Oxford eagle., 1891-02-12

thf ~runtF Io&mt Resolution
LurLE Rock. Feb. The HOUSE en-
tered into the Woodruff shortage in
vessigstioa yesterday afternoon and the
matter was very vigorously discussed,
Speaker Rector leading in the debate
on concurrent resolution instructing
the committee appointed toexamine the
books of Treasurer Woosiraff IN re-
port the results Of their investiya-
tion i've days before the adjournment
of the General Assembly. and TO
employ such number Of clerks and ex-
part accountants as they deem neces-
sary 10 accomplish the work. Speaker
Rector said that when he moved TO in
definitely postpone the resolution be
thought that il was not a step In the
right direction. that il was too hasty.
and the results desired could not be OBJ
tanned in a manner satisfactory to the
people of Arkansas. The only ques-
tion involved in the investigation
was the ascertainment of the
amount of funds the Treasurer owed
the State. aud IL he has used any
of the funds of the State unlaw-
fully during his incumbency in office.
IL was not a labor Of love that prompted
him to take the position he did He
had always been n friend to Major
Woodruff. and advocated during the re-
cent canvass his claims to the treasury
ship for another term. He did not be-
whitewash the Treasurer. but the prop
ositiou was impracticable, and the re
suit obtained through such an investi-
CATION would be worthless. IL should be
made carefully. systematically. thor
oughly and correctly. He was first inn
pressed with the belief that il would be
useless for the committee in the prose-
eution of its investigation to 90 back To
Major Woodruff's first term in office.
But il was Acknowledged there was
defaleation in the Office of SD. 600. and
this. in his opinion. impeaehed the In
tegrity of Woodruff administration
for ten years. IL the amount was ac-
knowledged to be that much. IL was
liable to be more. He introduced the
following as a substitute for ths Senate
Joint resolution:
Resotrsd. That the select committee ap-
pointed for the purpose OF investigating the
books and accounts Of the late Treasurer.
W. E-woodruff. be. and + hereby. instructed;
l. To make a thorough and careful ex.
animation OF the book. and accounts of ".
T. Woodruff a. Treasurer vt the state. dur
ing the present session of the General As
senbly. II possible
? That said investigation commence az
the time W. r. Woodruff took charge of the
office as Treasurer of said state. and be con
tinued systematically and in regular order
up 60 the time when the presest Treasurer
took charge of the Office
g. That the members OF said co nr1lfsee on
the part OF the Senate and members OF said
committee on the part OF the House of Rep
resentatives report 20 their respective bodies
from time To time the result of their ynve=ti-
CATION Immediately upon the easnptetiou og
said Investigation of the books % each and
every term of the Office OF Treasurer hrid BY
she said W. T. Woodruff.
The Speaker thea read extracts from
letter written by one of Woodruff
oondSrnen. which he offered as add
.ional argument in favor sf the adop-
lion of his substitute resolution rs fol-
lows:
An investigation has been made under tn.
direction Of a committee appointed by the
bondsmcn- We are satisfied that the short
age IN the TTeasurer'- account viii be about
ss.aoo in currency. and that the liability for
the shortage viii BE- distributed about equal
" among the third fourth and rfth bonds.
The bond>men are satisfied that the amount
Of the liability coait not be reduced by any
soatess or extsn.set Investigation which
they IA ght set on foot. but that. on the other
WORK to overhaul thr books during the ten
Years OF Woodruff administration there -
great Danger OF irs being materially In
creased. not mach because OF an appre-
hen-ion that the d~faIcafiOn % greater than
the amount above st4resf a. on account Of a
COMMITTEES from the Legislature overestimaE-
inx the LIABILITY
A curSory examination of the books
would not amount - any thing. said the
Speaker The bonsism~n had MT inves-
igatesf the books Of the Treasurer as
arefully as the committee could and
A. the houdsnen had discovered defal-
szsicz- there was 40 telling what
searching investigation BY the commit
iee would develop. The Legislature
xas sitting daily without per diem
appropriations had IN be made. but such
neasures could not be Sntelligently act
e<i upon bsecause the members Of the
General Assembly were ignorant OF the
.ou..asion Of the treasury
Mr. Neal said that he had grown very
weary from reading lists Of defaulting
state Tr~asnrerS. ard especially of
those in the Southern States He wanted
this committee 90 push its investigation
and get through with It's work a. soon
zs possible In ths Hemingway defalea-
ton. in Mississippi. the investigation
was completed in thirty days He
thought a speedy investigation would
produce the results desired
After further discussion BY Leading
members. Speaker Rector closed the
debate He said that the discovery that
Woodruff was \ defaultsr was not the
primary object of his desire tO have a
full and complete investigation That
was already admitted He wanted 10
know the amount of the defaleation
He wanted 10 know the amount that
was due the State and when the defal-
cations occurred. 50 that the n-oney
might be obtained from the bondsrnen-
At the conclusion of Mr.. Reetor's re-
marks n vote was taken on the resolu-
ton. the yeas and nays being called.
which resulted in its adoption BY . vote