The Van Buren press., 1893-02-04
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
The Governors Message Resolutions
of Respect-lnteresting Notes.

The following message from Governor Fish
back was read to the joint Assembly Tuesday
afternoon, to-wit:
Gentlemen of the General Assembly;
In obedience to the duty imposed by our Con.
stitution upon the Executice. l beg TO call your
attention to the following facts and recom-
dutions: fsH=*
First-The Burning Board who Investigated
the condition OF our Stnte Treasury more than
O year ago published September 30 1891. the
humiliating statement that so far as the books
Of the auditor and treasurer are concerned, II Is
impossible 10 learn from them In their present
condition, whether Woodrui's shortage be only
abont s55, 0ol or more than sissooo. This is true;
and whichever the explanation, II Is inexcusably
dfsgraceful because II Is true.
Seeond-There has recently been offered for
payment to the State Treasurer 5000 OF coupons
which, according to the records are stolen prop
erty. They belong to the State, and are out OF
her possession by theft, and as fur as any record
shows, may have been lying in hiding for TWEEN
ty years past. While many thousands of dollars
Of others nre unaecounted for.
Third-There Is. according to Simms' report,
e02 $50 Of interest bearing scrip known as Page
scrip. missing from the vaults OF tho treasury.
and there may be forty fifty, one hundred
thousand dollars OF other fraudulent or stolen
evidence Of debt out somewhere in the markets.
Of the world. still lying In wait for some dis
honest treasurer to redeem them; nobody or no
record shows how much or where.
Fourth--1he bond register shows VI 600 OF
bonds which have been redeemed, but are
missing from the vaults OF the treasury.
the markets Of the world, 1t Is impossible from
the books or register to tell.
Fifth-The irregularities and complications
OF the bond register and bookkeeping In the OH
ces OF auditor and treasurer, originating as ear
ly us 1859. preclude the possibility OF knowing
how much fraudulent or stolen evidences OF
debt OF various kinds are out against the State,
covcrtly biding their time, when they will be
slipped in and redeemed unawares just as has
been attempted twice In the past two months.
This condition Of things constitutes con
slant menace of robbery Of the taxpayers OF the
State, against which there appears to me but
one available remedy. l respectfully recon-
mend this remedy:
would suggest the passage OF an act author
icing and directing the treasurer 10 give ample
notice in the financial centers OF the world that
all evidences OF debt against the State Of Ark
ansas, of Whatever kind OF description, shall be
brought to the treasurer on or before u certain
date, giving ample time, to be by the Stnte
debt board examined, registered and stamped,
and that nh OF such evidences OF debt which
shall not be brought In on or before that date
shall be forever barred from Payment; making
it felony for aEy officer OF the State after this
date, to recsive or pay any OF such evidences OF
debt which are not so registered and stamped.
l would further suggest that colluson be-
tween treasurer and auditor be made felony,
and that where the same error is found in the
books of both offices, 1t shall be taken as prima
facie evidence OF collision.
IL will be alleged, know, by those who fav-
or the esisting condition OF things, that Unjust
may be done innocent creditors who may not be
reached by the troasurer's notices. This is not
at all probable but II such 0 case should occur
IL will be within the power OF any subsequent
Legislature to reetify my such wrong upon pro-
per proof. II Is much better that these few. u
any, should be put to the trouble Of such proof
than that our taxpayers be robbed nobody can
foresce how much. Respectfully submitted,
W. NJ FisHpACK,
Governor.