The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-05

cation is necessary and proper. The CON-
mittee submitted q bill for sn increased
penalty on the Treasurer's bond, with the
amount left blank. 1t had been a notorious
fact the committee said, that every Treas
urer of State, for years, had deposited funds
in the banks, because no safe vaults had
been provided. The Supreme Court had
held that the County Treasurers may be held
liable for the loss of money by fire or burg.
lars, and that they were not chargeable with
interest received from banks where the
funds were deposited in banks for safe
keeping. The statutes did not in terms
make the Treasurer of the State absolutely
responsible for the amount of money that
comes into his hands in case the same
should be lost without carslessness or neg.
lect upon his part The committee rec)m.
mended that the law be amended so as to
not prohibit the Treasurer from depositing
the money in banks, and so as to hold the
Treasurer absolutely responsible for the pay
ment according to law Of the amount which
he receives or is chsrgeable with; snd that
his bondsmen shall be absolutely liable in
the same manner to the extent of the pea
atty Of their bonds.
The minority report sets forth that at the
first meeting of the committee, Mr.. Cooper,
Treasurer of State was present, and stated
that he would admit for the purpose of the
inquiry, that all the facts stated in Porter's
message In regard to the State Treasury were
true" that at the next meeting Governor
Porter was present by invitation of the mi
Dority, and when the majority was informed
Ii - the Ex-Governor was present, and a mo.
ton made that he be requested to state what
knowledge he hao of the matters contained
in his message, objection was made by d
member OF the majority, and the Gov
ernor was not called or examined. The
minority wanted to inquire as to the
ownership of the money and vouchers
found in the banks and in the rrsasurer's
Office, and as to whether he had loaned any
money and what had been done with the
interest but these propositions had been
voted down by the ma ority. The mmittee
found that the Treasurer, Instead of paying
ana receiving ali sums IN currency. trans
acted most OF the business of the Office by
check, as the vaults Of the treasury are coz.
sidered unsafe. The assets ia the hands Of
the Treasurer are there set forth as in the
majority report. A number of questions
regarding the habit of the Treasurer
in deDositiDg money, in what banks
the same was placed, aud whether he
bad received interest therefor were asked.
but the ques lions were ruled out oy tls ma
jority and excluded. The report charges as
follows:
l. SOC, 900 of the above was depos.
tied by the Treasurer within two DAYS peior
to the examination, as shown by tue dates
given; So, geo was deposited in the Msr-
chants National Bank, whose president I'd
cashier were on the bond of the Treasurer,
on November lG, 1884, said day being Sun.
day, from which the minor y conclude that
ssid dates are erroneous and possibly
made for the purpose OF deceiVi0g your CON.
mittte and the General Assembly.
> In a number OF the vouchers. purp0rtiOg
to De several months old shown to the COM
mittee, the ink appeared to b4 fresh and the
vouchers to have been recently made, aud
your minority was not permitted to ask
whether or not said vouchers bore their trus
dates.
Thatsi74 069 % ofsaid assets consisted or
county ORDERS as to the validity of which tha
committee had no means OF deter mining all
except Sl0o being long past due and IN
paid.
4. Asto s., O69. 20 OF them, the Treasurer said
he would willingly remit the interest," il ha
could get the principal and your minority
believe that large amount of the said or
deIs are & doubtful security.
D. The minority are informed and be.
lieve that Sl00 O0 OF the above, being 10 or
der on Hamilton County, was sold by the
County Treasurer TO the First National
Bank Of Indianapolis shortly after it was
issued, and was delivered to the said Cooper
by the said bank for some purpose unknown
to the minority. The order is 0t due till
June %, 1855, and therefore net available as
cash assets.
6. The certificates of deposit shown the
cashier of the respective banks as payees
and Endorsed by them in blank, add there
was no fscC to indicate that the Treasurer is
the owner OF them except ais mere posses
sion.
:. AS to the deposit of so, 600 in the Nsr-
chants National Bank, the Enforcement up.
on the package, TIE INK was fresh and tue
package appeared to have been recently
marked.
8. AS to the $50 600 deposited in the Ne.
ridisn Nations Bank, your minority was
informed tk-l the same was recently bor-
rOwea from the bank by one Franklin
Lsnders and Others and was not the prop.
eriy OF said Treasurer at the time it was ex
amined, bit said committee neither MADE
nor ordered any investigation or inquiry in
respect Of said information.
9 The minority learned that Sl3 900 OF
the State funds were deposited and lost in
the bank OF Fletcher & Sharpe and $40 coo in
HaTrison's Bank, which information was
stated to the committee, bat no inquiry was
directed or permitted by the majority.
10. The whole amount OF cash exhibited
was s. 700, and al other securities aud
vouchers taken ss above was taken by the
Treasurer in violstion of law.
In cor clusion, the minority declare that
the majority was unwilling to permit any
inquiry as to the real condition OF the
Treasury and the ownership of the vouchers
therein. The belief is expressed that there
should be full investigation. Says the
report: 1--WE regard the present condition
of the State Treasury as extremely
critical, and it is our belief that
there is large deficiency
therein, slthough We are unable to state
with certainty the precise amount, owing to
the refusal of the majority to permit Us to
make any inquiries. We have grave fears,
however, that ii exceeds the entire penalty
Of the Treasurers official bond. 1t is our
clear conviction that an immediate and
thorough investigation is imperatively
necessary, and We earnestly req aest the re-
spective Houses of the General Assembly to
have it instituted without delay
The reading OF the reports consumed con-
siderable time, and a discussion was in
augurated on the heels of the event that
lasted during the remainder of the day. Mr..
Sayre spoke in defense of the minority re-
port and Mr.. Adams followed in the same
strain. Mr.. Gooding then presented the
NATIVITY eido NJ tho caqo and roofi0u To