The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-15
THE SUSPECTED OFFICIALS.
Views OF the Democratic Members OF th<
Pennsylvania Investigating Committee.

| Views OF the Democratic Members OF the
Pennsylvsnia Investigating Committee.
HARRISBURG. PA, Oct. 4.-Messrs. Fow and
! Skinner. two of three minority members OF
the legislative investigating committee that
has been engaged in examining into the sf-
fairs of the Auditor G. eneral and State Treas
urers office. filed with Governor Pattison to-
day their protest against the preliminary re-
port or the majority OF the committee filed
yesterday.
Senator Manghan, the other minority men,
Der, did not sign the report because he is Q
member OF the Senate and will now be called
upon TO pass upon the facts III the present ex-
animation of the two Offices by that BODY.
Messrs. Skinner and fow dissent from the re-
port of the majority for the reason that the
committee has not. IN their judgment. con-
cluded It's labors. and more esq specially because
OF the abrupt manner IN which the proceedings
have been discontinued: that more searching
and exhaustive examination should be made
without limit as to individual or time; that
insufficient time was allowed by the majority
TO make a satisfactory analysis OF the evidence
and deduce fair. reasonable and proper con-
clusiOns tneretrom that there have been long
and unnecessary ad ournments of the COM
mlttee and that important facts have
but recently been developed that 1t ID
an exhibition of indecent haste and the con-
cuslon will be entitled to little weight that
the conclusions regarding the official conduct
of state Treasurer Boyer and Audltor-General
McCamant are not warranted by the resolu-
tlons under which the committee is acting;
that it is not within the scope of the commit
tee TO pass upon the guilt OF innocence OF any
one now under investigation. but the majority
have touched upon that subject and the
minority calls the Governors attention to that
which the evidence discloses
IL is cOntended by the minority that tho
methods OF conducting the business OF the
two offices under investigation should be re-
formed and in the suggestions of the mi
nority on this subject they coincide; that
the State Treasurer aud Auitor-Gen-
eral have been derelict in falling TO re-
quire quarterly payments and state
ments for State moneys collected by John
Rardsley, ex-cty treasurer of Phladelphia;
that the payment TO Bardsley OF sl5O,00 on
December 81, 1850. was illegal and, we think,
without justification in view Of the fact that
he was detauter to the State that the act
of the State Treasurer in paying the school
warrant of S420, 900 before 1t was due and pay
able. making it possible for Bardsley 20 SzAs
bezze the same was reprehensible, that had
the laws been faithfully executed no ma
terial loss could have occurred that the
answer to the majority statement that Bards-
ley withheld the States money, notwith-
standing the repeated protests OF the two
officials is found in the letter of the State
treasurer to Bardsley. dated December 20,
1890 stating that he could get along without
any money from Bardsey in that month.
in conclusion tie minority declare that the
Auditor eneraPs conduct of the system OF
mercantile appraisements has been grossly in
and that the act OF May 1883, for
the correction Of such abuses has been totally
ignored by both the Auditor-General aud
state Treasurer.