The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-25
HARRISBURG.
Tue S,ale T'reusury InvestIaatIon.

The state Treusury Investigation.
The Senat. Finance COMMITTEE on the state
MIR. Irwin presented himself.
The chairman, Mr.. Billingfet, inquired whether
he was ready 10 respond to Questions.
MIR. Irwin replied that depended very much upon
what they wanted 70 examine him on.
The chairman then had read the resolution
authorizing the investigation.
Mr.. Irwin begged leave 10 make a statement ex-
oneratng the chairman; Mr. B5,uingielt, for news
he Irwin) might not be compelled TO testify assert
ing that Mr.. BlliDgfet had always expressed a
Treasurer Irwin, being sworn, stated that he was
not in possession of the public funds and that,
20 answer the questions of the committee IL would
be necessary for him TO examine books in the Trea-
eurers and Auditor Generals office to prepare him
self. lie therefore desired some favor shown 70
Mackey, and the committee accordingly postponed
his further examination until Wednesday evening
next.
Treasurer, was sworn, and testified that during
eight different years he had been associated with
same system; during the whole time he never saw
transaction that the whole world might not have
looked on; no illegal use Of funds had been made
his knowledge; accounts had been kept, as already
stated, in bank, vault, &C.; he recapituiated the
testimony of Mr.. Mackey IN regard to the corpora
stated that when General Irwin handed over his
papers TO Mr.. Mackey there was among them a re-
cefpt from william B. Mann for sixteen hundred
and ninety-three dollars, which was counted as
cash. and was still in the vault there a differ
ence between that and apparent balances of some
cause the treasury did not always get immediate
credit for Its advances to members, departments
and deposits TO meet Interest coupons; the vault
count to-day, consisted of seven thousand dollars
In money, hfty-nin dollars Clearfed Bank notes,
and four hundred dollars in other funds.
The vault account was liable to increase and de-
crease as corporations deposited their checks. In
reference to the loss from the failure of the Bank of
Commerce of Erie, the money of the State was de-
posted in IL through the influence of Gideon j.
Ball, who was the cashier of the bank.
The witness then gave his opinions at the request
Of the committee, variety of subjects
nected with the State treasury and legislation. He
pay of school warrants to counties delinquent in the
payment of tax due the commonwealth.
Messrs. Billingfelt and Wallace, however, de-
nounced this practice, as being unjust to the school
interests and Illegal.
The witness continued that he knew nothing of
the State Treasurer getting the benefit of State
deposits. He them at length, denounced the exist
ing practice of having funds due the commonwealth
sent from Pittsburg or other distant points of the
the same localities to pay discount or other claim
checks received for land. Warrants from remote
portions of the State were considered as cash, and
were deposited in Harrisburg banks and collected
without charge. He declared that every dollar in
diton, belonged 70 the sinking fund, and large ap
propriations for soldiers orphans and common
schools had eaten into the fund.- the repeal of the
State tax real estate in 1863 had also reduced the
receipts nearly a million year.
He enlarged upon what he called the bunging
system in Pennsylvania, by which country trea-
surers paid judges without warrants; by which ad-
vances were made to almost everybody, from Gov
ernor to paster and folders, and by which warrants
were paid before they became due. County trea-
surers failed to make quarterly reports, required
by law; and in Philadelphia alone the State was
annually defrauded of at least hundred thousand
dollars in tavern licenses.
Mr.. Taggart, cashier under Irwin, was sworn,
and testified that the receipt of VIM. B. Mann had
been for money advanced to that position, for SER
vices as District Attorney, and also in examining
foreign insurance accounts. Mr. Mann had been
paid by State Treasurer Kemble, but had over
drawn his compensation by the amount of this re-
ceipt. The witness believed, however, that there
had been no final settlement on Mr.. Mann's ac-
count.
Adjourned till Wednesday evening.