Evening journal., 1891-11-12
END oE A PARTISAN FARCE.
An Intelligent and Honest Republican
Criticism on the Pennsylvania Senate.

nb HJhlNn VI AAp DAAhu 9CnAlN yNGNtA
lay ia declaring by q strict party vote |
hat &c had no Jurisdiction Ia the case of
state Treasurer Boyer had been expected
almost from the beginning. Although
5he question whether the state treasurer
has or has not given reasonable cause"
Tor his dismissal by so dealing with the
public funds as to defeat the purposes of
the Sinking Fund law has nothing what
ever to do with partisan politics, yet 1t
was taken for granted that the Senators
Of Pennsylvania, having been elected be
cause of their partisanship, would act in
the matter as partisans, and they haze
the expectation. For
time after the investigation was
begun, the Senate conducted the
inquiry as though the majority intended
to act ia the matter free from partisan
bias and for the best interests of the
A serious inquiry was
made into the charges against Mr.
Boyer. These did not involve misappro-
prlation or misapplication Of public
funds for his personal aggrandizement,
but disregard of law In dealing with the
funds Of the commonwealth, as shown
by the anticipated payment Of 1920, 900 of
school funds to City Treasurer Bards-
lev, BY reason OF which anticipated pay
ment that sum Of money was embezzled,
and, as was also shown, by other efforts
% evade the provisions Of the Sinking
Fund law Of the Commonwealth, The
Senate did not consider the question Of
jurisdiction that has. been raised by
counsel for Messrs Boyer and McCamant
nntil the testimony in this case
had been taken. assuming that 1t
had such jurisdiction, but all Of this oc-
Cured before the day OF election. Argu
ment having been heard on the question
Of jurisdiction, and the election having
been passsd, the Senate was brought
face to face with the necessity OF passing
upon the question. There was @ disposi-
tion to delay the vote, so as to give at
least an appearance OF dellbsration to the
action about to be taken, but one impa-
tient member, who Is to be commended
for his frankness, called out Lets end
the thing now," plainly expressing his
opinion tthat the farce had reached its
last scene Other counsels prevailed.
however, and another day was given to
so-called argument before the partisan
vote was taken that would have been
cast on the first day of the session II
there had not been then pending an
election for auditor general and state
treasurer.
The Senate has not acted with fairness
or Justice TO the people of the common
wealth, or to M. Boyer, or to Mr. Nc
Camant. 1t has simply evaded duty i'm
posed npon 1t by the constitution of
1878, which clearly provided for the re
moval OF certain elected officers for ''rea
sonable cause, or address Of the Senate,
as wei! as for their removal by impsach.
ment for misdemeanor in office The
governor did his duty when he called the
Senate together in extra session he gave
that body the opportunity to exercise =
power conferred upon it by the constitu-
tlon; that It has shirksd the issue need
be no concern of the governor any
more than OF other law abiding citi-
zens Of the commonwealth, who are
shamed and disgrRced by the subserviency
of the Senate OF Pennsylvania to the
supposed demands Of partisan policy
II should be remembered In considering
this subject that, although the eases OF
BOYER and McCRmant aud the Mercantile
Appraisers have been linked together,
they are not properly associated, except
as to the question Of jurisdiction No
charges OF participation In the spoils OF
John Bardsley were made against
Treasurer Boyer in the message OF the
governor to the Senate or in the testi-
mony given before the Senate. Tne
charges against the treasurer were that
he had neglected to obey the law; had
permitted his cashier. the missing Mr..
Livsey, to conduct the Office in
manner preiudlcial to the inter
ests of the commonwealth and
had made payments TO BardsleY in sd
vance 80 as TO keep state funds out OF th,
sinking fund. These charges the Senate
investigated before determining that 1
bad no jurisdiction, but II made no in
/ vestigRtion of the much more serioul
charges against Auditor General Nc
/ CamRrt, who was alleged TO have share,
with John BRrdsley the profits Of illega
traflisking in state moneys. Auditor
| General McUamant escapes investigation
/ by the Senate under the resolution
adopted yesterday, and may be regarde,
az an injured man, for the charges, whicl
are personal, remain hanging over him
| So also with the mercantile appraisers
They were charged with conspiring t.
defrsud the commonwealth, aud they
are left without vindicati9n BY inquiry
the ruling that the Senate has no juris
diction being reached before their case
had been called up. II must be repeated
before the election the Senate mado
fair show OF disposition to carry ol
the inquiry in a non partisan spirit
since the election II has evaded It's duty
dropping not only the Boyer but th
other unventilated and more seriou
cases under a plea Of want Of III /.
dfction IL has after pretended IN
quiry, done its sharei In covering up
shameful scandal that "smells to Heaven
and cannot be smothered by all th
politicians in the State Of Pennsylvania
-Philadelphis Ledger.