The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-28

The question has been asked (:
What could Messrs. Brown and
Ritter do. even if they were elected {?
The inference is that they would be
so much in minority IN the total
force of officials on Capitol hill that
they would be practically helpless.
The question is perfectly legitimate
and deserves a candid answer. The
auditor general, under the law, ex-
amlnes and settles all accounts be
tween the state and any officer. de-
| partment, association or corporation.
He has authority to throw out claims
that are either excessive or without
plain warrant of law. He can compel
the attendance of all persons having
| accounts to settle, and of such wit
nesses as he deems proper, examine
them under oath and compel the pro-
duction of all books, papers and docu-
ments relating to any account before
him in order to do which he can
exercise the power of attachment and
Imprisonment, through the sheriffs
and coroners of the several counties.
He can procure the testimony of all
such persons before any judge or JUS
tlce OF the peace, on a commission
under his hand and seal He can
commit to prison any witness who re-
fuses to testify or to produce any
books. papers or documents when re-
| lq ed. He may, by himself, or in
| connection with the state treasurer,
send an agent to examine the books.
papers and accounts of any corpora.
ton, institution or company having
accounts to settle with the state and
refusing or neglectlng to make returns
within the time specified by law. In
settling the accounts with the legisla-
ture and departments for incidental
expenses he can dissallow any ex-
cess over fair prices. He can, with
the state treasurer and attorney gen
eral, revise and resettle accounts that
have been enormously settled. Ac-
counts found by him to be due the
state are liens on ali the real estate of
the debtor. Certified copies OF his
accounts, books and documents on
file are evidence in any court of law,
and elsewhere. in the commonwealth.
And finally, he is the escheator gener-
al Of the state.
The powers and duties of the state
treasurer fttiugly supplement those of
the auditor general, and the two CO.
operating can defy any possible COM
brnatlon, either in or out of Office. TO |
cheat the law with reference to state
payments, or mulct the treasury in
any way. They are the official watch
dogs of the peoples strong box, who
cannot be muzzled without their own
consent, and have ample powers to
protect their trust.
In addition to ali this the auditor
general and state treasurer are ex-
oficio commissioners of public /
grounds and buildings, and of the
sinking fund, and members of the
state military board, and the board of
revenue commissioners, and of the
special commission to construct a
new capitol building. Of the first
four of these bodies the auditor gener-
al and state treasurer constitute
majority, End in the new capitol COM
mission they would balance the power
OF the two machine members of it.
giving to Governor Hastings the cast
ing vote and placing upon him the
responsibility for lawful and honest
performance of the commissioners
duties.
The Republican nominees for state
treasurer and auditor general were
selected by the machine in advance of
he convention. They would never
'ave been thought of for the prefer
nent but for the machine. Their
natural obligation would be, if elect
ID, to aid in the execution of all its
inns, and both their departments and
III tneSe commissions would continue I
o be, as now, mere instrumentalties
If machine power.
Hon. c. G. Kaufman, since 1904
Republican senator from the county
'f Lancaster, was solicited by friends
md admirers to stand as Repub!i.
IAN candidate tor state treasurer. He
lecllned to do so, declaring that Y
"No man can accept the nomina
ion (Republican) for state treasurer l
Tho will not agree in advance to
ecelve and count as cash assets all
he doubtful due bills, notes and other
vldences of indebtedness now in the S
-easury vaults" :
AS auditor general and state treas
rer and as commissioners of the sink
nd <~Fs al