The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-03
CHARLESTON.

Delegates several weeks ago, for the pur-
pose Of examining into the management
II the finances Of the State, since It's or
,anizaton up 70 the present time, vas
made 70 the House this afternoon. The
report was looked for With general inter
est, because Of the TACT that one Of the
witnesses decided to go to jail and there
remain Tor several days and nights rather
than testify to what he knew about the
supposed frauds that had existed in the
Treasurer's and Auditors Offices during
the last few years. This was enough to
make everybody believe that some great
crime had been committed, and every
body vas anxious 70 find out exactly what
it was; and % the sessions Of the COM
mittee we're held in secret no one knew
anything about the character Of the wit
uesses until the committee made Its report.
When it was announced that tho com.
mittee would make it, report to the
House at $50 this afternoon large
crowd Of eager witnesses thrOnged the
lobby, and stood on their feet with uuaba!-
ing interest until 8 O'clock, dnring which
time, tho report Of the Committee and
the evidence taken before It were read BY
tho clerk,
TILE REPORT
was to the point. 1t recitod tho fact that
in January 1873. Hon. John s. Bur
dett Treasurer Of the State, together
with Hon. Z. A. Bennett, Auditor, made
a contract With n. Il. GRbell Cashier Of the
Merchants Bank Of Charleston, to the Ell
feet that they would deposit in said bank
$780, 900 Of the funds Of tho State u said
bank would pay them bonus OF 81 600
for 30 doing. Tho proposition was agreed
TO, and the Treasurer had $500, placed to
his individual credit and TO the credit OF
tho Auditor 500. This was tho first
transaction,
Tho report also recites the fact that one
William'T. Burdett, who has been Clerk
in the Treasurer's Office since 1871, and
now member Of the Senate, upon his
own evidence admitted that after the
adoption Of tho new Constitution his faith
or, the State Treasurer, and Mr.. Bennett
the Auditor, declined to have anything
more to do with tho bonus business, and
that he took charge Of this branch Of the
business and managed It solely in his own
individual interests; that no made . con-
tract with Mr.. Cabell, tho cashier before
mentioned, by which he received bonus
OF 3 per cent, on all Of the State tunds In
said bank, (which was never leSs than $780,;
0OO), during the years Of lS74!75, until
the Legislature passed an act requiring
all State depOsitors 10 pay not leSs than Z
per cent, after which time he received 2
per cent as q bonus. He admitted In his
testimony that he had been paid by the
cashier Of said Merchants bank during
the time stated the Sum Of $4,000. Also
that in the year 1873, he made contract
with one John W. Grantham, President
OF the Bank Of CharleatoRn, by which he
was to receive the sum Of $500 year,
provided that he would keep on deposit
In his bank the sum OF $50, 900 4 year; and
that he had received from said bank $500,
in accordance with the contract above
stated. He, however, claimed that all
this was done by himself and that his
father knew nothing Of 1t whatever.
The report also recited tho fact that
during the yearlS74 tho Auditor called
on one Isaac Smith, President Of the
Fipt National Bank Of Charleston, and
proposed to him In confidential way that
Il he Smith would pay him (Bennett) a
bonus Of several thousand dollars, he
(I}ennett) would secure him (smith) an
additional deposit Of State funds for his
bank Of 100000 10 $4,000; and that
Smith stated to him that no would pre-
sent the subject In acon6dential way TO
to the directors Of his bank, and would
let him know what they would do, &c.
The directors refused to accept tho offer
for the reason that II was contrary 10 law
and they might DO imprisoned for a
felony. -
1t rccitcs the further fact that from the
admissions Of the Auditor himself the
committee was Of the opinion that the
Auditor had received in an illegal and
clandestine way about $1,000 from insllr'
ance companies from other States thai
are doing business In this State, In the
way Of fees for issuing certificates, &c.
that the law allowed a Zee not exceeding
$40, and that In some instances ho had
charged a. much "a $3.50.
The report also recited thu fact thai
Senator Burdett had unlawfully infused
and sOld out the patronage Of the Treas
urerS office OF the State in such way ~
To place In his own pocket several thouS'
and dollars during the past two years
and le%m therefore corrupt, and had
been guilty Of high crimes and miSde-
mcanOrS, and was unfit to hold the high
office Of Senator Of tho State, and that
lie should be expelled etc. l.srnf
The report concluded with the following
-n RESOLUTION OF EXPULSION o.
4"Eesolea, BY tho House Of Delegates
81 West Virginia, That John s. BuFdetl
Treasurer, and Edward A. Bennett, And.
itorot the statGoi West, Virginia, DO i'm
peached fot malfeasahco In Office, mis-
conduct and corruption, and for high
crimes and misdemeanors."
Tho report fell like q wet blanket npot
that honorable body Although they had
been expecting a report Of misconduct OH
the part Of the officers named, still they
did not expect II TO bc SO pointed and sc.
we're. Miller, Of Kanawha, Jackson, Of
| Wood, and Fleming, Of Marion, at once
exhibited proof that they were going L
champion the cause Of The pefseCuted q,
State officials, who were "Lrue Demo
crats," &c. For two br tlltGe hOurs they
kept Tic lloot, Sptingihg technical points
! l. I'LL -