such expert as
much as So per day, if necessary, to the end thai
there may be excuse protest for not inves
tigatns whenever IN the opinion of the Gov
ernor such investigation is necessary or proper
AS to the legislation necessary the
committee recommends an amendment to thu
statute increasing the penalty of the Treasurer:
bond and returns herewith bill embracing
!, such amendment leaving blank the amount
that the General Assembly may fill the sam'