Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-02
RANKFRAUDCHARGED
Against the Mercantile Appraisers
of the Quaker City.
A DEMAND FOR THEIR REMOVAL.
Treasurer Wright Alleges q Systematic
Scheme of Swindling.
PECULIAR METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
rsrrc1A1 rr1EGnAM TO TIE prsrArcH.i

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.f
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. City Treasurer
Wright to-day took another and highly i'm
portsnt step looking to the correction of the
gross abuses he has found to have been con-
neeted with the collection of the mercantile
taxes. On July 80 Mr.. Wright addressed
letter to Auditor Genarel McCamant, in
which he informed him of the illegal meth
ods that had been employed by the mercan-
tile appraisers and suggested heroic RENE
dies. As that letter has not yet been an
swered the Treasurer, late Monday after
noon, mailed a communication charging the
appraisers with deliberate fraud, and re-
Questing the Auditor General to join with
him in dismlssing the offending officials
from Office. The letter is as follows:
DEAR SR-On July 80 / had the honor to
address you upon the subject of the 1rregu-
lar, improper and illegal practices existing
in Connection with the administration of the
present Board of Mercantile Appraisers, ap-
pointed by yourself and John Bardsley, late
Treasurer of the city of Philadelphia The
facts of which was then aware fully Justl-
lied my letter Of complaint.
CHARGED WITH CRIME.
Subsequent investigations, which 1 have
conducted with care, warrants my charging
ouly of dereliction Of duty, butof what may
well be considered criminal misconduct, so
gross to justify my now stating that it
would be unfair and unjust to the public TO
permit them to longer continue in office.
The additional evidence of which am pos
sessed 1 will be pleased to submit to you in
detail at any time. 1t discloses.
First-That the appraisers have regularly
and deliberately, for the purpose of defraud-
ing the State, assessed fictitious persons and
those from whom no payment of mercantile
taxes was, or could be, exacted.
Second-That they have regularly ex-
who were subject to and perfectly able to
pay it.
Third-That they have grossly under-rated
many hundreds of prominent merchan Is and
dealers for purposes best known to them
selves.
Fourth-That they sent out notices of
assessment placing certain taxpayers in a
high class, while they have returned them
TO this department. assessed in a lower class,
thus enabling third parties to collect from
the taxpa, ers the larger sum, while the
treasury, and the State was defrauded of the
difference.
Fifth-That their plans as to reductions
and exemptions has been a systematic
scheme OF swindling which has resulted in
variably in oppression to the citizen, in loss
to the State and in Generalization to the
community.
POWER OF THE ACT.
The act of Assembly, approved April Is,
ISIS, and generally known as the recorders
act, gave the power of appointment of the
mercantile appraisers to the State Treas
urer and the Recorder of Philadelphia. In
case of misbehavioror or misconduct the right
TO remove the appraisers was vested in the
Recorder. In 1883 the Recorders act was re-
pealed, and in 1857, by act of April 90 the
power to appoint appraisers wasvested in the
Auditor General and City Treasurer. Moth
ing was said in this act about the right to
remove 1t does not seem unreasonable to
suppose that it was intended that the City
Treasurer, who took the place of the Re-
cOrder, should possess the power formerly
enjoyed by the latter; yet, the authority not
being expressly given to the City Treasurer
alone to remove, it may be somewhat doubt
ful whether he possesses that right.
However, as the Auditor General and the
City Treasurer constitute the appointing
power under the present law, upon princi-
pie and authority, there can be no doubt
that Jointly they possess the right to remove
the appraisers for misconduct.
now ask you in behalf of the State and
OF the public whose interests we are both
sworn TO protect, to join with me in dismiss
ing from office, Edward W. Patton, Albert
Crawford, samuel F. Houseman, Harry Hun
ter and James p Bell constituting the pres
ent Board of Mercantile Appraisers of ana
for the city and county of Philadelphia.
Awaiting : our reply, am, yours respect
fully,
W. r. WRIGHT, City Treasurer.