The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-23
INVESTIGATING THE TREASURY.


The Democrats of the Legislature have de-
termined that the State Treasury shall not be
investigated The proposition came up in the
House yesterday, when the Democrats pro-
ernor Porter in not himself investigating the
Treasury be inquired into Most of the Re
publicans voted for this; but when the Demo
Gratis were forced directly to vote upon
investigating the Treasury they voted
in the negative. The Republicans will be
more than content with the record as it
stands, and with the attitude Of the question
before the people. Despite all their protesta-
tons, and in the face of Mr.. Coopers tardy
and reluctant expression of resignation to an
investigation, when they came to confront
the question, the entire Democratic majority
shrank from ordering an uncovering of the
affairs of the State treasury! This remarka-
BILE hesitation, this suspicious determination
tokeep the treasury closed against all satisfac-
tory investigation, forces the sharp and peril
nent inquiry, what is the matter9 Gen.
tlemen, what are you afraid of Mr..
Cooper, why do you use your in
huence to defeat the proposition to look
into your money and "collateralsG' Why do
the men who are believed to speak for you on
the floor of the Legislature persistently vote
against every proposition to have an account
ing of the funds presumed to be in your
handsf These questions the people of the
State are asking, and they will ask them with
hundred fold more force in the face of the
action Of the Legislature yesterday.
WE venture that not one in ten who voted
yesterday to order an inquiry why Governor
Porter did not himself begin an investigation
into the State treasury has ever read the law
under which the executive has authority to
do this, or knows it's terms if he has not read
it. The statute authorizes the Governor
to employ an expert accountant, who, with
the Secretary Of State shall make the
examination, and the Governor is authorized
to pay out Of the contingent fund three dol
lars day to this expert" This is all the
authority he has. A pretty investigation,
truly this would insure. A very able and
expert" accountant could be had for three
dollars day, and such an one would be able to
| do much associated with the present Secretary
of State. Suppose Governor Porter had ordered
| an investigation under the terms of this stat
ute during the last year. What farce the in
quiry would have been, and what howl would
have gone up from all over the State against
the Governor for his effort to make party CAPT,
tai Governor. Porter had too much sense and
paltry business as this Believing, however,
| in the necessity Of an investigation Of the
State Treasury that will investigate, he re-
ferred the matter to the Legislature, which
has the power to make thorough and salts
factory inquiry, to send for persons and
papers, and to incur such expenditures as may
be required to reach satisfactory and
complete conclusion. But this plain
duty tho Democratic Legislature shrinks
from, and by all the power of its large major
] ity in both branches, determines that the
treasury shall not be uncovered. and the
people allowed to know the real condition of
the public moneys The Republican party is
satisfied, from a partisan point of view, with
! the record as it is made up