The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-05

u
parently its effect overlooked, for immedi-
atcly Mr.. May, one Of the Democratic Senators,
moved to reconsider the vote just taken This
motion, however, was voted down, and the
House concurrent resolution was adopted with
the amendment When this amendmenr got
back to the House, on january go Mr. McMullen
moved to postpone consideration of it until Feb
ruary T. the time at which Mr.. McCnllough's
committee was to report MIR. McCullorghs
committee having reported that no further in
vestigation be had. the Investigation Of Governor
Porter was dropped.
On the 4th of February the committee report
ed The majority report, signed by the Demo
Gratis on the committee, stated that the commit
tee examined the books of the Auditor and the
assets of the Treasurer; that, according to the
Auditors books, the Treasurer should have in
his hands the of 1886, 600; that the Treasurer
| exhibited some $49l, 900 tof this sum 1900 was
in cash, $4100 900 approved checks and certificates
or deposit, $74, 900 county orders better than
cash" 81 900 of other county orders. but not con-
vertible); that they called upon various banks in
the city and learned that the Treasurer had de-
posted the sums claimed, and, taking into con-
slderation the fact that the no safe
place to keep the money they considered that the
Treasurer took the lowest possible risk in de-
posting the funds in bank as aforesaid. and they
saw no reason for an investigation. That II al
investigation was necessary It could be had I'M
der the direction of the Governor and Secretary
of State. The only remedy suggested by the
committee was bill increasing the penalty for
the Treasurer's bond
the minority report showed that at the meet
ing of the committee on Jan. IS the Treasurer.
Mr. Cooper, stated that he would admit THAT
ALL THE FACTS STATED IN GOVERNOR PORTERs
MESSAGE IN REGARD 10 THE STATE TREASURER
WERE TRUE These facts, it will be reme mbered,
covered the depositing of the States money in
various banks and loaning it to individuals, and
that at times the Treasurer had 81. 00O,O 600
in his hands and that his bond
only $3.50, 900, and that the vaults Of the Treas
| %A1%
Governor Porter should be heard as to his
knowledge of the treasury, but the Democrats
opposed this, upon the ground that the com
| mittee had authority to inquire. Senator
Foulke proposed an amendment that they re-
| quest authority. But the Democrats opposed
! this, too; and determined that they would only
| inspect the money and vouchers in the treasury,
| and confne their inquiries to them. The Re
| publicans asked that the inquiry should be made
as to the ownership Of the money; whether the
Treasurer really owned it, or whether he had
| borrowed it for the purpose of making
showing; whether he had received any
| interest upon the loans made by him, and
| if so, whether it had been credited to the
| State. They prepared written questions asking
| what amounts he had received, and whose prop
| erty were the assets which were shown to them.
| But they were not permitted to ask these by the
| Democratic majority. OF the assets which the
Treasurer showed, only 81, 600 was cash. Ninety
| six thousand dollars was deposited bv the Treas
urer WITHIN TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE ExAMINA-
TON, and after the subject had been discussed in
both houses. Forty five thousand dollars was de-
| posted in the Merchants National Bank, whose
| president and cashier were the Treasurer's
| bond as sureties 1t was deposited Nov. 16.
| 1884, THAT DAY BEING SUNDAY In number of
| vouchers purporting to be several months old
| THE INK WAS FRESH. The Republicans were not
| permitted to ask whether they bore their true
dates The $74, 900 in county orders and tho
| $40, 900 was long past due and unpaid. AS to
to 81 600 Of county orders, the treasurer said he
Al
the principal. The minority were informed that
| $4,000 of the above, being orders on Hamilton
county, were sold by the treasurer of that county
| to the First National Bank of Indianapolis short
| ly after they were issued and were delivered to
| Mr.. Cooper by the bank for some purpose which
| was not disclosed. AS to the special deposit of
| $50 900 in the Merchants National Bank, the
ink was fresh and the package recently marked.
| AS to the 100000 deposited in the Merid-
| Ian National Bank, the minority was informed
| that the sum was recently borrowed from that
| bank by Franklin Landers, and was not the
| property of the Treasurer, and the Republicans
asked to investigate as to this and were refused.
They learned that $l3 900 WAS lost in Fletcher 81
| Sharpe's Bank and $29 GOO in Harrison's Bank,
| but were not allowed to inquire in regard to-
| this The Democratic majority insisted on adj
| journing when they presented these questions.
| The minority stated that they regarded the con-
dition Of the treasury as critical They believed
| that there was large deficiency, and that an
| Immediate investigation was imperatively de-
manded; but the Senate and House both refused
to investigate and concurred in the report Of the
| Democratic majority.
Some of the matters which took place in de-
| bate when this question came up interesting
| to refer to. Mr. Sayre. in the House, set forth
| in detail the facts shown to the committee. Mr..
| Patten, a Democrat, attem pied to answer him,
and this is part of his speech;
'"rhe gentlemen from Wabash and Kosciusk, ;.,,ts
his feathers and paint and Constitutes h1ns
the Republican Warwick, ard like the Colossus of
Rhodes bestrides the sash of Republican corruption
attempts tie purify the polluted waters of the Stygian
! stream by Dragging the untarnished reputation of
Democratic officers intotbut the gentleman, ike the
| for moment and then ANONYMOUSLY nershes when
he came In contact with the blaze of Democratic In
vestgation, with his false charges scorched to
DEATH and he cannot avert the fate of his party which
| will be overwhelmed by the waves Of oblivion, and
sunken deeper in obscurty than the longlos Allan
It's which lies buried thousand Of fathoms at the bot
tom of the ocean. We have opened the books, and
the first score is for an honest man and Democratic
| REFORM .
This is the sort of stuff which the Democratic
| party gave TO the people OF Indiana as an excuse
for a failure to investigate the delinqueucies of
their officers. Mr.. Patten. by the way had
| beer eager for the investigation at first. But
| somehow during the course of the committees
| proceedings his ardour suddenly abated aud he
became very vigorous on the other side to pre-
| vent an investigation. The cause Of his change
| Of heart is unknown.
| 1t was thought possible that the condition of
| the treasury might be investigated by Governor
| Gray after the session was over But he has
| been just unwilling to expose Democratic
shortcomings as was the last Legislature. Even
| the Indianapolis Sentinel the Democratic organ
of this State, said that an investigation was i'm
peratively demanded, and that the Democratic
majority could not excuse itself to the voters of
/ the State for failing to make it. Yet this had no
influence. either upon the Legislature or the
| Governor The Cincinnati Enquirer was equally
emphatic in declaring that there ought to be an
investigation. Yet it was unable to influence
the tough hides of the Indiana Democracy
| Senator McGee. the Democratic Senator from
Cass county, now minister to Sweden, said that
this was something more than political Ques-
! ton. 1t involved the integrity of an officer of
! tributed to the maintenance of government lie
could not conceive why there should be any OBJ
| struction or delay in the inquiry. It was not q