The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-25
THE BARDSLEY CASE.
Newspaper Men Admit they Paid
Rebates for City Advertising.
A MERE MATTER OF BUSINESS, +"
In Which they Only Knew the Man
Bringing Them the Advertising and
Not neutrality-suspicious. That There
Was an Attempt to Bluff Wanna
maker, But 1t Failed.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July 24.-The
committee OF councils that is inQuiring
into ox-city treasurer John Bardsley's
malieasancc in office and the affairs OF
the wrecked Keystone National Bank
met this afternoon. A number OF wit
nesses have been subpGnaed, including
the presidents and cashiers OF the
banks that are alleged to have paid
interest to Bardsley on deposits OF
public money; editors and publishers
OF papers that are alleged to have paid
40 per cent rebate to Bardsley on public
advertising, and Auditor General
Thomas McCamant, who is alleged to
have received share OF the rebate.
Thomas McCamant, Auditor General
OF the State, who with Bardsley, had
had control OF the letting OF the adver-
tising of the mercantile appraisers list
to bG,published in four newspapers OF
Philadelphia, testified. The reports Of
the experts who examined Bardsley's
books recently showed that check had
apparently been sent TO Mr.. McCamant
for 81, ,l44 SO, being one-half OF the re-
bate Of 40 per cent on over S40,0 900 worth
of advertising paid by four newspapers
in 1890. Mr.. McCamant denied en-
phatically that he ever received direct.
ly or indirectly one penny Of this
money. He also denied that various
sums credited on the stubs OF Bardsley's
check book to "MG." had ever been re-
ceived by him: He stated that the ad-
vertising business had been transacted
through Captain II. NJ. Gratfin, who had
for q number OF years been employed in
the Auditor. Generals department, and
who had charge OF such matters, but
who is now dead.
Alter Mr.. NICCamant had left the
stand and room, Committeeman Etting
stated that Notwithstanding the Audi
tor Generals denial, it had been his (Et-
ting's) intention to examine him upon
certain documentary evidence i'll his
possession, but that upon advice from
the District Attorney that it would be
unwise to make public disclosure OF the
contents OF the documents at this time,
he had refrained from questioning the
witness. When the name of ex-State
Treasurer VIM. Livsey, who is alleged to
have received money from Bardsley,
was called, telegram was read
stating that because OF tho Sc
rious illness OF Mr.. Livsey's daughter,
in Milwaukee, that gentleman had to go
to that city. He says he will return as
soon as possible and requests the privi-
lege OF then appearing before the COM
mittee. ]. F. Singer, of the Fourth
National Bank, related Il conversation
with Marsh, the fugitive president OF
the Exchange Bank, in which Marsh
said he had tried to bluff Wanamaker,
but failed. Wanamaker refused to use
his influence to keep the bank open.
Clayton McNIichaels, OF the North
american, Roberts J. Cook, OF the Pres,
and other managers of papers, alleged
to have paid rebates on the mercantile
appraisers advertising lists, were sworn.
Their testimony was to the effect
that they could not get the advertising
without paying n commission OF 40 per
cent to the person bringing it to them,
and as they could print the matter and
make profit after paying the commits
sion they did so rs matter OF business.
None OF them had knowledge that the
commission was to so to either Bards.
ley or the auditor general. Mr.. Cook
admitted that Capt. GratIin was the
man who paid the commission. When
asked who got the commission in 1891,
Captain Gratfin having died in 1890, Mr..
Cook declined to reveal the name, say
ing that the person was not public
official and it would be unfair to make
his name public. The committee then
adjourned.