The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-28
BURKE IS COMING HOME.
he IS READY TO PAY IF he OWES
THE STATE.

The Affairs OF His Of1ce Intrusted to
ether Men During Two Years That
the Exposition Required His Atten-
tion-The Major and His Wife Both
Broken in Health.
LONDON. Sept 27.-A representative of
the Associated Press called upon Mai. E.
A. Burke of New Orleans, ez-treasurer of
the state Of Louisiana, at his hotel this
morning. Maj. Burke was very busily
engaged in the di patch of necessary bust
ness, preparatory to his departure for
America on the Etruria tomorrow.
When asked if he desired to make any
statement in regard to the alleged irregu-
Iarities in connection with the state bonds
when he was treasurer of Louisiana Mr.
Burke expressed regret that he was not in
condition to give full information. He had
no knowledge of the charges that had been
made, or of tie present situation at New
Orleans, except such as had been conveyed
to him in brief cable dispatches. Tnese
were not adequate to enable him fully to
understand what allegations had been
made, nor upon what ground. He had
gathered from them, however, that the
situation was of sufficient gravity to make
lt highly expedient that he return to Amer
ica at once.
WHAT HIS RETURN INVOLVES.
This would involve the abandonment for
the present of important business interests
III Londo, which would be- likely to re-
suit in serious pacuniary loss. But he did
not hesitate to make tho 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 tie nine
years of mis- incumbency. For two years
of the period he had tae Office his time and
attention were almost wholly absorb ID in
the work OF the international exposition at
New Orleans.
IN OTHER MEMS HANDS
During all this time the affairs of the
state treasurer's Office were left almost en-
IL ely in the hands Of men in whom he had
absolute confidence. Al the time when he
surrendered the office an exhaustive inquiry
into its administration was made by legis-
lative committee aided by yexperts from five
banks and from 5le commercial agencies of
H. q. Dnn & Co., and BradStreet'S. The
report of this committee issued IN July,
1887, makes the position of the coupons
perfectly clear.
EXAMINED AT HIS REQUEST.
Mr.. Burke emphasizes the fact that it was
at his special request THAI the committee of
inquiry examine singly every coupon that
had been paid. He denies that he ever paid
any invalid coupons. a small number of
coupons, he declares, were put aside and
were never paid. These are now ia pos
sessio and will show for themselves. He
expressed a determination to go on his re-
tura fully into the whole matter, a he
realizes the serious Iess of the situation.
But ne thought it Undesirable to discuss tae
Questions now in London; be preferred to
wait till he reached home and had the light
of full Information.
READY TO PAY ANY INDEBTEDNESS.
In inclusion, Mr. Burke said with en-
phasts: "If it can be show that | am in
debted to the state of Louisiana in any way
L am ready to make the indebtedness gocd. :"
Mr.. Burke's health Is feeble. He has been
undergoing severe surgical op radio s
during the past four mouths. Mis- Burke
also has been prostra,ed with illness. Mr..
Burke said his intention had been not to
sail for America until Oc5. 5, but his dis
matches snow that the situation of affairs in
New Orleans is so urgent that he had no
alternative but TO bring to sudden termi-
nation the business which had brought him
to London