Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force, Feb.[February] 27, 1841

An ACT to provide for the settlement of the accounts of the State House Commissioners.
1

Duties of treasurer

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That it shall he the duty of the Treasurer of the State forthwith to take possession of all lumber, lime, sand, stone, brick and all other materials, of every kind and description had, obtained or procured by the State house commissioners, for and on account of the State, to be used in and about the State house, and not heretofore applied to the object for which they were obtained.

Schedule of materials

Sec. 2. That the said treasurer shall thereafter without delay make out a schedule thereof, describing with reasonable certainty the property so received by him as to quantity, quality and value, and receipt therefor to the State house commissioners.

Persons refusing to deliver property to treasurer

Sec. 3. That any person or persons, who may have in his, her or their possession any of the property aforesaid, and shall convert the same to his, her or their use, or shall neglect, fail or refuse to deliver the same to the treasurer on application, shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned in the county jail for any term not exceeding six months.

Settlement with com’rs.[commissioners]

Sec. 4. That the State house commissioners shall file in the Auditor’s office all books, papers, maps, charts, and vouchers, appertaining to their office as commissioners aforesaid, and the Auditor assisted by the Treasurer and Secretary of State, and advised by the Attorney General on all legal questions that may arise, shall settle with said commissioners, and adjust their accounts of and concerning all monies, that they or either of them have drawn or expended in and about the State house. In the said settlement it shall be the duty of the Auditor as aforesaid, to charge the said commissioners for all monies they or either of them have received, checked for or drawn from the treasury or elsewhere, for State house purposes, and to give them credit for all monies they have bona fide paid out for State house purposes in pursuance of law; also for all salary and compensation allowed to them by law.

Witnesses may be called

Sec. 5. For the purpose of enabling the Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State to perform their duties under this act, they shall be authorized to cause witnesses to come before them, and to swear and examine them, touching any item or charge that may be found in, or among the papers, books, or vouchers of the said commissioners, and any person who shall on such examination, wilfully and corruptly swear falsely shall be adjudged guilty (of) perjury.

Acts repealed

Sec. 6. All acts and parts of acts, which appoint or authorize the appointment of Archibald Job, A. G. Henry, or any other person or persons commissioners to superintend the

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erection of public buildings, be, and the same are hereby repealed.2

Appropriati’n[Appropriation]

Sec. 7. That the sum of seven thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated towards the completion of the State house, to be expended under the superintendence of the Treasurer and Secretary of State. 3

Approved, February 27, 1841.

1Franklin Witt introduced SB 97 in the Senate on January 9, 1841. On January 12, the Senate tabled the bill. On February 17, the Senate took up the bill, referring it to the Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditures. The Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditures reported back the bill on February 20, recommending its passage. The Senate passed the bill on February 24. On February 26, the House of Representatives amended the bill by adding another section. The House passed the bill as amended. The Senate concurred in the House amendment on February 27. On February 27, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 492, 517-18, 560; Illinois Senate Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 47, 157, 332, 359, 389, 413, 442, 453, 454.

2The acts repealed included an act passed in February 1837, to permanently locate the seat of government in Illinois, which stipulated that money appropriated for the construction of a state house and other public buildings would be expended under the direction of three commissioners, and act supplemental to this act, which appointed Job, Henry, and Thomas Houghan as commissioners to superintend the construction of the state house and other public buildings.

3On February 26, 1841, the House of Representatives added this section.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 518.