Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08
The Governors Message.


charge made by +. b. Gowen, to th'
effect that f.. O.. Patterson, employed
by the State in the action TO recover
taxes, which, in the opinion ofthc Aud
itor General, were due the common
wealth by the Standard Oil Company,
had been paid by that companys oth.
GERS to suppress the testimony he had
collected and thus debarrcd the State
from receiving its just dues.
The message was accompanied by
papers giving the facts in the posses.
sion of the Governor concerning the
charge, and while he did not express
an opinion on the subject, he consider.
ed it his duty to lay before the legisla,
ture the facts rs he was able to ascer-
tain them by calling upon the DEF art.
ments, and suggests the appointment
of a committee of investigation, with
power to send for persons and papers
that the State may vindiCate its au
thority and force corporations to obey
the laws. The messa,e:
l. has heen publicly asserted hy Mr
F. B GoSPn, n reputable and responsI
lie citizen. in the hall of the house OF
representative. that one +. G. Pdtrr.
~pn. "A person employed hy the state a.
n action To recover certain taxes claim.
~ hy the auditor general 10 he due T.,
the STANDARD Oll Company to the com
mon wealth, was pad 10y the officers of
id corporation to supprrs. IN" trstlmo
ny he bad collected. and The state there
bS wss prevented from obtaining it, Just
iurs. These charges. as made rs Mr.
Gnwen, are substantially A. iollows: In
: suit hy this great commonseAll h
against the STANDARD OH Company for
the collection Of taxes which 1t refused
To nav. be had been employed hy the
commonwealth to collect testimony.
H. admitted under oath that the Sand.
ard Oh Company paid him $500 to
SUPPRESS testimony. | am prepared to
furnish testimony, and ! make this
charge openly and publicly before the
legislature of the commonwealth
GRAVITY OF THE CHARGE.
Though have had serious doubts a.
TO the prnpriety OF the official recognl.
tiou Of such accusations, ! have come to
the conclusion. after a careful survey of
the subject. that the matter in the pres
ent instance is OF sufficient gravity TO
warrant my laying before you the facts
| have been able 10 ascertain. hero
with submit 10 you the following papers
paper purportiuR TO be contract be
tween said Patterson and the state
through the auditor general, secretary
of internal affairs and the attorney gen
eral, by which the said Patterson was
employed to procure testimony on the
suit against the Standard oil company
also four letters from the then attorney
general to said Patterson letter from
the auditor general upon the same sub.
ject, and copy Of certain testimony
said to hsve been given by Patterson IN
subsequent suit by him against the
Tide Water pipe lines. II will be seen
by these papers that Patterson was
employed by the state; and that be
subsequently was employed by the
Standard oil company, at large profit
Without expressing any opinion upon
the subject. deem il my duty TO lay
before the legislature the facts ] have
been able to ascertain 10y 4 call upon The
departments. ! also suggest that
committee OF investigation be appoln-
ted by your bodies, with power TO send
for persons and papers, in order that
the truth Of the assertions made may
be determined. and that the state may
he indicated IN it's effnrts TO compel
corporations to he obedient to the lAw.
II injustice has been done either by the
commonwealth or any individual, 1t ia
oi the frzt importance that the fact he
ascertained and the guilty punished,
and the state enabled to OBTAIN her
legal ard just dues.
sUGGEsTISG THE LAWS REPEAL.
also .uggest, while upon tins sub
ject the prupriety Of the legislature
considering whether it might not be
we'll TO repeal the law giving to the
auditor general and attorney general.
the authority 10 employ private aitor
neys to collect claims due the state At
compensation to be paid hy asid officers.
The law upon this subject was passed
April ", 1861, and is "a follows;
That whenever. in the opinion Of the
auditor general or attorney general, the
interests oi the commpnwealth require
IT, they, or either of them, shall have
the power tn employ the services of
resident attorneys, to assist in the pros
eculion aud trial of causes and the
preseutation, "a the circumstances will
iu.tify, or az may have been agreed
upon, shall be allowed by the auditor
general.
Such methods as that here authorized
are Of questionable propriety, and are
open to much abuse. In the present
case. which calls for this message, Pat
tersop might. II successful, have been
paid go 00O--a sum much greater than
the compensation of the attorney gen.
eral. within the line Of whose duties
such matter are. or Of any other officer
Of the commonwealth.
The whole system Is one that ought
to receive your careful consideration,
With q view TO lie app,sl or. II possible,
its reformation. Il seems 10 me that