The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-10-29
ELECTION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER
TREASURY FRAUDS.
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE.
100000 UNLAwFULLY TAKEN FROM TIE
SINKING FUND-sli23,SO ,SO1 OvERCHARGED
IN INTEREST ACCOUNTABLE OVER
CHARGED IN GOLD PREMIUMS, ETC.

PHILADELPHIA, October 22--The follow
ing report of the State Treasury investiga-
ting committee was promulgated last night.
1t speaks for itself:
10 his Ercellency John T. HartrahU, Gor-
ernor Of Pennsylvania. and Jitstus f. Temple,
1uditor General: The committee of the
house appointed to investigate the affairs of
the State treasury beg leave to present the
following additional report
After the State treasurer, in April last,
refused the accountant of the committee ac-
cess to the books and papers in the treasury
of the State the committee continued its
work by an examination of the public docu-
ments published yearly by the different de-
partments of the State Government. From
thes examination the committee ascertained
and in their report of July l6, 1876, stated .
First. That from about the year 1866 to
1874 nearly SO 400, 900 was largely taken from
the sinking fund,
Second. That during a period of twelve
years, beginning with December /, 1862, the
different State treasurers had an average bal
ance constantly on hand of 50, 100 900, but
had not accounted to the State for one cent
of interest ON the same, the tax payers be-
ing thus practically robbed of 81 400, 900.
Third. That the law directing the quar-,
terly application of all money in the sink
ing fund to the liquidation of an equivalent
amount of public debt had been constantly
and Systematically violated, to the great loss
| of the people and the enrichment of the
State treasurers.
The committee, continuing the same line
of investigation since that report, have fur
ther discovered
First. That from 1865 to 1874 there ap-
pears to be yearly overcharge on the in.
terest account on the public debt, the diff.
ferent treasurers taking credit for paying
more interest than the State debt bore. The
grand aggregate thus unlawfully taken from
the State treasury,in the eleven years named
amounts to the enormous sum of 81 ,123, ,3O1 :.
65.
Second. That from 1870 to 1874 there ap.
pears to have been an excess of premium
charged on the purchase of gold to pay tn,
interest on the gold-bearing bonds amount
ing in all to 1921 ,427,95.
Many other minor fraudulent transactions
came under the notice Of the committee
but those here mentioned may be tabulatet
as follows:
| Unlawfully taken from the sinking
| fund s3,4OO,OO
| ia,s inuSalGs, On puQQlic ueposlts, l,40O,O9
| ONercnarBe In interest account, 1,123,3O
| overcharge In gold premiums, 12l,52
Total, sG,o44,oJ
The committee having pursued this lin,
OF inquiry as far as practical or useful
subpGnaed the State treasurer, r. w. Mack.
ey, and his predeces 'ors in Office, to appear
and explain, if possible, any of the abov,
items. These subpenas were returnab |,
October 5, at Harrisburg, their service sworr
to, but there was no appearance, except by
Mr.. Mackey, and he declined to testify un
til his predecessors in Office were sworn
certainly an unusual dictation on the part O
a witness. But the committee met from da,
to day, and subsequently subpGned Mr.
Mackey to appear and testify in Philadelphis
on Wednesday, October 20. Mr. Macke,
treasurers have studiously avoided tnc ,3ieet
ings of the committee. Had the committe
the power to issue an attachment for thei
arrest that power would be promptly used
but that is a prerogative of the house whicl
must of necessity remain unexercised unit
the house is in session. What inference i
to be drawn? Certainly it is fair to assum,
that all the charges above made are true, a
the treasurers do not appear when lawful
subpened, and explain or deny them.
In this connection the committee canno
refrain from referring to another difficulty j
had to contend with. The committee wa
created by the house alone, the Senate re
fusing to concur, and the committee wa
wholly deprived of funds to pay any of it
expenses.
| o. II. REIGHARD.
s A. SMITH,