Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-03

1
Attorney James HI. Stranahan, of this
city. Powell objected to the state
ment that Henry c. Wasson, the Pro-
gressive leader. had received $4,000
from the State in fees of the Auditor
Generals Department, on the ground
that 1t reflected unfairly on his ad-
ministration, and Mr.. Stranahan's let
ter is In reply. 1t follows:
| MY dear Mr.. Powell: L have your
letter of January 80. 1914, In which
you say you are quoted in the news
papers as saying before the court of
Dauphin county that you knew that
Henry G.. Wasson, Esq, had received
over $4,000 from the Auditor Gen.
erals office in fees, and raising. the
inference that this was for fees under
the act of 1911
I'm answer to your letter, refer
snce to the case in court may not be
out of place at the outset. The hear
| ing before the court was in a suit
brought by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania In assumpsit on the 18th
day of April, 1913, and on a bill for
discovery on the 9Th day of May,
1913, against the Dollar Savings Bank
OF Pittsburgh, Pa, under the act of
June 18th, 1911, p. L. 974, to provide
for the better collection of money
and taxes due the Commonwealth, and
property belonging to, or liable to
escheat to the same This suit was
brought by direction of Auditor Cen
eral Sisson, before you assumed the
office of Auditor General and as I am
informed, you were in no way inform
ed or consulted in regard to it and
were not aware of the hearing and
argument before the court on a de-
murrer to the bill of discovery. The
case was placed on the argument list
lby the Attorney General.
| MY argument In the case had only
to do with what 1 considered the vice
Of the act of 1911 and similar legis-
lation.
THE act placed the collection of
all money and taxes due the Com
monwealth, or property belonging to
or liable to escheat to the same at
the discretion of the Auditor General
and authorized him to employ one or
more counsel learned in the law to
prosecute the same, leaving the At
torney Generals Department out of
the question. In my argument I con-
tended that this act was confusing
and contradictory, against the policy
of the law and against public policy.
fostered favoritism created additional
expense to the Commonwealth and
should be declared null and void.
L referred to the act of 1857, P. l..
266, section 2 of which provides that
| All debts which the Auditor General
and State Treasurer know to be due to
the Commonwealth from all sources
whatsoever shall be handed over to the
Attorney General for collection This
act also provides that the Attorney
General shall subscribe to an oath
and give bond.
| The act of 1911 makes no provis-
ion for the discretionary counsel eth
| er to subscribe to an oath OF give bond
for collections made. In my opinion
L made no reflection. upon or criticism
of the Auditor General or Henry G.
| Wasson, Esq, or any other attorney
who had been employed by the Audi
tor General. 1 said in my argument
that the newspapers of two years ago,
in the campaign of 1911, published
the names of attorneys and the sew
eral amounts that they had received
and L stated that among those pub
lished was that Mr.. Wasson had re-
ceived $4,000 for services. In this 1
was mistaken in the amount as it now
appears that he only received some
thing over $4,000 as stated by the
Ipapers.
| My remarks were not intended as
a reflection on Mr.. Wasson as it is
to be presumed he was entitled to all
lhe received.
| 81 contended that the Auditor Cen
eral had full authority to make all
these collections by the Attorney Gen.
eral without the aid of the act of
1911 and this position was not denied
during the trial of the case. There
was nothing in my argument that
these payments were made under the
act of 1911 to Mr.. Wasson as his SER
vices as published by the newspapers
were for years prior to 1911 as taken
from the Auditor Generals reports.
There was no room for any infer
ence in my remarks to the court for
any reflection upon you or the ad-
ministration of your office.
AS relating to your conduct of your
administration of your department, let
me assure you, as far as / am con-
cerned from my own knowledge and
information there is not the remotest
ground for any criticism or COM
glaint'"
Will Name Men.-Governor Tener
will name men to fill the place of Gen
eral Beaver on the Superior Court
bench and to succeed DR.. Phillips on
the State Board Of Education late in
the week.
Capitol Closed. - Except for the
financial departments, which were
closed only during the morning, the
Capitol was closed to-day in memory
of General Beaver. The flags were at
half mast.
Insurance Money In.-Foreign fire
insurance companies are paying big
| sums in State taxes at the Treasury.
Over $4,000 came in yesterday alone
Industrial Board.-The State Indus
trial Board will meet tomorrow for
Its organization. This board is to have
charge of the enforcement of safety