Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-11-03
section with this series OF resolutions,

section with this series OF resolutions,
Mr. Wherry had spread upon the rec
ords of the legislative proceedings of
that date q carefully prepared memo
randum showing that this sale of bonds
had resulted In the loss of a quarter Of
a million dollars to the state. These
United States bonds were deliberately
taken from the sinking fund treasury,
then under the domination of Mr. Quay,
and by the direct action of Mr.. A. Will
son Norris, then the auditor general,
and Mr.. Livesey. of the treasury de-
partment. Mr.. Livesey soon after left
the state and has been absent ever
since. He is supposed to be still absent
from the state because of his connec-
tion with this and with other misuses
of state funds. The facts presented by
Mr.. Wherry showed conclusively that
for the two years of 1886, including
transactions from Dec. l, 1885, to Dec.
l. 1888, these manipulations had en-
tailed a loss directly of two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars upon the
state.
the fiscal year of 1887 one million dol
lars worth of United States per cent
bonds were distracted from the vaults
constitutional part OF the sinking
fund, sold and the proceeds placed in
the various banks favored by the state
political ring, of which Senator Quay
was the head Mr.. Wherry. in a very
conservative statement, declared that
after careful examination of this
transaction, so suggestive upon its
face, he was of the deliberate opinion
that 1t was so much in violation of the
constitution and the law and that the
hondsmen and the state officials who
constituted the state sinking fund COM
missioners were liable for the loss en-
tailed, and should be held accountable
for every dollar of interest lost on the
United States bonds sold, and for
other losses to the state. He declared
that in the aggregate the losses in two
transactions alone exceeded sixty thou
sand dollars in one year. The actual
and Indirect loss, he declared, sustain
ed by the state would amount to nearly
$2,000000. He said: cat the very time
the sinking fund commissioners were
selling United States bonds at a loss
of interest and buying per cent state
loans. payable in 1892, at from 115 to
11SA, the states per cents, payable in
1928 years to run. were selling on
the market at 121. Discussion of Mr..
Wherry's resolutions were, of course,
inevitably cut off. After a number of
Intellectual attempts to have his charges
considered, even after the report from
the ways and means committee proyid-
ing for an investigation and adjustment
of this mismanagement of state funds
had been presented, he was compelled
to abandon his effort. His resolutions
were carefully buried in committee.
Such is the mere record spread upon
the journal of the house of representa-
tives. showing a transaction even more
daring than that by which the Peo-
pies bank plum tree" was shaken.
The senior senator when he wanted a
loan for his family of hundred thou
sand dollars, agitated the golden fruit
plant of the state treasury to the extent
In one case at least, of one hundred
thousand dollars. In this instance.
when his friend and chum, Mr.. Norris,
was up the tree, a shower of a million
dollars was shaken out of the sinking
fund. 1t was in vain that the most
forcible and capable Democratic mem
ber of the house of representatives at
that time or since made a protest.
The state treasury stain which has
been discovered since by disgusted and
despairing Republicans was pointed
out, and it should not be forgotten by
a Democratic minority In the legisla-
ture. Since then the chickens have
come home to roost in the Republican
hencoop, but the barnyard might have
been clean enough today. even for Mr..
Wanamaker had the way blazed out
by Mr.. Wherry been followed The
Democratic narty often before had,
and as many times since. has attempt
ed to lift the lid off of the treasury
corruption pot, but until now. no mat
ter how many factional fights have oc-
CURED in the majority party, the Re
publican factions have sat upon the
lid and held it down, although It burn
ed the cuticle of some of them who
hung on TO the edges