Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-14

altv to each county OF clIy OIL ali taxes Fe
naming unpaid on the second Monday o
November OF each year"
OF the moneys thus collected for the per.
sonal property tax of 1889 by John Bards
lev 1.-THE Commonwealth share amount
ing to $3.50, ,044 81, only 5000, 900 were paid
in before the second Monday in November.
The sum of 1924, 800 was paid in January,
$780, and the balance, S170,895, was retained
by John Bardsley for his own personal use
until November &c, 1890, more than yeal
after the same was due and payable to the
State, and several months after the collec-
tions for the ensuing year were in his hands.
This money of the Commonwealth was al
lowed to remain in his possession and under
his control, with the knowledge, consent
and permission of the Auditor General and
State Treasurer. No settlement OF the
same was ever transmitted to the Attorney
General for collection, no penalties nor in
terest were charged against John Bardsley
and no commissions were abated by reason
Of his default.
MANIPULATION OF TAXES.
OF the taxes collected for 1890, amount
ing to S7S5, 753 q, no portion was paid on
the first Monday of September nor on the
second Monday of November following On
December 81, 1890, $3.50, 900 were remitted to
the Commonwealth by John Bardsley, but
on the same day this was returned to him
by the fiscal and auditing officers of the
State. On January 49, 1891, it was again
paid into the State Treasury by Bardsley,
and after that time no portion of the per-
sonal property taxes collected for 1890 were
paid into the State Treasury, and s632, ,012 II
of public moneys have, on this account, been
embezzled, stolen and lost.
Among the papers of John Bardsley is
found a letter from the State Treasurer,
Henry X. Boyer, dated Harrisburg, Decem-
Der 49, 1890, in which that official says: 81
find l can get along without money this
month from you;" Bardsley having in his
hands at that time, of State moneys, 81, ,456,-
75S 06, nearly all of which had been col
lected by him prior to August 1, 1890, and
most of which has been embezzled. stolen
and lost In letter dated November "a,
1890, Auditor General Thomas McCamant
advises John Bardsley to ''allow the city
share of the 1890 tax" to remain in his hands
until December.
From the beginning of the year 1891 until
he quit his Office, John Bardsley collected
for the Commonwealth, of personal property
taxes, S2S9, 232 SO, no part of which was
paid by him into the State Treasury, and
most of which has been embezzled, stolen
and lost.
1861, ,604 IS LICENSE MONEY STOLEN.
Of the license moneys collected by Bards-
ley for the Commonwealth in 1889, amount
ing to $572, ,339 36, most of which was col
lected before July l, 1889, he was permitted
to retain in his possession and for his own
private use for more than a year, S237 ,078 49,
for which no settlement against him was
ever transmitted to the Attorney General
for collection, no interest or penalties were
imposed upon him and there was no abate-
ment of his commission for his default.
Of the S627, ,604 Is collected by him on the
same account for the year 1890, most of
which was paid to him before June 1, 1890,
he was permitted by the fiscal and auditing
authorities to retain the whole amount in
his hands until February 27, 1891, when he
made payment of S100, 900 and on March
13, 1891, of S160, 900, leaving a balance of
1861, ,604 IS of the Commemorative money,
for all of which he was indebted to it at the
time of his imprisonment; and for no part
of which, except by the $4,000 bond, is
the Commonwealth secured.
During so much of the year 1891 as John
Bardsley was in the exercise of the duties
of the office of city treasurer, of the moneys
he collected for licenses, he claims a credit
of the greater part for expenses and fees of
mercantile appraisements.
S9O,61 63 LOANS TAX EMBEzzLED.
For the tax on municipal loans payable
from the city to the State, John Bardsley
received from the city of Philadelphia, on
June 26, 1880, $40, $50 40, and on December
3d. 1889, S39, ,524 II, making total of $780,
103 II, which he was permitted to retain in
his own hands and for his own personal use
until September 30, 1890, when it was paid |
over.
On June 6, 1890, he received from the |
city of Philadelphia, for like purposes,
I'd h.
ceived $43, 167 70, making total of $90- |
612 63, all ofwhich he was allowed to retain |
for his own personal use, all of which he /
embezzled, and no portion of which was |
ever paid into the State Treasury.
In all the foregoing instances it appears |
from the testimony of Messrs. BOYER and |
McCamant that neither of them made any |
attempt to enforce any of the provisions of |
the act of May Z, 1889, to which, as follows,
now direct your particular attention:
THE LAW NOT ENFORCED.
An act providing for quarterly returns and
payments by county and city officers, of
moneys received by them for the use of
the Commonwealth.
Section BE it enacted etc., That on the
first Monday of July next and quarterly
it shall be the duty of each
county and city officer to render to the Au-
oath or affirmation, quarterly returns of all
moneys received for the use of the Com |
mon wealth, designating under proper heads;
the sources from which said moneys were
received, and to pay the said moneys into
the State Treasury.
Section 2-Apy officer who shall refuse or
neglect for the period of 80 days, after the
same shall become due, to make any return
or payment as required by the preceding
section of this act, shall forfeit his fees and
on the whole amount of money
during the quarter, and shall be
subject to penalty of 10 per centum, which
shall be added to the amount of the tax
found due.
Section 3-The State Treasurer and Au-
ditor General, or either of them or any agent
appointed by them or either of them, are
hereby authorized to examine the books
and accounts ofa any county or city officer
who shall refuse or neglect to make any re-
turn required by the first section of this act, !
and upon information obtained from such |
examination the Auditor General and State |
Treasurer shall settle an account such Off
GER in the usual manner for the settlement
Of public accounts, and in the settlement of
said accounts shall add, not to exceed 80 per
centum, to the amount of the tax to provide |
FOR any losses which might otherwise result |
20 the Commonwealth, from neglect or re-
'usal of the said officer to furnish the re-
urn.
Section 4-If the amount of any account
settled in accordance with the preceding
section of this act, shall not be paid in to
The State treasury within Is days from the ,
late of said account, then the same shall be
placed in hands of the Attorney General for
collection and shall bear interest from Is
lays after date of settlement, at the rate of
3 per centum per annum, and if the Auditor
General and State Treasurer, or either of
hem, shall deem it conducive to the public :
interest to proceed Immediately upon said
ccount against the sureties of the said ]