Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-14
NO SENATE CAUCUS.
Continued from ,JirSt page.

OV'tSene" JfV"e Jdot puyc
there is no means provided by existing laws
to enable the Auditor General and State
| Treasurer to ascertain what amount of
money had actually been collected by said
| treasurers until after they had made their
annual statement at the end of each year.
| Upon these subjects the committee refers
more particularly to the testimony OF the
Auditor General and State Treasurer; and
these alleged defects in existing laws Will be
treated more fully by the committee in Its
| final report, accompanied by such recon-
mendations as it can make with view TO
remedying these defects.
The evidence further shows that after
settlement by the Auditor General and
State Treasurer of the taxes on personal
property, due by the county of Philadeiphla
for the year 1890 and while John Bardsley
was largely in arrears, he paio into the STATE
Treasury $l51 900 on account of the tax on
personal property due from the county 10
the State for the year 1890 and requested, as
an accommodation to the city, by reason or
its need of money, resulting from the string
ency of the money market consequent upon
the recent panic, that the sum should be re-
tured to the city on account of its share OF
one-third of the tax, to which it was entitled
under section 16 of the act of June l. leS9
This request was granted, and the sum was
accordingly returned to said cityin payment
ofthe one-third tax to which it was entitled
Had No Right to Pay 1t.
1t appears that this sum was not embez-
zled by him, but that it was turned over TO
said county. Although the State, therefore,
did not lose anything thereby; the commit
tee is of opinion that under the law the Au-
ditor General and State Treasurer had no
right to pay over the sum to the county un-
til it had paid into the State treasury the
full amount of the personal property tax for
which it was liable for said year. and that
until this was done the county had no legal
right to demand or receive any part OF the
one-third of said tax which the law required
to be returned to it.
The evidence further shows that at the
close of the year 1890 the State Treasurer,
finding that the balance in his hands be-
longing to the general fund would amount
to about 50 100000. OF which amount about
S420, 900 would, under the "Humes Act" be re-
quired to be paid into the sinking fund, and
in order to avoid the necessity of turning
over the sum to the sinking fund, and to
make it available for the general fund, on
December 81, 1890, paid three warrants
amounting to $42C 000 drawn upon the State
Treasurer by the Superintendent of Public |
instruction on account of the appropriation
for the schools of Philadelphia county for
the school year ending June j, 1891, which |
appropriation was not by law available un-
til after the end of said school year. Mr.. |
Boyer testified that in taking this course he |
relied upon the assurance of the cashier, |
Nh LiYsey, formerly State Treasurer, that |
the money could be lawfully pa1d TO the |
city on account of said appropriation before |
the end of the school year, and that it had |
often been done before, and that he believed |
the State by endeaVoring to keep the gen |
eral fund sufficiently large to pay all appro- |
pTiatiOnS that would be made at the next |
session of the Legislature, so that none of |
the States warrants should be dishonored.
But BardsIey Bagged the Doodle.
This money appears to have been subse- |
quently embezzled by Bardsley, but as it |
was payment made to and received by the |
treasurer OF the city on account of the |
school appropriation, the loss falls upon the |
city and not upon the State. The Legisla-
ture at its last session found It necessary to
repeal the "Humes actn because it was
found to result, if strictly followed in I'M
wisely, reducing the general fund by pay
ing money into the sinking fund where it
was not needed, said fund being already am
ply provided for by law.
The evidence shows that the apparent loss
to the State by the embeZZlement of said
John Bardsley amounts to $50 030 so of tax
on municipal loans, $367, ,GO4 Is of license
money and S4720l3 IL of tax on personal
The actual loss, however, will be
less As to the tax on personal
one third If this amount OF $l06,
9}7 90, actually belonged to the city, ana a
suit is now pending by the State against the
city to recover the whole of this balance,
the State authorities contenQing that the
county of Philadelphia is legally bound to
pay the whole sum to the State.
The State authorities are also seeking to
recover back from the keystone Bank and
other parties the moneys collected by said
from licenses and tax on muni-
cipal loans and in addition the State has
bond of $l20, 900 to secure the same.
The Situation Demands Prompt Correction.
In conclusion from the evidence already
taken the committee is of the opinion that
the customs which have prevailed in the
State Treasury and Auditor Generals office
for many years and under many admistra-
of not compelling county treasurers to make
returns and payments at the time specified
by law, whether the same be not due to de-
fects in existing laws is one that demands
prompt correction and a thorough revision
of the laws on this subject so to compel
the State authorities to enforce the law, and
making it crime for County Treasurer to
fail to make returns and payments within
the time prescribed by law. With regard to
the present system of depositing State funds
the committee is of the opinion that the
laws relating to the same should be speedily
changed, as the system has long outlived its
usefulness, and that a law should be passed
directing the Governor Auditor General and
State Treasurer to jointly designate the de-
positories. and no depository shall receive
deposit of State funds unless said bank shall
deposit with the State Treasurer either
State, county or CITY bonds equal
in amount of said deposit.
The committee is further of the opinion
that the present laws which make no proper
provision fer the transactions of the Auditor
Generals department and provides no Suf-
icient check on the management of the
same, shall be changed so as to authorize
the Governor at any time to appoint COM
ment of said department and of all other
State departments, and provide for the pay
ment of said experts.