The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-07

much convinced az the Senator from Jen.
nings, or Gibson. or Huntington, who
have so eloquently advocated the
adoption oil the majority report,
manseed the affairs of bis high and re
81 onsible Office with as much prudence aud
integrity as any his predecessors In once,
and that the public funds are entirely safe
and secure in his cutody, so that no loss to
the State will ever accrue through any
negligence or crImioal action of his. yet
the IL port d the majority OF the committee
leave on the mind of the reader certain
feeling OF yagueDess, uncertainty and am
bigultY as 10 the character and cash value of
the Treasurer's assets, 50 that would prefer
cleer, palmer, more explicit and detailed
exhibit OF these assets, good and sure as they
undoubtedly are. On the other nand, the
minority report. which hearty in every line
displays tinge OF partisan hostility, not only
70 the Treasurer himself, but also to the ma.
jority OF the committee associated with the
minority. fails TO convince me of the cor
rectness OF its allegations and the substant ial
foundation OF its fears and apprehension.
sions from the very fact that its undeniable
partisan spirit detrsc.s from the ability with
which it written and from the value of the
charges preferred in the report. am here
in this Senate not as partissn-nOt as
Democrat or ReDublican-Dlinded by the de-
SIRE 10 help either my party great State
official out of difficulty, but / am here as
one OF fifty Senators, to whom the citizsns
OF Indiana have delegated the power and en-
trusted the care TO watch over their interests,
and TO guard their interests against loss or
injury. la every vote which l have
cast have conscientiously asked
myself whether to the best OF my
convictions and Judgment, this vote SHOULD
be given or no., always willing TO De en-
lightened and corrected in case OF error, and
this same course I intend TO pursue this
time. And since neither of the reports
which the committee have submitted,
neither the report advocated by the Senators
from Gibson aud Jennings and Huntington,
nor the minority report so Persistently ad-
vocated by the Senator from Wayne and his
party advocates, intend to offer as a sub.
stitute to the motion made by the Senator
from Parke the following resolution:
Whereas The special committee appointed to
consider that portion OF Ex-Governor POrters
submitted majority and minority report as 10
the result Of their Investigation
Whereas, Either Of these reports, on account of
the short Time allotted 10 tue Investigation of the
important questions nSOlvad, fails to satisfy this
Senetse rs 10 the true condition OF Affairs in the
Whereas, We have the fullest confidence in the
honesty, integrity aud pcObity Of Safe Treasurer
John J. Cooper. and are convinced that he
give as satisfactory an account of the conditions
of the State Treasury aud OF the safety OF The pno
Tic funds entrusted 10 ais Official care as any OF his
predecessors in Office;
whereas, The great party which has twice non.
Ored the caid John J. Cooper by an election 10
the high and honorable Office OF custodian of
The pc bile funds of the state feels aggrieved and
insuled by the aspersions on his character as a
public officer, and deems il due TO its honor TO
prove the utter ground essness OF the fears aud
apprehension concerning the existence of large
deficiency in the Treasury. expressed in the mi
nority report: and
acteT Is thus assalled and It's honor sulled by
open caarges, as eOnta ned in the minority report
OF the spscisl committee, or by the inuendoes
contained in the message OF Ex-Governor Porter
never snrinks from its 0uty to the people of this
State 10 establish full, air thorough and Impair
tial Investigation OF all the facts connected with
a charge involving large public interests ana ere
atng feeling OF uneaSiness in the minds OF the
people
referred 10 a special committee of five, 10 oe APP
pointed by the President OF the Senate, 20 further
investigate the condition of the State Treasury,
with power to send for persons and papers and
with instructions 10 employ three experienced ac
eountants N salary OF not more than Sc per day
ana 10 proceed 10 a full aud thorough investigs-
ton OF the State Treasury TO verify the vOucler
submitted to them and to ascertain the exact cash
value Of the money. papers and vaiuaoles ex nib
tied by the said john j. Cooper as the property of
the State in his custody.
mittee shall only effect the principal the money
really paid into the hands of the State Treasurer
and shall not enter into any questions whether
interest on said principal or any part OF 1t was
paid 10 him or not.
Resolved, That the three experts employed by
me special committee appointing them no later
than fen days before the termination of the reg
ular session of this General Assembly.
Let the resolution be carried on in a spirit
of Justice, fairness and impartiality, with
out fear or favor worthy both OF the high
character of the officer whose Off cial con-
duct is to be investigated, and of the dignity
OF the Senats. l nave not the least doubt
that such an Investigation, carried on in
such spirit, will lead TO the tull exOnera
ton OF Mr.. Cooper, and will satisfy public
opinion that the high and responsible Office
which he administers is to-day in safe hands,
and that the large amount OF public funds
entrusted TO him is IN no danger OF being lost
or recklessly jeopardized.
1 move the adoption of the resolution as
read
Mr.. F0ULKE: am in full accord with
the Senator from Tippecanoe who desires t.
have this matter referred 10 another com
mittee. The only result that we desire and
that the whole people desire, is that there
shall be an examination of that Treasury.
While We believe every statement made in
the minority report has been justified by the
information we received and the facts we
know from the investigation of the assets we
were permitted 10 make, not for the sake of
investigation, but because We believe, aye,
We know, is demanded by the
best interests Of the State for
which We will sacrifice anything else.
We sey, amend that report almost any way
you Ike, which will give the Investigation
necessary. We don't do il for political cap.
itsl. We don ask for anything better, nor
could We ever have you in better place
than now, if that were our purpose. What
We want to know is that the money of the
State is safe. So far as the main resoluti 1n
of the Senator from Tippecanoe goes, | will
most heartily give him my cooperation. for
/ believe be has done honor to the Senate
and to the Democratic party of Indiana in
demanding that investigation. This resolu-
ton as TO the investigation, we are to q man,
/ think, in favor Of. It has, however, been
coupled with q number OF preambles for the
purpose, as il would appear Il don't charge
that upon the Senator from Tppscsnoe), bat
il looks as if the same spirit was trying TO get
Republicans to vote against the resolution
because we don't agree with the pre-
amble. Reads There is one objection to
that preamble. It is not our business as q
Senate to decide a case before we have in