Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, February 27, 1891, Image 1

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    Du moet dic Ala (jane
= MEEK.
av =. GRAY
Ink Slings.
—1Tt is too early to predict a peach
crop until the stormy month of March
shall have done its worst.
—If the cigurettes are not extinguish-
ed they will extinguish the dudes, which
may be an argument against interfer-
ing with the cigarette habit.
--Tt is an evidence of the benevolence
of the chicken that she does the most
laying about the time when the necessi-
ties of Easter require the most eggs.
—The Columbus editors kept up their
fusilade with as much spirit as if they
were shooting on Kentucky soil, and
with the fatality of a Harlan county
feud.
—There seems to be a question
whether Rev. Senator-elect KYLE of
South Dakota is a Republican or a Dem-
ocrat, bat there can be scarcely a doubt
that he is a crank.
—-There are people who won't believe
anything else than that the Standard Oil
Company is piping a large quantity of
lubricating material into the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature.
--In selecting Calico CHARLEY Fos
TER for the Treasury Department Presi-
dent HARRISON may find that in cutting
the coat accordingly to the cloth he got
hold of an article that may not wash.
— When the Democratic congressmen
come to think how much they owe Tom
REED for the recent great Democratic
victory they may conclude that a vote
of thanks from them would not be out
of place.
—If it be true that ornithological or-
naments are to disappear from the head-
gear of the ladies, the birds will have
reason to pipe their merriest lays when
they shall make their reappearance in
the spring.
—It is now reported thant Chicago is
going to put $25,000,000 into the
‘World’s Fair. If wind could be coined
into dollars she would experience no
difficulty whatever in raising that
amount of money.
— The Twenty-secend of February
annually revives the tradition in which
a cherry tree and a boy who couldn’t
tell a lie are the prominent figures.
Such boys, although detrimental to the
cherry crop, ornaments to their
country.
are
—Unless a close watch be kept on it
the ballot reform bill; may go up the
spout where the woodbine of Republi-
can promise twineth deceptively, and
where the tax bill mysteriously dis-
appeared from human sight two years
820.
—A Cincinnati physician says tbat he
can operate successfully on idiots. We
are afraid he wounld find an incurable
case in the fellow who believes that the
tariff isn’t a tax and that the duty on
imported goods is paid by the foreign
importers.
—When it is showa that JouxNY
DavexrorT in the last eighteen years
received $250,000 from the gevernment
for supervising elections it is no wonder
that he threw all his ingenuity into the
getting up ofa force bill that would per-
petuate his occupation.
—The President told the Sioux In-
dias that they couldn’t always be a
public charge and that they must pre-
pare to work for their living. Pretty
much the same thing will be told the
Republican federal office-holders about
two years from tais time.
—-CLEOPATRA BERNHARDT is going to
invade Connecticut with her asp, and
the truly good people of the Nutmeg
State couldn’t be more shocked if the
French actress should purpose to come
among them with a real rattlesnake.
They den’t like her reptilian style.
—The success that has attended skin-
grafting endangers the reliability of tte
old adage that the Ethiopian can not
change his skin. As to the leopard not
being able to change his spots it has
been shown long ago that when he gets
tired of one spot he goes to another.
-~President Harrison is represented | balt-holiday.
SC wr
VOL. 36.
A emocralic
ES
STATE > AN
D FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA., FEBRUARY 27, 1891.
NO. 8,
The Question of the Stare Capitol
Building.
The question of a new capitol build-
ing at Harrisburg is again bringing
itseif to the attention of the legislators
at Harrisburg. It is admitted by all
that enlarged and improved accommo-
dations for the Legislature is needed,
and there is complaint that the health
of the members is injured by prolong-
ed work in badly ventilated and poor-
ly heated apartments. But on the
part of many there is a reluctance
about making a movement for a new
capitol through an apprehension that
it will run into extravagant expendi-
ture. When buildings of this kind are
contructed there is no telling when the
job will end nor the limit of the ex-
pense. The state capitol at Albany-
and the public building in Philadel
phia are examples.
A House Committee on State Capi-
tol has been appointed, cousisting of
Representatives McCuLroucH, of Alle-
gheny, WuEeRrry, of Cumberland, and
Taceart, of Montgomery, to which
will be added two Senators not yet se-
lected,who will consider and report up-
on the question of a new structure, or
the enlargement of the present build-
ings. [tis said that the committee will
favor an enlargement rather than a new
elifice. There are some who think
that it would be better to have an en-
tirely new building, their argument be-
ing that the second State in the Union
should have a capitol befitting her dig
nity in the sisterhood of States the cost
of which would not exceed $5,000,000
if the work should be placed in proper
hanas. The latter consideration is
where the difficulty lies. Wht parties
could be found that wouldn't want to
make a big job of it?
As the majority do not appear to be
in favor of a new capitol the principal
question that will be before the com-
mittee will be the cousideration of a
‘been improperly controlled.
pian for enlarging the present quarters.
