The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-20


given in the same statute aud in the san
section. Whether the statute is IN forea or
not Is question OF Importance. Toe Gov
ernor says, in effect il Is not. That is one
reason why i suggest com mittee OF investi-
CATION II that statute does not apply TO the
Governor, there may some be question as 70
whether il applies to the State Treasurer
covering money into the State Treasury.
II Is in the same act and upon condition
that the State furnish place for the safe
keeping of the public moneys that the Treas
uTer is required &c pay back the money ha
may receive for interest One other among
many reasons Why think there ought to Be
an investigation is that the State Treasure
has TO give a bond for $50 O00 while thu
Treasurer of the United States is bat SO. OOO
for the custody o, great deal more money
and yet for some reason or other, gentlemen
want TO ASCERTAIN il the State Treasurer has
not been loaning out money, and hold al
inquest over IL This same status that pro
vides that the State Treasurer shall not loan
the States money provides that his salary
shall be but SO 600 per year. he handles
So 0O0, 0C0 OF the peoples money; he gives
bond that puts in jeopardy his al and prob
sbly the all OF every friend that goes on his
bond, and IL fire or burglar takes
the money there is no excuse; the money
must be returned II has been recognized
fact that the State Treasurer must take care
OF the publics money wherever he best can,
and il he receives interest upon il it is to
pay him for the risk he assumes IL il be
true that the Governor Is excused from act.
ing under the present statute. | am in favor
of passing law which will require him to
act when 1t has come to his goo Wedge that
there are irregularities in the conduct OF the
State Treasurer.
Mr.. HILLlG ASS: l stand upon this resp
luton as stood the other day. II there is
necessity for this Investigation am for it.
! don't understand that the Senator from
Wayne Mr.. Foulke desires this to be
party question; bat am sorry to see that it
has assumed some wba, party character. |
see disposition creeping out to make 1t
partisan. He says an in favor of the law
and against an enforcement OF the Law. II
that statement be true certsinl y Governor
Porter stands in the same attitude. Here is
q Law requiring him 10 make This investiga-
ton and yet he does not do so. He bases his
reference TO the State Treasurer upon news.
paper reports. Why did he not make an
investigation ga the law requires? He failed
TO do that, and i am justified in
saying that when the present State Treasurer
came INTO Office in February, 1888, Governor
Porter himself visited the State Treasurer,
asked him what he would do with the State
funds, and he advised the State Treasurer
then and there not TO withdraw money from
the banks OF the city OF Indianapolis, but to
follow the prs csdent set by his predecessor;
and that IL he did withdraw il IL would ruin
the DJtlueSS ell luultutpO-ls. Al view OF
this advice, which | may repeat In viev of
the fact OF this assault In the message of
Governor Porter, it i'll becomes any Senator
10 impugn the honesty or integrity Of the
Treasurer OF the State Therefore, | say |
am in favor Of the amendment to the reso-
gated 10 the fullest extent, and
il there ia recessity for any
additional investigation let US have IL. 1
wonld be in favor Of going back over
period OF years. Let witnesses lie examined
Let ex Governor Porter be summoned IS to
his advice TO the Treasurer OF State, aud il
the law has been violated. has he connived
st il by his advice to the Treasurer, aud nov
at the close OF his administration comes in
and casts a reflection upon the Treasurer,
when he himself was conniver at viola
ton of law by reason OF his advice TO toe
Treasurer st the incep ion of this matter.
That Is my idea, and | ehsll support the
amendment TO the resolution
Mr.. MAY: l have thoroughly investigated
this matter so far as alleged irregularities by
the State Treasurer are referred to In the
Governors message, and L have made up NV
mind that Governor OF a commonwealth
like the State of Indiana ought not to come
to the General Assembly in q message and
say that we ought to investigate the most
important Office in the State without making
q specific charge against the officer What
does Governor Porter say about the State
papers since 1888 have been saying that
there is something wrong. II the General
Assembly proposes to act upon newspaper
charges we can investigate almost every
officer and everything in Indiana. The
resolution OF the Senator from Wayne
goes much farther than the Cover
nor himself proposes. The resolution
OF the Senator from Gibson is in accord
with the recommendation OF the Governor.
Upon the direct question OF an investigs.
ton based upon the Governors message, /
should not hesitate to say I would vote
such charges rs the Governor alleges, because
there is no specific charge upon which to
base an investigation. / am willing TO go
with the Governor in his message and vots
for proposition that will result in necessary
legislation so that an Investigation of the
Treasurer can be had at any time. For that
reason / shall support the amendment of the
Senator from Gibson.
Mr.. ADDISON: ! would not say q word
except for an inBiDuation that has been
thrown out by the Senator from Huntington
tMr. Hllligass) against the conduct OF Gov
eInor Porter. II had no other resson for
supporting the resolution of the Senator
from Wayne. the insinustion OF the Senator
from Huntington would be sufficient to in
duce me 70 cast my vote for that resolution.
The Senator from Huntington said that
Governor Porter at the commencement oil
the term OF ONCE OF the State treasurer n 4
vised him TO place the States money in
banks and the Governor has right to ap
pear before an investigating committee and
be allowed the privilege of ex-
planning. II might be true a.
that time il was the bes
thing to be done under the circQ instances
bat the changed financial condition of the
country and the failure of bank in Thu
city that for Thirty years was considered col
vent is sufficient TO justify the Governor IN
changing his mind on the subject. There
fore, / am opposed so the amendment and
favor the RESOLUTION as origin ally in,ro-
duced.
Mr.. DRAKE; sm opposed to the amend
ment offered bv the Senator from Gibsen. T.
ls too much like a motion for continuance
in a criminal case. Ii is conceded here that