THE EMBEZZLEMENT BILL.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER the embezzlement bill H. R. 1-described on page 175 of the BREVIER LEHISLATIVE REPORTS- was taken up and read the second time. [See page 74 of these Reports.]
Mr. MURRAY moved to refer the bill to a Committee, with instructions to make the penalties of the bill applicable to county officers as well as State officers:
Mr. CONNER moved to further instruct to conform to the Senate bill on the same subject reported upon by the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. MURRAY accepted.
Mr. WAGNER. I am opposed to the amendment, and gentlemen cannot put it in and enforce it with any kind of justice at all. The thing is simply absurd. If applied to the county treasurer, it may be just and proper, for he has a vault and is a judge of money; but the township treasurer has no safe, and is not a judge of money as a general thing. I would much prefer to abolish the office of township treasurer than to enforce these restrictions upon it. Such a provision was attempted to be incorporated in a similar bill two years ago, but it failed in both Houses.
Mr. CONNER. It will be absolutely necessary to exempt county and township treasurers, from the fact that in many counties there is no safe place to keep the funds of the county, and the officers are compelled to make deposits in banks, or with merchants, who are provided with safes in order that the money may be safely kept. The same is the case in reference to township treasurers; they have no safe place to keep moneys, and should be permitted to deposit for safe keeping, and for no other purpose.
Mr. MARCH. I apprehend this bill will meet with public approbation more surely were it to include every public officer, rather than any particular class of officers. If we wish to avoid defalcations, we must remove temptation, and cast off all chances of loaning the public moneys. All officers should he regarded as trustees, and the moneys in his hands a sacred fund, with which he has no right to tamper himself, or loan to his friends. Township treasurers can pay out these funds in a short time after they get it; and money is always safer in the hands of persons to whom it belongs. I hope the bill may be so amended.
Mr. LANDERS offered an amendment, requiring the State Treasurer to convert all bank bills in his hands on the 1st of January, April, July and October into gold and silver; which was decided out of order.
Mr. COBB offered an amendment, striking out all that part of the bill which refers to the notes of solvent specie-paying banks regularly organized under the laws of this State; which was decided out of order.
Mr. TARKINGTON offered an amendment, providing that moneys received and disbursed by any State, county or township officer shall be in gold and silver; which was decided out of order.
Mr. LINE. Shall we say the State officers are the only dishonest men, or shall we apply the same rule to county and township officers? It has been urged that they have no safe. Every township treasurer should get a safe. I am opposed to exempting any class of men from the penalties of this law, and hence I am in favor of the instructions presented by the Senator from Elkhart. [Mr. Murray.]
Mr. JONES moved to amend the amendment by instructing the Committee to exempt
