The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-15
PENNSYLVANIA,s TRE1sURERs
Robert w. Msckev u Worthy Successor Of
William N. X cmble.

successor
william n. KembIe.
HARRIsBURa, Feb. 1i.-That the Office OF
State Treasurer of Pennsylvania has at times
been filed by honest aud well-mannered men
cannot be denied. That 1t ought a. all times to
be filled by such will be conceded but that
some Of It's incumbents have been men Of a diff
ferent character every candid Pennsylvania
will admit with shame and confusion OF face.
II on the one hand VIC can point with pride to
william Findlay and Daniel Sturgeon, and Henry
ID. Moore. on the other we must hang our beads
in humiliation at the mention OF William ii.
Kemblo and Robert W. Mackey.
So long the memory OF men who now
living shall retain recollection Of Kemble's
vulgar and insolent letter to Mr.. Belmont and
Of his addition, division, and silence letter to
Mr.. Coney written in aid OF the Evans swindle,
and so long as history or tradition shall carry a
knowledge Of those letters down to posterty, so
long will every good aud true Pennsyl vanlan
blush for his State.
Kemble's vulgar nsolence when In once will
perhaps stand unrlvalled forever but he Is not to
bear OF the palm without a contest. Mackey
has entered the field as a competitor, and has ut
least succeeded in placing himself next to KEN
bic on the roll OF officials distinguished for ILL.,
manners and vndictiyeness.
In his official report to the Legislature at the
opening Of the present session, Mackev had
sta ed that the whole amount then i'm the gen.
eral fund OF the treasury was S55sSj4.1S, while
the law lul unpaid demands upon It amounted
TO sJOOVO. We at the same time represented
that the revenues ~ the sinking fund were large
ly In excess Of It's requirements. md suggested
the diversion Of portion thereof 10 the general
fund, Tor the relief Of the treasury and the pro-
lection OF the public credit.
In Difference to his suggestion a bill was intro
duced INTO the House. under the provisions II
which about Sl.bOO,QO0 u the revenues set apart
for the sinking fund would this year be diver ted
to the general fund. When this bill was under
considerations two new sections were added to
IT, One required the state Treasurer, on the
first bu iiness day Of each month. to render I'M
der oath a statement To the Auditor-teneral Of
the amount on that day IN the sinking fund,
which statement should include the names of
all banks or individuals with whom the moneys
81 said fund were deposited, with the securities
held aud the rate of interest received by the
whenever IL should appear from the monthly
statement Of the state treasurer that there was
q balance In the sinking fund when for the time
being was not required for the payment OF any
part Of the public debt or the Interest thereon,
the Commission Of tho Sinking Fund should
states or Of the state Of Pennsylvania.
When this bill came IN In tho Senate, an
amendment requiring the Treasurer 10 state m
his monthly return 20 the Auditor-Geuerilw what
"bOnus. premium or consideration was received
los the state or 10y any person on deposits Of
public money was G fried bS the Democrats
With the aid Of two Republican Senators. The
| Ire sury Ring took alarm at once. Nuckey
| came up from Phiadclrhia in hot haste and in
| hot temper. The Senate ohcdieuty struck OUT
| its offensive amendment. II also struck out the
| new and widely different one. and IN de other
changes acceptable to the Treasury Ring.
| when It's slaughtered Till camc back to the
House. that body made a show II devotion TO
| the public interests, and refused to concur in
| the senate amen iment-. The disagreement re-
| suited IN "A committee ~ con'ereuce. and then
| tho weakness OF the House and the strength OF
| the Treasury Ring were made appalynt. Tn cJul-
| mttte recommended that the House T. cedc
| from every position * had taken in amt gontsm
10 the senate. IL did rcccde. and the hili passed
| both branches iu a sh rc perfectly agreeable Ia
| III. Ns d
| voting gaiustit.
| Prior Ia tue nassage Of this bill none Of the
mcmhe1s of tho Legs llturc. except a highly fg-
| vJred few, had received any money from the
| treasury on account OF salary. They had been
| gwen to understand very distinctly that they
could draw no pay until they had passed the
| Till. TINS was the screw with which Mackel
| pressed 10 through.
Immediately after its final passage in the s'n
| ate on Wcdnc sday last, the Chair announced, ~
| Ii by authority. that payments on account Of sal
| airy would be made az the treasury. Among the
| number who presented themselves during IL,
day 60 the worthy successor Of Bill ke:nble wa
| the senator FROM the Fayette and Green district
| modest and unassuming gentleman Of the Ii
| school. who may safely be set down as no ad
| mirer OF kemble's new rules in arithmetic. HI,
had voted against the bill after 1t had been shOrr
OF all the provisions winch mad been put in IL FOL
| the protection Of the puolc interests, but in TIA,
| i.uoceney of his heart he did not suppose tha
| he had done anything FOR which he deserved e
| be punished. His surprise may be Imagined
| when, in response TO his application for SON,
| portion Of his salary, he received from Maclel
| the in-olent answer; We are not paying mem
hers who voted against the bill"
| IL our Legislature had the independence anC
spirit it possessed in earlier and better DAYS
NackeS 5 vuig insOleuce would be rebuked az
1t deserves. resolution Of censure, cOuche,
in the strongest language compatible with thu
dignity of the body adopting II ought to b.
spread On the journal Of each House, there &
remain forever a. the recorded verdict OF tn
people OF the state against an insolent and un
mannery public servant. But the Legislature vii
t1kc no notice Of the insult offered 10 one Of 10
number, and through him to the entire popula
tiun Of the Commonwealth. That body l. hel,
| In the treasury By hooks which are too strong Il
he broken by the whole force OF public opinion