The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-10-21
M,cAMANT AND soYER BEFORE
THE SENATE.
Frank Answers TO pattison's Aeou-
sations-

party into great difficulties. This Was sp- |
parent to-day when the Senate met and The |
question Of the payment Of expenses was
touched on. The early hours Of the Senate
were devoted to passing aresolution asking
the Governor TO present for the information
Of the Senate the evidences obtained by the
Legislative Committee which recently inves-
tigated the State Treasury and the Auditor
Generals Department. This was not done
without the usual tilt bssween the two par
ties, the Republicans maintaining that il was
a waste Of time to go over this evidences. as
it was not relevant Senator Ross, Demo-
cTat, disputed this, and intimated that
the msjority was afraid Of the evidence
Senator Goblin retorted that the Republicans
were there to give months to fairness and
justice, but not one hour to dilatory meas
ures proposed for partisan purposes. Mr..
Goblin, however, subsequently Withdrew his
objection. and on his motion the word 81 in
fornstion was substituted for considera-
tion,' and the resolution was then adopted.
A snbp9na was ordered to be issued for
William LFsey. the missing eshshier, Of the
State Treasury. The Senate then proceeded,
on motion of Mr.. Goblin, TO the investigs-
ton. State Treasurer Boyer and Auditor
General McCamAnt were both present with
their counsel, who read sworn statements Of
their clients denying the Governors juris-
diction in the matter, and insisting that they
had not in any way been guilty Of misbeha-
vior or misconduct in Office. MrMcCamant's
statement also showed that the State viii
lose little, il any money by the Bardsley
defalcaiion. II was at this point that the
question of finances srose. The Committee
on Finance reported that Attorney General
Hensel had given as his opinion that the
Senate had the power, under the constitu-
ton, to incur expenses incidental to the ses-
sion. This opinion was questioned vigor-
ously, and characterized as poor law.
When the Senate reassembled this after
noon the Attorney General submitted writ
ten opinion to the effect that the constitu-
ton provided for the payment Of extra ses-
sion expenses, and that he would so advise
the State Treasurer. There was long de-
bate as 10 whether the Attorney General
should conduct the investigation. or assist,
and the matter was not settled when Senator
Flynn moved to proceed to the examination
Of Auditor General McCsmant. This brought
the Attorney General to his feet, and he said
he was willing to render any assistance that
would not conflict with his duty as legal
adviser to the Governor. He suggested that
l a oor fara,ra ba bald hat.ra.-, tba coureaI
Mr.. Shspely, OF the defense. agreed to this.
but wanted full and expeditions hearing
The Senate then appointed Senators Goblin,
and Herring committee to assist in the
consultation relating TO evidence and ad-
journed to meet next Monday afternoon.
AUDuoR GESEEAL N'cAxAsr's ASsvER
At Thursday afternoons session Of the
Senate the answers Of Auditor General Nc
Camant and State Treasurer Boyer to the
charges brough against them by the Govern
or were read by counsel.
Auditor General HcCsmant protests that
the Governor had no authority, under the
law for convening the Senate for the pur-
pose named, and alleges that he was lawful
ly elected and commissioned Auditor Gener-
81 Of the Commonwealth, and that by vir-
tue Of said authority be has been duly
rightfnlly and lawfully exercising and per
forming the duties Of said Office He then
goes on 70 say (:
1 expressly deny each and every charge
of official misbehsTior in said proclamation
and said message alleged against me, vheih-
er the same be stated expressly or by way
of inference, argument or suggestion and
also expressly deny each and every state
ment, matter, and thing in said proclana-
ton and message contained, in so far as 1t,
they, or any of them are set forth as suffi-
Gent grounds 10 warrant the conclusion that
l have ever been in any way guilty of any
misconduct nisbshsvior, or msladminis-
tration in my said Office, or Of any act which
would be sufficient cause Of my removal
from said Office in any form of proceeding
authorized by the Constitution and laws Of
this Commonwealth !; and in this connection
I expressly aver that have always dischsrg-
ed all the duties Of my Office honestly and
70 the best Of my ability and further ex-
pressly aver that have always acted, in all
my Official acts, in obedience to the laws Of
this Commonwealth as I understood them,
and as far as il was possible so to d. in yieu
Of the defective conditisn Of existing laws
relative TO Slate taxes and the collection and
return Of the same and that all my said
Official acts in reference TO the settlement Of
accounts against county treasurers. and es-
pecially against the late treasurer Of Phila-
delphia county. which acts are now alleged
in said proclamation and in said message to
have been illegal, were in conformity with
the Law as it was understood and interpreted
| by me and my predecessors for many years
back, and in conformity with the long cstab-
lished usage Of the Auditor Generals depart
ment, which said usage, although it must be
presumed to have been for many years well :
known to the Executive Department, which
Is especially charged by the Con stitution TO
" take care that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted, has never before been made the sub
ject Of executive sHimadversion during the
administration Of my predecessors, or dur
ing my own administration, until many
months after it was made publicly known
that John Bsrdsley. ex-Treasurer Of Pbils-
delphis had been nnlsFfully using public
money. ef 3a rcra
WOULD PREFKE 10 m IxPEkcHKs.
lam advised By my coqasel, and ! there
iors respectfully suggest that, as the charges
preferred against me in said executive
proclamation and in said message are e1clu-
sively charges Of official crimes and misde-
msanors based upon alleged acts OF official
misconduct, ] would be clearly liable, IL said
charges can be proved to be true, TO impeach-
nsnt therefor, in the manner prescribed
by the Constitution, and would also
be clearly liable TO prosecution and
conyiciicn according TO the law In the
courts Of thls Stale. and that the present At
tempt TO remove me from said Office in the
present. fern Of proceeding before yeur hon.
orahls body snd the Chief ExecutiSe upon
charges ofimpeschsble onenses. is in sub
stance and effect 40 attemp, to inpeach me
in manner expressly forbidden By the Con-
siitution and TO try me before tribunal for
which there is no warrsnt or authority un-
der the Constitution or under any law Of
this Commoowsalfh. Although Section Of
this bill Of rights expressly declares that
: Trial By jury shah be ss heretofore and
The right remain inviolzie," aud although
Section Of said bill Of rights further de-