Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-15
PHILADELPHIA MATTERS.

A letter endorsing the candidacy of
William Redwood Wright for city treas
urer, signed by 124 prominent gentlemen
all but 10 Of whom are Republicans, was
made public Friday.
John G. s Beck. leader of Beck's Band,
secured divorce from his wife Friday on
the ground of desertion. His wife bitterly
opposed the divorce, and the case has been
pending for more than year.
Governor Pattison has prepared O very
long message to the Senate, which has
been called in extra session and is to meet
on Tuesday. 1t IS reported that he has
surprises In store for the big Republican
politicians.
C. A. spreckels, Rudolph Spreckels and
Louis Spreckcls, with some others, have
organized the Spreckels Steamship Com
pany. For the present it will charter or
buy steamships, but may ultimately build
its own vessels. The Spreckels now run
two steamers month to Hamburg, and
expect to increase that business.
The citizens committee of fifty Fri
day resolved to appoint committee of
three to investigate newspaper charges
that policemen and other employees of the
city government have been assessed for
political purposes. The committee also
recorded the hearty approval of the pro-
posed boulevard from the city hall to the
park.
The Republicans have given neat turn
to the scandal respecting city treasurer's
fees by getting some delinquent mercantile
taxpayers to appeal their cases, on the
ground that City Treasurer Wright is ex-
acting Illegal fees. The laws are very
much mixed on the subject of procedure
and fees. Mr.. Wright has had legal advice
as to how to proceed, but it is easy to get
legal opinions the other way. It will not
be possible to get a binding decision before
election, and in the meantime the Repub-
lican papers can allege with some faint
show Of FEASIBILITY that Wright, who is a
candidate, has been trying to extort Illegal
fees. One of the curiosities of politics is
that Charles w. Henry, who is one of
Wright's sureties, has come out in card
against his election. This action is offset
BY President Reeves, of the Independent
Republicans, who has declared for Wright
against MeCreary. The indications are
that party lines will be largely obliterated.
The subcommittee on Investigation of
city councils finance committee Friday
resumed its inquiry into the affairs of
John Bardsley as city treasurer. District
Attorney Graham explained that certain
letters from the state treasurer to Bardsley
had not been made public at the request of
the encouragement. Ex-Mayor Filter, ex-
Controller Dechert and Thomas Cochran,
who were sinking fund commissioners,
testified in relation to the sale of the state
loans held by the commissioners. The
final report Of the mayors experts was
presented, but not read, Messrs. Helms and
Whclen the experts in employ of the sub
committee, also submitted their report on
the examination of the books of the Key
stone National Bank for the two years be-
ginning January I'd, 1883, the date on
which Bardsley entered upon his duties as
city treasurer The experts say that they
have been unable to discover evidence that
any considerable portion Of the S945, 900
received from Bardslcy, for which the due
bills Of the bank were issued, was returned
stantially the whole amount was used in
paying the depositors whose Withdrawals
during the year 1890 eliminated In the
run in the early part of December of that
bank