Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-10-16
HARRISBURG.

of the City OF Philadelphia, ior coliuP'
management of their offices, and naming
a dozen accused of fraud in the collection
of taxes.
The Legislative Investigating Committee
appointed Messrs Flynn, Fow and Stewart
to prepare their report.
THE EXTRA SESSION.
At noon of Tu esday Lieut.. Governor
watres raped the Senate to order and an
nounced that Pursuant to proclamation
by the Governor, the Senate of Pennsylva-
MIA has been assembled in Extraordinary
session and will now come to order, ana
all the Senators took their seats, except
ing four, one of whom, Senator Mehard, is
dangerously I'LL at his home in Wampum.
The doors were closed, prayer was offer-
cd. and the Clerk read the Governors two
praclamations
Then commm ittee of two Senators was
was appointed to inform the Governor that
the Senate was in session, and in short
time the Governors private secretary ap-
peared and presented the Governors COM
munication to the President of the Senate
| and it was handed to the Clerk and read
| to the Senate.
The Governors message begins by re-
ferring to his constitutional powers and
those of the Senate, and then reviews the
circumstances leading to his call for the
extra session-i.c. Bardsley's resignation
as City Treasurer of Philadelphia, the dis
| oovery of his defalcation, his arrest and
conviction, the memoranda found in his
books and in the stubs of his check books
regarding money paid the Auditor General
and State Treasurer, the return letters OF
thanks for fayors; the rebates paid by the
Philadelphia papers; the Irregularities In the
collection of the different taxes in Philadel-
phis, and also on the part of the Auditor
General and State Treasurer in allowing
| the money to remain in Bardslcy's keep
| ing; quotes the act Of May z, 1889, requir-
| ing quarterly returns; the testimony of the
| Auditor General and State Treasurer be-
| fore the Legislative Committee, and closes
\ as follows:
| I submit this summary of the facts
touching the administration of these two
departments. admitted and testified to
| by their chief officers before joint COM
mite of the Legislature, in order that the
Senate may determine the action appro-
pirate in the premises.
regret the necessity which has risen to
summon you from your homes and accus-
| toned avocations to this extraordinary ses-
| sion. / have awaited the resort 10 and the
exhaustion of the processes of the Grim inhi
laws. Their fustration has only intensified
the righteous demand Of the people that
their servants, sworn to obey and enforce
the laws and to protect and defend the
| interests of the Commonwea itb, shall an
swer for neglect of duty or completely 10
crime. The responsibility of determining
whether reasonable cause exists for the
removal of them rests with you. The pub
| lie expects that it will be met and dis
charged without regard to partisan advan-
tage or detriment, an with single concern
for the good name and honor of the Com
monwealth. invoke for your session that
deliberation Of counsel joined with prompt
dispatch of public business, which every
requirement of the occasion demands.
The message was long one and well
put together, and it goes over the case full
ly, though nothing especially new is
brought out. Five hundred copies of it
were ordered printed.
At the instance of Senator Goblin, COM
mittee of seven was then appointed to pre-
pare and report rules of procedure, there
being no precedent for this session to fol-
low, and the Senate adjourned till next day.
the procedure committee which con-
sists ofGobin, Thompson, Brady and Pack
er Reps, and Ross, Sloan, and Mcdonald,
Denis, went that afternoon and could not
agree, the Republicans arguing that the
Senate should conduct the investigation,
and the Democrats that the Governor
should do so.
The Senate met Monday afternoon, aud
Senator Goblin, Chairman of the Commit
tee of Procedure, at once presented their
report. After declaring that the investi-
CATION shall be conducted in open session;
that all officers and employees shall serve
and perform the same duties as in regular
session, and that the journals shall contain
record of all questions of law or proceed
ure and the decision thereon, it further
specifies:
All persons charged with misbehevior in
Office named in the proclamation and mes
sage Of the Governor Of the Commonwealth
shall be notified by the Sergant-at Arms
that the Senate is duly organized and will
proceed at once to make diligent inquiry
into the charges preferred against them,
that they attend in person, or by counsel,
and be heard.
All notices are to. be prepared by tho
chief clerk and signed by the President
protein, of the Senate, service to be made
personally or by leaving an attested copy
thereof at the last known residence.
The Attorney General of the Common
wealth shall be requested by the President
pro TEN. to attend and assist the Senate in
conducting the investigations.
All questions involving the admissible
ity or rejection of testimony and evidence
shall be argued by. counsel not longer
than ve.minntesl on each side, and any
Senator, after the ruling of the Chair, may
object to such ruling, and the questions
will then be referred to the Senate, and
upon vote Of q majority Of the Senators
present adverse to the ruling of the Chair,
the decision shall be reversed.
Absence Of counsel, or failure Of wit
nesses to appear, will constitute no ground
for continuance or delay.
The report is signed by all the members
of the committee.
Senator Grady offered al preamble and
resolution setting forth that the Governors
message had named District Attorney
Graham. Mayor Stuart, William Van Os-
ten and +. B. Reeves, Of Philadelphia, rs
haying offered to furnish all the evidence
in their possession bearing on the subject
of the present inquiry, and ordering that
they be subpGned to appear before the
Senateiat 4.p. m, on Monday, October 10,
to present such evidence and furnish the
names of all persons having knowledge of
be matters in hearing.
The resolution was adopted and it was
ordered that State Treasurer Boyer and
Auditor General McCamant be summoned
to appear for examination.
Senators McCreary, Robinson and Lloyd