Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-15
BOTH HELD GUILTY,
Boyer and McCamant Sternly
Arraigned in the Report
of the Minority.
THEIR DEFIANCE OF LAW
Was What Enabled BardSley to Steal
a Million and Half,
CRIMINAL COMPLICITY CHARGED.
Treasurer Boyer Made Responsible for Most
of the Big Loss.
THEIR DEFIANCE OF LAW
CRIMINAL COMPLETELY CHARGED.
Treasurer Boyer Made Responsible for Most
of the Big Loss.
MONEY GIVEN TO BARDSLEY ILLEGALLY

uONb1 Wv ~ DahDObb1
HARRISBURG, Oct. 14-Following is the
report of the minority committee that has
been investigating the State Treasury and
Auditor Generals department:
To HIS Excellency Robert Z, Pattison, Governor
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
SIR:-Tbe undersigned, members of the
joint committee appointed in pursuance of
resolution of January e. 1891, the duties
of which were extended and enlarged by
the resolution of May %, 1891, to investi-
gate the methods of conducting the busi-
ness of the State Treasury and department
of the Auditor General, dissent from
the report of the majority of said
committee and beg leave to report that
said committee has not, in their Judgment,
concluded its l8bors; and more especially
because of the abrupt manner in which the
proceedings have been discontinued, or
temporarily, if not permanently aban-
doned. 1t is the opinion of the undersigned
from the recent developments by the ex-
animation before the commi i'tee that a
more searching and exhaustive examina-
tion should be made, an examination that
should not be limited in any way whatever,
either as to individuals or time.
The conclusion of the majority of the
committee that report shall be made at
this time, was hastily reached and the un-
dersiCned had no notice of the fact until the
close of the meeting of the committee early
Tuesday morning. The volume of teSti-
monv already taken, most of which was in our
possession but a few hours will require a
reasonable time in order to make a salts
factory ANALYSIS of the same, and to deduct
fair, reasonable and proper conclusions
therefrom.
RATHER INDECENT HASTE.
1t is also proper to invite your attention
TO the fact that while the committee has
been in existence since January 26, 1891,
but comparatively few meetings have been
held, because of long and unnecessary ad-
iournments; and that the most important
facts developed have only been brought out
since the reconvening of the committee
after the adjournment of the Legislature.
In the iuC yment of the undersigners it is an
exhibition of indecent haste, and the con-
clusions reached must be necessarily such |
as 10 entitle them to little weight, conclu- |
siOns which also seek to pass upon the Off |
cial conduct of Thomas McCamant and |
Henry X. Bower, conclusions which are not |
warranted by the resolutions under which |
this committee are acting.
1t is not within the scope of the powers /
or duties delegated TO this committee to
pass upon the guilt or innocence of any one
now under investigation. The Senate of
PENNSYLVANIA in extraordinary session is
the grand inquest upon that subject; but as
the majority report touches upon that SUBJ
iect we deem ii our duty to call Your Ex-
cellency's attention to that which the evil
dence discloses, so that you may take such
official action as you may deem proper in
the premises.
REFORM IS NEEDED.
That the methods of conducting the bust
ness of the two offices under investigation |
should be reformed, there can be no doubt,
and we heartily coincide with all that is
suggested upon the subject by the majority
Of this committee; but we dissent from their
conclusion of facts gathered from the evil
dence so far as regards the official conduct
of Henry X. Boyer and Thomas McCamant,
and beg leave to call attention to the fact that
during the last few sittings of the committee
the Auditor General and State Treasurer
have been examined, especially with refer
ence to the relations of their offices to the |
collections of moneys for the Commonwealth
hy John Bardsley, late treasurer for the |
city and county of Philadelphia.
From their admissions it appears that
during his entire term no effort was made |
by either of these officials to enforce the
provisions of the act of Nav Z, 1882 requir-
ing quarterly payments and settlements for
State moneys collected by him. He was
permitted to retain in his hands enormous
amounts of money, of which he finally en-
bezzled more than 81 300, 900. Besides this
it appears from the admissions from the
Auditor General that acting in conjunction
with William Livsey, cashier of the State
Treasury, there was sent to John Bardsley, |
on December 81, 1880, $780, 200 of State
money, which be was not entitled under the
law TO receive, and which payment to him
was illegal and wholly without warrant or
justification, in view of the fact that the
Treasurer of Philadelphia was at that time
a defaulter TO the State in a large sum of
money, and known to be such by both of
these officials.
FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF LAW.
We regard this act as most fragrant vio-
lation of the law and of their oaths of office.
1t also appears By the admission of the
State Treasurer that at the same time, he
also, knowing Bsrdsley to be in arrears to
the State, procured school warrants amount
ing to S420, 900 to be drawn in favor of the
city of Philadelphia for the schools of that
city. which he conveyed personally to John
Bardsley, although the same was not due
and payable at that time.
The Stste Treasurer, who is also men, |
her of the Sinking Fund Commission, ad-
mits that this was done in violation of his
oath Of Office and of his duties Gs commits
the express purpose of eyading the law reg
ulatlng the State treasury and the sinking |
fund, of which fact the Auditor General
had knowledge, and 30 testified
II appears that none of this money was
paid BY Bsrdsley into the treasury of the
city of Philadelphia, and all of the same
was embezzled aud stolen, which loss to said
city was wholly due to the unlawful action
of the State Treasurer in payings these
moneys to John Bardsley; and it is no iusti-
fcation of their conduct because the loss of
$42G coo may fall upon the city and not
upon the State Gas stated in the majority
report) that said unlawful payment was
made.
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS.
The citizens of Philadelphia are a part of
this Commonwealth, and any conduct on the
part of an official which jeopardizes their
rights and interests is not only reprehensi-
ble but clearly an act of malfeasance Had
the laws governing these two departments
been faithfully executed by the present in
cumbents, no material loss could or would
have occurred.
In answer TO that portion of the majority
report which says: ''That both the Au-
ditor General and State Treasurer testified
that these sums of money were withheld by I
said John Bardsley against their re- !
pcated protests; and that they were !
cOnE:antly urging him by letter | q
and in personal interviews, to pay over the @
sums for which he was in arrears, a most :
complete answer 10 this allegation is found a
in the letter of Treasurer Boyer to John Z
Bardslcv, under date of December % 1890 a