The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-09-24
HARRISBURG. Sent. Is. 1878,


can politicians lobbyists and ringsters, in the
halcyon days of the old constitution legisla-
| ton shone with the splendor of star of the
| first magnitude the name of the "hero of
| Minnequa," the Hon. Peter Herdic, but in
| the eltulgent light of the new constitution
| legislation, his star has eliminated, shines
| but ftfully in legislative halls, aud will ere
long go out in utter oblivion, but will shine
| all the brighter elsewhere and little memen-
toes of the Hon. Peters work, and little jobs
| like the following in which an ex-State Off
cial in high standing figures conspicuously
and which has created considerable excite
ment in certain circles in the city of Will
Transport during the past few weeks, will
come to the surface of events to prove that
the hero of Minnequa still lives. During
Herdic's administration as Mayor of the city
of Williamsport, large debt was contracted
by the city for many extravagant and use
less improvements instigated by him. It
was, however, supposed that this debt was
cancelled long ago, as he gave his personal
guarantee that the interest on the city bonds
|
be lessened by state, city or other taxation.
A few years ago the Commonwealth of
| Pennsy lvania, in order to increase its reve-
nue., imposed tax upon the coupons Of all
municipal towns, and therefore under this
call the bonds of Williamsport were liable
to be returned for taxation Just here, how
ever, Peter comes to the rescue, and by q lit
| tie arrangement with Auditor General Al
len, (proof of which we will show further
on), managed to secure to the then Treasur-
er of Williamsport a receipt for State taxes
on the bonds, however, only about $36, 900
of them, when there were, in fact, $685. 700
of the bonds in existence.
The tax imposed by the State is mills
on every dollar of bonded Indebtedness
where the bonds are held by parties in the
| State, so it can be seen at glance that when
a return of only S36, 900 instead of S62S, 900
of bonded indebtedness was made that the
State, during period of three years was in
this one little job defrauded out of more than
81 800 annually, amounting in the three
years to S5.5GO.60.
Hon. j. +. Temple, the present Auditor
| General, on his induction into office was no.
| tilted of the actual amount of the bonded in
debtedness of Williemsport, and immediate.
ly ordered u re-settlement of the account
which re-settlemcnt was handed to the At
torney General for his approval, and before
that officer the following allegations were
made by S. T. Mccormick, Chairman of the
Finance Committe of the city of Williams
port.
"In the matter of the State tax on the
city bonds of the city of Williamsport.
The undersigned, Chairman of the FL
nance Committee of the City Council of said
City, in behalf of said City Council, makes
and presents to the Auditor General of said
Commonwealth the following allegations of
fact in relation to said bonds and the State
taxes thereon assessed by the Common
wealth and paid by the treasurer of said city
and also the names of the parties by whom
said facts can be proven.
HOW THE BONDS WERE ISSUED.
1st. The 10th section of an act of Assem-
bly, approved March Dist, 1867, authorizes
the corporate authorites'of the city of Will
Transport to issue bonds not exceeding $780,
000-P. L., page 5lG
I'd. Under the pretended authority Of this
act of Assembly said city authorities pro-
ceeded to issue coupon bonds to the amount
Of $685. 900 of the date of Sept. 1st, 1868, and
having twenty years to run. This can be
proven by VIM. F. Logan, ex-Mayor.
WHO GOT THE BONDS.
Sd. All of these bonds except the sum of
$l7 900, acre issued to citizens Of PcnnsylUa-
MIA, principally to Peter Herdic. This can
be proven by DR.. VIM. F. Logan, ex-Mayor,
and Hiram Nudge, ex-Treasurer, both of
Williamsport.
FALSE RETURN.
4th. The amount of these bonds outstand-
ing in 1873 was $6l9,000, and in 1874, $685.
600. This can be proven by ex-Treasurer
Hiram Nudge and the present Treasurer
VIM, n. Jones, by d, b. Else and also by
the report of the city auditors for 1878.
9th The city Treasurer for 1873, instead
of returning the amount of bonds outstand-
ing returned the amount as $4,000, upon
which basis the State tax was levied and
paid
TAX COLLECTED on ALL THE BoNDS
9th. ID. Is. Else, the said city Treasurer
for 1873, when paying the coupons retained
from the bondholders the amount of the
State tax on all the bonds then outstanding,
and still retains it, except the amount paid
over to the State on the $36 900 returned as
aforesaid. This can be shown by the said
d. b. Else, and VIM. b. Updegraph, his dep
uty.
ENTER AUDITOR GENERAL ALLEN
7th. VIM. n. Jones, the city Treasurer for
1874 made correct return to the Auditor
Generals Office, Of the amount of bonds out
standing for that year, but was subsequently
induced By Tie then Auditor General (Harri-
son Allen to change the return to $4,000,
and the correct return 1cas destroyed by tie
Auditor Gcaeral in the presence Of said
Treasurer, This can be shown by the said
VIM, n. Jones.
Sth If direct evidence is required as TO
what portion of these bonds are held by cit
liens Of Pennsylvania, it can be furnished by
calling Pearson S. Peterson, of the city Of
Philadelphia. All of which is respectfully
submitted. S. II. MCCORMICK.
CERTIFICATE OF JONES.
To the Auditor Gen. of the State Of Penn'a.
hereby certify that from the best attain
able information existing in the Treasurer's
office in the city Of Wiliamsport, there were
outstanding on the first day of June, 1874,
SGl900O Of the coupon bonds of the city of
Williamsport, Of the issue of Sept lst 1868,
and further, that on the 22d day of August,
1874 81 900 of said bonds were redeemed by |