Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-11-19

jOurneu laSt week:
! The action of the State Senate in de-
claring by strict party vote that it had
no jurisdiction in the case of State Treas
urer Boyer had been expected almost
from the beginning. Although the ques-
ton whether the State Treasurer has or
has not given reasonable cause" for his
dismissal by so dealing with the public
funds as to defeat the purposes of the
Sinking Fund law has nothing whatever
to do with partisan politics, yet it 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 have
fulflled the expectation. For time
after the investigation was begun, the
Senate conducted the inquiry as though
the majority intended to act in the
matter free from partisan bias and for
the best interests of the Commonwealth.
A serious inquiry was made into the
charges against Mr.. Boyer. These did
not involve misappropriation or mis-
application of public funds for his
personal aggrandizement, but disregard
of law in dealing with the funds OF the
Commonwealth, as shown by the antici-
pated payment Of $4,000 of school
funds to City Treasurer Bardsley, by
reason of which anticipated payment
that sum of money was embezzled, and,
as was also shown, by other efforts to
evade the provisions of the Sinking Fund
law of the Commonwealth. The Senate
did not consider the question of iurisdic-
ton that had been raised by counsel for
Messrs. Boyer and McCamant until the
| testimony in this case had been taken,
assuming that it had such jurisdiction,
but all this occurred before the day of
election. Argument having been heard
on the question of jurisdiction, and the
election having been passed, the Senate
was brought face to face with the
necessity of passing upon the question.
There was a disposition to delay the
vote, so as to give at least an appearance
of deliberation to the action about to be
taken, but one impatient member who
| is to be commended for his frankness
called out "let's end the thing now,"
plainly expressing his opinion that 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 if 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, to Mr. Boyer or to Mr.. Mccain
ant, 1t has simply evaded duty i'm.
posed upon it by the Constitution OF
1873, which clearly provided for the re.
moval of certain elected officers for 'rea-
| sonable cause" on address of the Senate,
as well as for their removal by impeach-
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 exer.
else a power conferred upon it by the
Constitution; that it has shirked the is
sue need be no concern of the Governor
any more than of other law-abiding citi-
zens of the Commonwealth, who are
shamed and disgraced by the subservi-
ency of the Senate of Pennsylvania to
the supposed demands of partisan policy.
1t should be remembered in consider.
ing this subject that, although the cases
of Boyer and McCamant and the Mer.
camille Appraisers have been linked to
gether, 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. The
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
preiudicial to the interests of the Com.
monwealth, and had made payments tc
! Bardsley in advance so as to keep State
funds out of the Sinking Fund. These
charges the Senate investigated before
determining that it had no jurisdiction,
but it made no investigation Of the much
more serious charges against Auditor
have shared with John Bardsley the
profits of illegal trafficking with State
moneys. Auditor General McCamant
escapes investigation by the Senate
under the resolution adopted, and may
be regarded as an injured man, for the
charges, which are personal, remain
hanging over him. So also with the
Mercantile Appraisers. Theywere charg-
ed with conspiring to defraud the Com
monwealth, and they are left without a
vindication by inquiry, the ruling that
the Senate has no jurisdiction being
reached before their cases had been
, called up. 1t must be epeated-before
} the election the Senate made fair show
of a disposition to carry on the inquiry
in a non-partsan spirit; since the elec
tion it has evaded its duty, dropping no
only the Boyer but the other unventi
lated and more serious cases under a plei
of want of jurisdiction. 1t has, after
pretended inouirv. done its share in GOV