Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-04-17

On Tuesday, April I'd, Mr.. Graham
presented the report of the Evant
committee, which was read as follows
and adopted:
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE on
wan CLAIMS.
TO the HonyruDfe me Senate ana
House Of Representatives of Penasyiua.
mia The joint committee of the Leg.
islature appointed to inquire into the
facts attending the settlement and
collection of the wor claims of the
Commonwealth by George 0. Evans,
max ethe following report:
They commenced their sittings at
Harrisburg on the 23d day ofJanuary,
1872, and have since held a number
of sessions there. They have also
held two sessions in Philadelphia, one
in the city OF Washington, and ono in
tho city OF New York. That at these
sessions they have called before them
and examined under oath a large
number Of witnesses, including all
those from whom it seemed probable
any facts tending to throw light upon
the subject could bo obtained. Tho
principal witness, George o. Evans,
for long time did not obey the sub
pnna of the committee or the repeat
ed requests Of its chairman 10 appear
and testify or assent TO his expressed
wish to visit his residence to take his
testimony, and our labors were there
by greatly increased and rendered
more difficult of performance, and il
was not until the wilful neglect or re-
fusal of witness TO appear and testi-
fy before o legislative committee was
made criminal offense and requisi-
ton uron the Governor Of New York
was about to be made for his rendition,
that he consented to testify. These
facts, taken in connection with the
testimony finally given by him, and
the direct contradiction thereof by S.
p. Brown, cause us TO have grave
doubts as TO the truth of his assertions
in regard to the disposal of the money
retained by him out OF the collections,
and We cannot resist the conclusion
that if his statement be true, he has
without cause or necessity refused or
neglected to give to the State, whose
agent he was, until about to be COM
PEELED to do so, that Information which
was demanded by the people and he
alone was competent to give.
The facts clfcltcu irvn, ,rarS ~
testimony taken by your committee
and which is herewith reported, arc
substantially as follows:
During 1861 and subsequentthere
Pennsylvania was mourning large ex-
penses in furnishing troops TO sup
press the instruction. These expcn-
ses were ultimately to be paid by the
United States. In September, 1861,
the Secretary Of the Treasury ad-
vanced to the State 100000 on ac-
count thereof. In that year the
United States assessed upon the State
a direct tax of sl,946,7l9.33, and Of
fcred an abatement Of 10 Per cent
thereon, if the tax was paid prior to
July, 1862. In order to obtain this
abatement the Legislature on Fcbru-
airy 10, 1862, gave Governor Curtin
power to release to the United States
the claims Of the State for furnishing
troops and to pay the remainder OF
the lax in cash. On the lst Of March,
1862! our whole debt to the United
Statas was 81 ,552, ,7l9.44 against this,
on Il at day, vouchers for moneys cx
pended by the State in equipping
troops amounting TO sl,lS2,997.22,
and On January IL, 1862, like vouch.
crs amounting to ss,5i,93T. 20, were
filed by the State in tho Treasury De
partmcnt at Washington. On or
abo1t the latter date, State Treasurer
Mootc and Col. MMichael, aid to
Goysrnor Curtin, in pursuance OF an
Arrangement made with Secretary
Chaie by the Governor madc a set
tlement of the accounts. The State
was allowed credit for tho war claims
then filed, (less about sl50,000, which
was hcld Tor future adJudlca'lon) lns
10 1er cent. Abatement was allowed
and the State treasurer palu 70 lno M
United States Treasury sooV,VVV' .he
balance supposed to be due upon the
whole account
NO formal settlement was niauc,
NOR can we ascertain that an account
80 a,a,od I, 10 ol.ar too. that
was e"o" ''"'o'' III,
TINS was hol rogarueu Us nn"' soe''o'
mpnt, Tor the claims not allowed Wcrc
ret 10 bo norfected and the State was
y.r f.;.i.;. ,,o.,,a
Stlll CnuauCu IN 1ulnlSnlnR llOOls.
Tint there was mutual appropria.
linn of the accounts TO the liauidatiOn
I ~, az c,a,,,o
Vi each otne. anu 'n"' '"o ,",'S
quota OF the direct tax was settled Dy
thereto by the allowance of the IS
per cent. abatement and by tho pay.
mont Of $3.50 900 in cash seems clearly
established. All that remained to bc