Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-28
MAJORBURKE'SSTORY
He Sails From Europe To-Day, and
Will Try to Straighten Out
THE LOUISIANA BOND FRAUDS.
All Charges of Dishonesty Meet With an
Explicit Denial.
THE LOUISIANA BOND FRAUDS
INVENTOR EDISON HONORED In FRANCE

LONDON, September pa newspaper
representative called upon Major +. A.
Burke, of New Orleans, ex-Treasurer oil tne
State of Louisiana, at his hotel TINS morn-
ing. Major Burke was very busily engaged
in the dispatch of necessary business, pre-
paratory to his departure for America on
the Etruria tomorrow.
When asked if he desired to make any
statement in regard to alleged lrregularlty
in connection with the State bonds when he
was Treasurer of Louisiana, Major Burke
expressed regret that he was not IN condition
to give full information. He had no knowl-
edge of the charges that had been made, or
of the present situation at New Orleans, ex-
cept such as had been conveyed to him in
few brief cable dispatches.
These were not adequate to enable him
fully to understand what allegations had
been made nor upon what grounds. He had
gathered from them, however, that the situa-
tion was of sufficient gravity to make it
highly expedient for him to return to
America at once.
QUITE A SACRIFICE.
This would involve the abandonment for
the present of important business interests
in London, which would be likely to result
in serious pecuniary loss. But he did not
hesitate to make the sacrifice, for he felt that
he must hasten home in order to meet at
once any question that might arise touching
. the administration of the Office of State
Treasurer during the nine years Of his In
cumbency.
p For two years of the period that he held
Office his time and attention were almost
wholly absorbed in the work OF the Inter-
national Exposition at New Orleans.
During all this time the affairs of the State
Treasurer's office were left almost entirely
in the hands of men in whom he had abso-
lutte confidence.
AT the time when he surrendered the
Office an exhaustive inquiry into the ad-
ministration was made by legislative COM
mittee, aided by experts from five banks,
and from the commercial agencies OF r. G.
Dun & Co. and, ,BradStreet'S. The report of
this committee, issued in July, 1887, makes
the position OF the coupons perfectly clear.
DENIES ALL DISHONESTY.
Major Burke emphasized the fact that it
was at his special request that the Commit
tee of Inquiry examined singly every coupon
that had been paid. He denies that he ever
paid any invalid coupons. A small num-
Der of coupons, he declares, were put aside
and were never paid. These are now in his |
possession, and will show for themselves. |
He expressed the determination on his re-
turn to 90 fully into the whole matter, as he |
realizes the seriousness of the situation.
But he thought it undesirable, if not i'm |
possible, TO discuss snch involved questions |
intelligently in London, and preferred to |
wait till he reached home and had the light |
of full information. In conclusion, Major |
Burke said with emphasis: IF it can be |
shown that 1 am indebted to the State OF |
Louisiana in any way, 1 am ready to make |
the Indebtedness good
Major Burke's health is feeble. He has |
been undergoing severe surgical operations
during the past four months. Mrs. Burke, |
also, has been prostrated with illness.
Major Burke said his intention had been |!
not to sail for America until October 8, but |
his dispatches show that the situation of af- |
fairs at New Orleans is so urgent that he |
had no alternative but to bring to a sudden |
termination the business which had brought |
him to London.