The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-03-09
The Patterson Bribery.
A SPECIAL MASSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR
RECOMMENDING AN INvEsTIG ALTON.


Governor Pattison has sent to the
Legislature the following special mes
sage regarding Mr.. Gowen's charges
against +. G. Patterson and the Stan.
dard Oil Company, which was read and
referred to the judiciary committee
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, March l, S3.
To the Senate and House.
GENTLEMEN 1t has been publicly
asserted by Mr.. Franklin b. Gowen,
a reputable and responsible citizen, in
the hall of the House of Representa-
tives, that one e. G. Patterson, per-
son employed by the State in an action
to recover certain taxes claimed by the
Auditor General to be due by the Stan
dard Oil Company to the Common
wealth, was paid by the officers of said
corporation to suppress the testimony
he had collected, and the State thereby
was prevented from obtaining its just
dues. These charges as made by Mr..
Gowen are substantially as follows:
'In suit by the great Common
wealth against the Standard Oil Com
pany, for the collection Of taxes which
it refused to pay, he had been employ
ed by the Commonwealth to collect
testimony. He admitted under oath
that the Standard Oil Company paid
him $1,000 to suppress testimony. |
am prepared to furnish the testimony
and make the charge openly and pub
licly before the Legislature of this Com
monwealth.'
Although l have had serious doubts
as to the proprie.y of an official recog-
milton of such accusations, have come
to the conclusion, after careful survey
of the subject, that the matter in the
present instance is of sufficient gravity
to warrant my laying before you the
facts have been able to ascertain. ]
herewith submit to you the following
papers: A paper purporting to be a
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 procure tes-
tiihoiy III euC Suie az aihoo IHc cldIuaiu
Oil Company; also, four letters from the
then Attorney-General to the said Pat
terson; letter from the Auditor Gen,
eral upon the said subject, and copy
of certain testimony said to have beer
given by Patterson in subsequent
suit against the Tidewater Pipe Line
1t will be seen by these papers thai
Patterson was employed by the Stat,
and that he subsequently, was employed
by the Standard Oil Company at {
large profit. Without expressing any
opinion upon the subject, deem i
my duty to lay before the Legislature
the facts | have been able to ascertain
by call upon the departments, ais,
suggest that committee of investiga
tion be appointed by your bodies, will
power TO send for persons and papers
in order that the truth of the accuse
tions made may be determined and tina
the State may be yindicated in its ef
forts to compel corporations to be ODE
dent to the law. If injustice has bee
done either to the Commonwealth o
any Individual it is of the first import
ance that the fact be ascertained an
the guilty punished and the State ena
bled to obtain her legal and just dues
i also suggest, while upon this subjec,
the propriety of the Legislature consid
ering whether it might not be well t.
repeal the law giving to the Audito
General .he authority to employ privat
attorneys to collect claims due the Stat
at compensation to be paid by sal
officers.
The law upon this subject was passe
April IL, 1861, and sas follows "Ths
whenever, in the opinion of the Aud
tor General or Attorney General, tn
interest of the Commonwealth requiI
it, they or either of them shall bay
the power to employ the services c
resident attorneys to assist in the pro-
ecution OF claims, for which service
such reasonable compensation as tn
circumstances will justify or may hav
been agreed upon shall be allowed b
the Auditor General" Such method
as that here authorized are of question
able propriety and are open to muc
abuse In the present case, whic
calls for this message, Patterson nigh
if successful, have been paid S20,00I
sum much greater than the compeI
sation of the Auditor General, With
the line of whose duties such matter
are, or of any officer of the Common
wealth The whole system is ono thi
ought TO receive your consideration wit
view to its repeal, Or if possible, i
reformation. 1t seems TO me thaC III
Attorney General should contest a
such claims without other considerable
than that now allowed by law.