The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-03-31
The Treasury investigation.

u
Much was expected from the labors of the
committee raised by the State Senate to in
vestigate the management ofthe State Treas
ury, as we'll by the present incumbent, R.
W. Mackey, as by his predecessors in the
same Office. The people had right 10 sup
pose that it would lead to some practical
result, to be followed by the necessary legis-
lation, in order to protect their hard-earned
taxes from being diverted from their appro
pirate channel and made to subserve iiegiti-
mate and illegal purposes. That evil prac~
tices exist now, and have existed in that de-
partment of the State government for the
last fifteen years, and that the Office, by a
management peculiarly its own, has been
made source of wealth to its various occu-
pants during the period referred to-indeed.
that it has possessed the inherent facility of
transmitting everything into gold for its for
tunate possessor-was university conceded
And yet, Judging from the action of the
committee thus far, the proposed inves.iga-
ton will end in a broad farce, disgraceful to
the committee, and, as most similar COM
mittees have heretofore acquitted them
selves. keeping the work of promise to the
ear but breaking it TO the hope of plunder-
ed and sorely taxed people.
Mr. Mackey, tie present Treasurer, was
examined by the committee, and although he
explained the general routine of the business
of the Office, he persistently refused to inform
the committee how much money had found
its way into his pocket, in the shape of in
terest, for loaning the public funds to certain
banking institutions and private spectators
in various parts of the State, to ascertain
which was one of the primary objects Of the
investigation. Gen. Irwin, who had been
Mackey's immediate predecessor, as he will
be his successor after the first Monday in
May, was the next witness who appeared be-
fore the committee, and he stubbornly re
fused even to take the oath. This convent
eut dodge on the part of Irwin is not calcu-
lated to increase his reputation for official
integrity. but is conclusive evidence that
there is something rotten in Denmark. A
warrant for his arrest, signed by the Speak
er of the Senate and directed to the Sergeant
alarms, was never executed, owing to
retrograde movement by that body, and
there the matter rests, and there it will prob
ably remain during the present session
What potent influence was brought to bear
on the Senate in order to effect this back
ward step, is matter of conjecture. The
investigation, however, meager and imperfect
as it has been, shows that a complete and
thorough reform in the hitherto loose and
illegal management of the Treasury is sternly
demanded. We venture to say that there is
not member of either party in the Senate
who is not familiar with the whole question
and the remedy that ought to be applied.
and yet they have not the nerve to arrest,
by proper legislation, this constantly in
creasing evil in that department of the State
government. For weeks there has been a
bill on the flies of the Senate, introduced by
Mr.. Wallace, having for its object the better
protection of the funds in the State Treasu-
ry. Why has there been no effort made to
take it up and pass it? 1t required only
one week for the Senate and House to pass
a bill. filching the moderate sum of nine NIL
lions and a half of State securities from the
vaults of the Treasury and authorizing their
transfer to certain contemplated rail roads
of doubtful utility. But when the dearest
interests of a people, robbed and plundered
almost to madness, demand prompt and
thorough protection, no voice in the Senate
is raised in their defence. If the Legislature
should adjourn without enactng some whole
some and stringent law on this vitally i'm
portant subject. its members will have in,
Cured fearful responsibility and one which
they will find serious difficulty in settling
with their confding but betrayed censtitu-
ents.