The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-02
A Proclamation.

HARRISBURG, Sept. 21.-FollowIng is
Governor PattiSon proclamation, issued
notwithstanding calling the Senate in ex-
ira session to consider the evidence against
Auditor General McCamant and State
Treasurer Boyer, in connection with the
Bartlsley case, with a view of their inn
peachment:
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, The constitution provides,
in article s, section 4, that All officers
elected 10y the people except Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, members of the
General Assembly and judges of the courts
of record, learned in the law, shall be
removed by the Governor for responsible
cause after due notice and full hearing,
ON the address of two-thirds of the Sen
ate;
Whereas, grave charges have been
preferred involving the Auditor Gener-
al and State Treasurer and most seriously
rejecting upon the manner in which
their official duties have been perform
ed;
Whereas, 1t is proper that diligent
inquiry should be made to ascertain
whether or not reasonable cause does
exist for their removal;
Whereas, There Is in the public mind
a profound conviction that the officials
referred to, and some of their subordin-
ate, have been grossly inefficient,
shamefully negligent, and entirely want
ing in due fidelity;
''Whereas, 1t is the prevailing opinion
that some of the officials connected with
these offices have been guilty of absolute
faithleSSness and downright dishonesty
in violation of their oaths of office, and
of the criminal laws of the Common
wealth;
Whereas, If any one of the charges
so made should be established, appropri-
ate action looking to the removal of the
officials involved should be taken by the
Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania, as a duty to the people of the
State whose good name has been dis
honored and whose money has been
stolen, squandered and lost;
'Whereas, John Bardsley. late treas
urer of the city and county of Philadel-
phia, is now convict in the Eastern
penitentiary for embezzlement and mis-
use of public moneys, large portion OF
which would have been in the state
treasury long prior TO exposure of his
transactions had those charged with the
administrator of the duties of Auditor
! General and State Treasurer performed
( them with due fidelity.
Whereas, John Bardsley's stubborn
refusal to disclose any information what
ever as to the conduct of these officials
has compelled the abandonment of pro-
prosed criminal prosecutions at least for
time;
''Whereas, \ proper inquiry by tn,
Senate may develop evidence sufficient
to satisfy its members that reasonable
cause exists for the removal of the
Auditor General and State Treasurer
and,
''Whereas, Under the constitution the
/ duty and responsibility of making dill
! gent inquiry and of taking appropriate
action in the premises are devolved upor
the Senate and the power vested in the
/ executive to give the Senate the oppor
/ tunity to act,
! ''Now, therefore, /, Robert f Patti
/ son, Governor of said Commonwealth,
| in the discharge of what / conceive to bc
/ my duty to take care that the laws bt
| faithfully executed, and by virtue of the
/ power vested in me by the constitution
/ 'to convene the Senate in extraordinary
( session by proclamation for the transac
ton of executive business hereby con.
vene the Senate of the Commonwealth
! of Pennsylvania, in extraordinary ses-
! sion, on Tuesday, the 18th day of Octo-
Der, Ammo Domini 1891.
"Given under my hand and the great
seal of the State, at the city of Harris
burg, this twenty-sixth day of Septem,
ber, in the year of our Lord, one thou
sand eight hundred and ninety-one
and of the Commonwealth one hun.
dred and sixteenth.
by the Governor:
''RoBERI f. PATTIsON.
civilian F. HARRITY, Secretary of the
Commonwealth"