New-York tribune., 1872-07-02
THE CAMERON-HARTRANTT RING.
A NEWSPAPER INDICTMENT.

Forney's Press is waging a vigorous war
upon tie CamerCn-Hartranft Ring at Harrisburg.
Harrisburg CORES pendent has been making series OF
most startling revelations, OF which the list Is ID pile az
follows In June, 1872, member of the Cameron knS
introduced into the Il gslauTe resolution Authorizing
the Acknowledgement, Treasurer, and Attorney
General. two Of them, to compromise all claims
for taxes against corporations, then pending lid the
Courts OF these claims there then total OF over
s5OOOOO and the Attorney was sure OF collect
ing every cent he protested against any compromise
since it would involve and unnecessary loss to
the state Despite the aIduOus lobbying Of Harranft
AuditorGener and State Treasurer Mackey the resou
defeated. Tie only argument IN favor OF the
scheme that the State needed money and yet there
was hundreds thousands OF dollars OF the states money
IN the hands Camerons. The correspondent claims
hat Harranft got mis- nomination consideration of an
agreement that the scheme should he revived and put in
force In case of his election. In additional article
published yesterday The Press completes the indictment
with the following charges:
l. In the Spring Of ISL, about the time that Mr. X w
Mackev assumed, for the second time IN" once OF state
Treasurer, tnat gentleman appeared before the Finance
Committee the Senate, a ked that new loan, TO
the amount OF S5OOO00O, be authorized, although there
at that very time IN the treasury an
balance 1863 ST. Tue matter was referred to the
Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund.- Messrs. jordan,
Mackey, and Hartranft, whereupOn the two latter
Mackey and Hartranft-oined "A written recommenda-
ton that the be authorized in the face OF the
fact hen loans overdue drawing six per
cent interest, and nearly million and quarter ying
applied their pay nenT The Hon Francis Jordan the
other Commissioner To his lasting nOlor pe sald re-
fused to approve this scheme and the Committee after
this very decided protest refused 10 proceed any fur
ther aud MessFs. Mackey Hartranft * Co. had to De
content with the handling OF the million and quarter
then IN their hands.
III. This sum all too small for the ambitious under
takngs OF the ring and failing in their attempt 10 OBJ
tain i've they husDanded very carefully,
negecting to redeem, required by law the overdue
loans then amounting to S55S36S3 including two loans
which fell due February 1872, amounting 10 o?iOO al
but Sg2 $50 OF winch per interest by
the end of March last managed TO have accumulated
make their total hand then 81 sG6,79l 49, BY
the admission OF the commissioners themselves, they
had q 4 43 OF the peoples money scattered around
private banks drawing interest for the benefit Of tho
Treasury ring while loans 10 the amount OF si6i2s3 20
August, 1871, remained unpaid aud interest was being
pnnu BESIDES this there was another overdue loan Of
s3,7s6,550, which fell due February l., 1872, ana IL
s92 $50, payable at the same date. drawing fvo
per cent Adding these the total amount OF loans
due and bearing most OF them per cent interest. sti
unpaid March 81 OF the present year. is found to
been s56336S3 20. yet there nearly two millions OF
money then lying in the Treasury or supposed to be
there really course parceed out TO needy banks aud
stockjobblng brokers like Yerkes Had tue additional
loan of 200, which Messrs Hartranft and Mackey
urged i'll writing, been made, there would have been
undar the same management cement a debt March 81 Of
their fayorites, yielding them at the lowest estimate
$4,000 annually IN interest or unlawful punder while
the people would have been paying the same time about
$500 900, or half million OF interest annually on the bOr
rGwed money y sius ,o So f ~ s"s Is nJe s.ga
ton OF the revenues flowing into the pockets OF the
Treasury ring, though there are many other ways ny
which the peoples money is diverted TO their private
Golfers.
III one other way particular there is every
believe Is by corrupt bargains with wealthy corpora
IL is for dishonest financial officer To per
such corporations To escape with the payment al on
portion OF lher taxes in return Tor consideration,
and report Of subcommittee OF the House Judiciary
Comittee, which made by its chairman, Mr.. G. IL.
Brockway, April 1871 raises the suspeon at least.
that this frequently DONE This report speaks of
era railroad corporations which have not been required
their returns promptly and correctly aud which
allowed To get OF with the pay ment OF greatly
less annual taxes than the law scty enforced exacts
Of them.
w In the case Of the Northern Central Railroad of
which Mr. Cameron Ia President, there s the
for suspectng fraudulent conniyanco
on the part Treasury oicialsthe Auditor General or
course is the officer made responsibewlth the non
payment OF full taxes The report above referred 10
saws on this head The Northern Central Ra ilroad.
which owns has lease l99 miles OF railroad
| In this state. and heavy coal tunnage, has
paid into the Treasury, on tunnage and gross receipts,
during the past six years. an average OF NS,2l,
yet pays the State OF Maryland annually $4,000 FOR
| 90 miles OF road. AT the same rate In proportion
paid TO Mary land Pennsyyena should reeeN from this
annual tax OF $i9 500 or little more than TOUT
times the amount actually received fron IL! Com.
ment Is unu oessary need only add that during tho
whole OF Il ess six years John Hartranit has been
Audit0r-G erll
EX-SENATOR BUCKALEws OPINION.
The Hon. Charles X. Buckaew, Liberal cam
ddate o Governor Of Pcnnsy yania briefly addressed.
~ Harrsburg ON the cath ult, large ana enthusas
c crowd which had gathered In front of his hotel despite
the renohng rain In the OF his remarks he de-
fined hs position as follows;
accepted the position of candidate before the people