The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-01-20
The Evans syvindie.

II Governor Geary knows aught about the
arrangements and understandings had with
the late State Agent, he must have, heard that
in reference TO one item collected. amounting
to about s9GO, 600. there was a distinct agree
mont entered into by Auditor General Hart
ranft and Geo. o. Evans, that the fees Shoutd
not be ten per cent, but should be fixed after
the work was completed, and Fhould be
ample to pay for the work done. It's need
less to say that on this, as upon every other
item, the agent claimed and withheld the ten
per cent, as his fee, after specially agreeing
with tina Auditor GoEeral that he was not 20
receive this amount.
How can tho Governor in the face Of such
facts, and with full knowledge of them,
attempt to vindicate the outrageous conduct
of the State Agent2 We are amazed stfhe
boldness of the attempt, and are much do
ceivsd # it shall succeed in hoodwinking the
public. On the contrary we know thst it
has totally failed that that public. with
keen and correct foresight, has made up its
mind ,fpoh this snbjsct, and nothing short of
actual proof derived through Legislative
investigation of the whole matter, can change
that judgment.
Wo are told that ths Governor. accepting
the babbiings of the supposed swipdler, and
adopting them as his own, holds that the
bargain made by the Auditor General was
illegal, void, and Of no effect. We are moro
astounded still at this alfrontery.
Mr.. Evans entered upon plain, fair, we'll
understood bargain that he should DO certain
work. to be placed in his hands by the Aui-
ditor General, and should be paid according
to the labor performed. Was there anything
wrong about that? Was there any advan~
tags taken in any way of Mr. Evans Was
this not maEifestly the duty Of the Auditor
General to save the State if possible from an
ovsrchargs? Mr.. Evans was satisfied to ac-
cspt the service upon this condition, he did
the work, aud repudiating the express con-
dition. that his pay was to be fixed after
wards, and in accordance with the labor per-
formed, pocketed the fall ten per cent
and the Governor attempts to Justify him In
the act Of Robin: the State.
We cannot avoid the natural qusry-why
does Governor Geary manifest 30 much zeal
in the cause of George o. Evans? Why
does he take up the cause Of an accused
swindler, and devote column in his annual
message to his vindication ?. The people
wonder at this, and they cannot avoid wor>
doring Is not the Legislature cotnpetent 10
investigats such charges as are made against
a State cfiicsrs? Must the Governor take up
the cause of an accused s~indlinG Stats Off
cia, and argue his innocence in his message,
by tbs columr-wheu the common wealth is
the plaintiff? We had thought that we
elected our Governors to protect the interests
Of the STATE. not IS special Plsaders against
The interests of the treasury, and IN tho in~
tarest of accused State officials.
Probably we are wrong, and that John ".
Gsary is right in defending Evans at The e1-
pense of the treasury. It appears to US that
his duty was wholly done. when he stated ths
charge against State officer. and asked tho
Legislature to give the matter attention.
Why he has done moro than this, we leave
to the future: but we cannot help expressing
our chagrin, we'll our sGrprise, that
Evans could find ready advocate in the
Chief Exscutivs of our State. Can 1t be
possible that other officials shared with him
the spois of his Office
Tho matter must be looked squarely in the
face; the recent conduct Of the Governor,
We consider rery ert,Gordinary. and we call
upon the Legislature to stand up boldly and
not shrink from the responsibility imposed
upon it. Various rumors haze been in the
air for months past, and it is high time that
they be proved true or false. Let the whole
matter bo investigated by committee, who
will 60 to the bottom, sitting it most thor
oughly, and if any bo found guilty, let the
axe fall with unrelentipg severity. in order
that justice may be wholly yindicated.
We trust that the rumors We have referred
to may turn out untrue; that faithful in<
vcstigatiou may reveal no crimiuality. but
that in the end the worst that can be said
will be, that what was in reality only mis-
take, has been fully rectiied andsthe Treas.
ury made whole.-Pit btngh Gazette.