The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-13
BARDSLEY GOT THE SWAG
COMMISSIONS ON ADVERTISING
TURNED OVER TO HlaI.

Ex-Clty Treasurer Bell the Man With
Whom the Newspaper Offices Made
the Contracts Bardsley Pleaded
That He Was Hard Up-Mc Canmant
in Danger of Removal.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct. 12.-The legis-
lative committee investigating the conduct
Of the offices of auditor general and state
treasurer by the present incumbents,
Thomas b. MoCamant aud Henry Boyer,
met here to-day. The Investigation, besides
being In reference TO the two states officers,
are directed to ascertain the
loss OF moneys of the state
through John Bardslev. the degraded
ex-city treasurer of Philadelphia, and the
expenditure OF state funds. Col Clayton
McMichael, editor and proprietor of the
North American, and Charles +. Warbur-
ton, editor and proprietor Of the Euening
Telegraph. were examined respecting COM
missions paid for the advertisement in their
respective papers OF the state mercantile
tax list
BOTH PAID COMMISSIONS.
Both gentlemen admitted having paid
commissions but both positively refused 10
give the name of the person to whom the
commission was paid. They declared, how
ever. that no commission was paid, either
directly or Indirectly, to their knowledge
to any city or state official. Their
refusal to name the person to whom the
commission was paid was, they explained,
because OF desire to protect their private
business affairs. They said they gave COM
missions for various classes of advertising
at all times.
AN EX-cITY TREASURER PAID.
James Elverson. president Of the Inquirer
Publishing Company. stated in reply to
queitions that the person to whom he had
paid commissions was Frank Bell, ex-city
treasurer OF Philadelphia. with whom he (Mr.
Elverson) had made contract for adver-
tising IN his paper the mercantile tax list.
Ex-City Treasurer Bell, who was in the
room, was then called to the stand. He
acknowledged having made contracts with
the proDrietors of several newspapers for
the advertisements In their journals of the
mercantile tax list, and had received from
them commissions agreed upon.
BELL GAVE THEM TO BARDsLEY.
These commissions he handed to John
Bordsley, who was then city treasurer.
The proprietors of the papers, he said,
knew nothing about Bardsley In the mat
ter Mr.. Bell said that he himself did not
get cent Of the money, and by way of sx-
PLANTATION said that Bardsey came TO him in
1889, and asked him TO take charge of the
distribution of the mercantile tax list
advertising. He then declined TO have
anything TO do with il. In 1890 Bardslev
came again and told about his (Bardsley'sl
financial troubles, and said If he could get
commissions it would help him out Bell
said he then took hold of the matter, got
the advertisements in the papers and re-
ceived commissions, every cent of which
he turned over to Bardsey.
William f. McCully, of the Evening
Bulletin and Robert j. Cook of the Press
testified TO having paid commissions to Bell
and the committee then adjourned to meet
at Harrisburg.
GOV. PATTIsoN's PROCLAMATION.
HARRIsBURG. PA. Oct. 12.-Gov. Pattison
Tonight issued proclamation calling upon
the Senate, which meets in extra session for
the purpose Of Inqulring whether
reasonable cause" exists for the removal OF
Auditor General McCamant and State
Treasurer Boyer, TO also consider whe her
there Is cause for the removal OF the magis-
trates and consiables of Philadelphia. These
officials are alleged to have been partici-
pants In the conspiracy with ex-City Treas
urer Bardsey to defraud the state In con-
nection with the collection Of the mercan.
tile taxes.