The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-31
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES
WORK

WOhhs
The State Treasurer had call on Thurs
day from the Joint Special Committee. He
produced county orders and bank certif-
Gates OF deposit representing, with the cash
on hand, all that the Auditors books called
for. So far, so good-no one is surprised at
Mr.. Cooper's showing. Governor Porter
himself probably had no idea there was
any shortage when suggesting the invsstiga-
ton. We have held that his motive was TO
make political capital. 1t was to prevent
Governor Porter and his party from realiz-
ing that capital that the Sentinel has favored
full and searching investigation of the
Treasurer's affairs. Had We believed there
was crookedness in his office we should have
urged investigation in the interests of the
State. But being satisfied that there was
10 crookedness we desired that Mr. Porter's
insinuations be msde, by a thorough inves-
tigation and detailed report, to rebound
upon him and his party. Had the Treasurer
promptly challenged the mooted investigs-
ton the recol would have been damaging,
The Republicans would have then SHRINK
from it. Resistance of it was what the Re-
publicans desred. They were thus enabled
to agitate tie matter into general public
notice.
Still, Mr.. Coopers Indignation at Cover
nor Porter's gratuitous insinuation against
him was so natural, so human that even a
tardy investigation showing him able to
bear closest inquiry into his official matters
would effeotually disarm Republican malice.
With Differences to the opinions OF Mr..
Cooper and our party friends of the commit
tee, we submit that Mr.. Cooper's interests
and the good OF the State Democracy de.
mand that the investigation be comprehens-
i've and thorough and its report IN full
OF the findings. II is no more than Just to
the people, the taxpayers, who have heard
and read Of the matter, that they should
know just what are the accounts Of the Gus
todian OF their money. 1t is bat arming the
Democrats Of the State against Republican
false charges to post them fully and in de.
tail with where the State funds are housed
Ii deposited in banks, they should know in
what banks and the amount in each; il any
part OF it is in county orders, let the coun-
ties be named. In short, let the report be
in such detail as will clearly indicate to the
people the exact repositories with their re.
sponsibilities for every dollar that is shown
to belong to the Treasury.
There are no facts that can come out in
connection with the Treasurer's accounts
that can hurt the Democracy OF the State so
much as seeming suppression OF facts. 1t
may aggravate Mr.. Cooper to be Investigated
at the instance OF Republican Governor
whose motive was unworthy. But the issue
is no longer one between two men; It is now
one between the Republican aud Democratic
State parties. And, with due respect to Mr..
Cooper, we submit that merely to crafty
sentiment in no one man should the Demo.
cratic party allow itself to be compro-
missed. Were Mr. Cooper ten times
more noted aud influential, the party could
not afford to wear the imPutation that
it dared not, or wo9l6 not, under the de-
books TO public inspection. 1t is no longer
Govern or Porter that we have to consider as
calling for the investigation-it is the polls
of 1856. 1T is the desire of the Democracy
TO show itself, like Cesar's wife -"sb1ve
suspicion" 1t is the anxiety of Indiana
Democrats 10 have one OF their leaders sue.
coed General Harrison in the United States
Senate.
We respectfully urge the committee to
consider the future interests OF the party
involved in the manner of their invs,tiga
ton. We can not afford to blunder.