The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-25
BARDsLEY's MALFEAsANCE.
The Councils Committee to Make the
Dry Bones Rattle.

PHILADELPHIA. PA, July 24-The COM
mtttee of the councils that is inquiring into
City Treasurer John Bardsley's malfeassuce
In office and the affairs Of the wrecked
Keystone National Bank met this afternoon.
A number Of witnesses had been
subpOeneed including the presidents and
cashiers of the banks that are alleged to
have paid interest to Treasurer Bardsley on
the deposits of public money; the editors
aud publishers of papers that are alleged Co
have paid 40 per cent rebate to Treasurer
Bardsley on public advertising, and Auditor
General Thomas McCannant, who is alleged
to have received q share of the rebate. A let
ter from District Attorney Graham
was read, suggesting that the bank
officials be not examined, for the reason
that they have already testified, and that
an examination of them at this time might
interfere with any action that might be
taken against them in the future. After
considerable dlicu sion the bank officials
were excused for the present.
M'CANSANT CALLED.
Thomas McCapuant, auditor general of
the state, who. with Bardsley, had control
of the letting of the advertising of the mer-
camille appraisers list, to be published in
four newspapers OF Philadelphia, testified.
The reports of the experts who examined
Bardsley's books recently showed that
check had apparently been
sant to MoCannant for $7,144, being
one-helf of the rebate of 20 per cent. on over
$4,000 worth Of advertising paid four
newspapers in 1890. Mr. McCannant denied
emphatioally that he ever received, directly
or indirectly, one penny of this money He
also denied that various sums credited
on stubs of Bardsley's check book
to mo" had ever been received by him.
He stated that the advertising business had
been transacted through Capt. II. M
been employed in the auditor generals de-
partment and who had charge Of such
matters
PAYING UP POLITICAL DEBTS.
The witness had reason to believe that
the rebate was paid for the reason that
Capt. Graffin had intimated to him that GER
tain political debts had to be paid, and that
they were settled in this way. He also under
stood that the newspapers that did not
get advertising were taken care Of by those
that got it. Capt. Gratfin died in 1890 and
McCannant expressed his sorrow that he
was not alive now so that he could himself
explain his connection with the unpleasant
business.
NEWSPAPER MEN CALLED.
Clayton McMichael of the North Ameri-
can, Robert ]. Cooke Of the Press. William
F. McCully of the Bulletin, Edward Morttz
Of the German Democrat, and James Ell
verson of the Inquirer, proprietors or
managers of the papers alleged to have paid
rebates on the mercantile appraisers list
advertising, were sworn with the excep-
tion of the last named gentleman, who was
to i'll to appear and sent an affidavit instead.
Their testimony was to the effect that they
could not get advertising without paying a
commission of 40 per cent. to the person
bringing 1t to them, and as they could print
the matter and make profit after paying
the commission, they did so as a matter
of business. None of them had
knowledge that the commission was
to go to either Bardsley or the auditor gen
eral. Mr. McMichael declined TO give
the name of the person who acted
as agent, saying he was not a pub
lie official and he considered it pri-
vate matter. Mr.. Cooke admitted that Capt.
Graffln was the man to whom he had paid a
commission. When asked who gave the
commission in 1891, Capt. Graff1n having
died in 1890, Mr.. Cooke declined to reveal
the name, saying that the person was not a
public official. and it would be unfair to
make his name public. Mr.. McCully also
acknowledged that Capt. Graffin was the
man to whom he had paid commission.