Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-08
Another Governors Message
GOwAN'S CHARGES.
GOVcrnOTPattiSOn Iabors for reform
ing old abuses.

G07ernor PattiSon on The lst, Inst, sent the
following message to the Legislature:
1t is has been pub!icly asserted by Mr.. +. T.
Gowen, reputable and responsible citizen, In
the hall Of the house oil representatives,, that
one L. G. Patterson, person employed by the
state in an action to recover certain taxes
claimed by the auditor general to be due by
the Standard Oil Company TO the comm on
wealth. was paid by the officers Of said corpora
tion'to suppress the testimony he had collected,
and the state thereby was prevented from OBJ
tanning its just dues. These charges, a. made
by Mr. Gowen, are substantially as follows In
IA suit by this great commonwealth against the
Standard Oil CompaayEfor the collection of
taxes witch II refused To pay, he had been en-
ployed by the commonwealth 10 collect tcStt-
mony. He admitted under oath that the Stand
ard Oil Company paid him $500 to suppress
testimony. lam prepared to furnish the tcstl-
mony, and make this charge openly and pub
lcy before the le ,iSlature IL the common
wealth.
Though have had serious doubts M TO the
propriety OF an official recognition Of such accu.
satiOnS, have come to the conclusion, after II
careful survey of the subject, that the matter
in the present instance is Of sufficient gravity
10 warrant my laying before You the facts |
have been able 10 ascertain, | herewith submit
to you the following papers 4 paper purpolt-
ing to be n contract between said Patterson and
the state through the auditor general, secretary
of internal affairs and the attorney general, by
which the said Patterson was employed to pro-
cure testimony on the suit against the standard
oil company also fourpeuerS from the then
attorney general to said Patterson letter
from the auditor general upon the same subject,
and copy of certain testimony said to have
been given by Patterson in subsequent suit
by him against the Tide Water pipe lines. 1t
will be seen by these papers that Patterson WAS
employed by the state and that he subsequent
IL was employed by the Standard oil Company,
at large p.dft. Without expressing any opn-
ion upon the subject, deem 1t my duty to lay
before the legislature the facts have Eeen able
to ascertain bya cal upon the departments.
also suggest that committee Of investigation
be appointed by Your bodies, with power o'Scnd
for persons and pa perS, in order that the truth
of the assertions made may be determined, al
that the state may be yindcated in its efforts to
compel coporations 10 be obatlieIt 10 the law.
Ii injustice has been done either by. the com.
monwealth or any individual, it Is OF the first
Importance that the fact be aScertaiEed and the
guilty punished and the state enabled to obtain
her legal and just dres.
l also suggest. while upon this subject, the
prcprety Of the legislature considering whether
it might not be well To repeal the law giving 10
the auditor general and attorney general the
authority TO emp!oyPrEate attorneys to col
lect claims dueShe state At y compensation To
be paid by said officers. The law up on this sub
jact was passed April Il, 1861, ard is rs fol-
lows
THAT whenever, IN the opinion Of the audi
tor general ANA attorney general, the interests
of the commoMw ealth require il, they, or either
ofthem, shall have the power TO employ the SER
vices of resident attorneys 10 assist in the pros
ecUtiun aud trial Of cases and the presentation
of claims, for which service such reasonable com
pensation, "a the circumstances viii Justify, OF
as may have been AZ reed upon, shall lie allowed
by the auditor general
Such methods as that here authorized, are OF
questionable propTiety. and are open 10 much
abuse. In the present ease, which calls tor this
message, Patterson might, If successful, have
been paid S20.0O0-a sum much greater than
the compensation Of the att0I Aey general, with
in the line whose duties such matters are, or
OF any other officer OF the commonwealth.
The whole system is one that ought TO receive
your careful consideration, with view to its
repeal or, II possible, its reformation 1t seems
to me that the attorney general could collectall
such claims without other remuneration than
that now allowed him By law.
ROBERT L. PArrIsoN.