The features of the Boyer bill of 1887
are receiving careful consideration in
this counection by the members who
are taking an active interest the
sabjeet, and it is now deciared that
in
the probable outcome of the comumit-
tee’s lubors will be a recommendation
similar to that measure. Mr. BoYER's
plan was to build a fire-proof library
building at the southern end of the
capitol grounds.at a cost not to ex-
ceed $250,000. Such a structure would
be needed, it is claimed, even the
event of the State building a new capi-
tol within a few years when the bur-
den of taxation has been so equalized
that the farmers will not object to con-
tributing a portion of their hard earned
money for glory and the benefit of con-
tractors. The library, with all its val-
uable records, is now at the mercy of
the flames at any time. In addition to
this, it was proposed to enlarge the
oresent capitol and remodel its interior
at a cost of $350,000. This would
make the total expenditure about $600,-
in
000. The library building was to be
designed to accommodate the State
and [Executive Departments, now
crowded into the second story of the
building occupied by the State Treasur-
er and Auditor General. This would
give these departments much needed
room.
It is not surprising that a great
deal [of opposition ic showing itself at
Harrisburg from the country districts
against the bill to make Sacmrday a
In the eities giving the
to have taken a great faney to Mr. | employes of stores a half-holiday on
BrAixge's reciprocity idea and would
like to turn it to his own advantage ;
bat if both these distinguished officials
|
i
i
{
| interfered with business.
| Saturday has worked very well, it be-
ing a beneficent measiare that has not
In the coun
should work the, reciprocity racket for | try Saturday afternoon is when a great
their o vn benefit it would cause a split | deal of business is done in the stores
in the administration.
—The case of young HOLLAXD in
Philadelphia should be a warning to the
man who keeps a revolver in his house
tha. it is unsafe to bang away at a suppos-
ed burglar until heis fully assured that
it isn’t his sister making a
perambulation. Ifit should be
hi: mother-in-law it wouldnt
so much difference.
merely
| by the farmers, and is about the busi-
nocturnal |
make | 1!
— Eggs having come down to 16 cents |
a dozen the Press clucks the claim that
the McKinley bill had something to do
with it. But itis the hens that have
brought down the price. Nothing could
be meaner than to try to rob them of the
credit that is due them for the zeal with
which they always commence
spring business.
their
two were elected.
‘ouch
est part of the week in such establish-
No wonder the country people
oppose a cessation of business at that
time,
ments,
——TI'he borough election in Brock-
wayville, Jeflerson county, on the 17th
by the “kids.” They
ran what was called the Kintergarden
ticket, on which all the candidates but
The new chief burgess
old, and the new bor-
treasurer voted on age at the
election that pat him into office, The
boys are wild over their victory, and it
is probable that the eitizens will be
wild by the time these kids get through
with their borough government,
1st, was run
is only 21 years o
The Reform Ballot Bill.
Considerable anxiety is felt by the
people concerning the ballot reform
bill now pending in the Legislature
and which is in the hands of a special !
committee of the House cousisting of
Messrs. Baker, Low, LyrLg, RiTER,
Waerry and Jous:oN. No other
measure that has been before the Leg-
islature in many years was more deep-
ly interesting to the earnest and hon-
est citizens than is this one that is in-
tended to provide for fair and honest
elections.
The committee will probably report
the bill favorably this week. The mea-
sure proposed will not go as far in the
direction of electoral reform as would
be effected by a constitutional amend-
ment that would do away with the
numbering of the ballots and provide
for personal registration of every voter.
But the bill zs it stands will secure the
legal equality of party and independent
nominations; the free printing of uni-
form ballots; secrecy in making up
the ticket of the voter, and an open
and public count. This would be in a
great measure a protection against the
practice of bribery and intimidation
by which the elections of the past have
There
should be no delay in securing this
measure of reform until there is time
to perfect the work by a constitutional
convention. There should be a reform
ballot law in operation at the next
Presidential election.
RA a ———————————
The Annexation Question.
- »
‘I'he Canadians are excited over a
poiitical contest in which the question
of annexation to the United States is |
largely mixed. There is an extensive
and growing class in the Dowinion
who are dissatisfied with their political
and commercial situation, believing
that it would be improved by a union
with the United States. The younger
| generation are especially affected jg
| this feeling and the ranks of the an-
nexationists ate largely recruited from
them. They see a broader field for
| their activity as citizens of the great re-
| public.
| very few who take any
But in the United States there are
interest in
of Canadian annexa-
The majority of our people be-
lieve that the Republic is large enough,
and probably too large for convenient
and safe handling; we already possess
all the resources that a nation could de-
the
tion.
question
sire, and it is hard to see in what way |
the addition of Canada could increase
the strength or promote the prosperity
of our iin
Its Mission Ended.
JERRY S1MPs0N, the Granger states-
man of Kansas, although his feet may |
be devoid of socks, appears to have his |
head well supplied with brains.
evidence of the latter is his opinion !
that the mission of the Republican par-
ty is ended. Iu an interview the other
day he said: “The third party move-
ment is growing in strength every day, |
and it will be considerable of a factor |
in the
next Presidential campaign.
Tae Republican party has bad its
day. It is dead. The Republicans
have no reforms to offer the people,
and they are so honeycombed with cor-
ruption and have given the people so
much class legislation that the time
has arrived to infusenew blood into the
government. The Democratic party
has existed since the foundation of the
government and will always
The sockless sage of Kansas has a
correct idea of the vital force and
deathless mission of Democratic
pariy.
live.”
the
They Should Be Overhauled.
When such Republican papers as
the New York Zribune see an outrage-
ous perversion of the pension system
and calls for an erasure of names not
properly upon the rolls, joining with
D:mocratic and Independent papers in
asking for an investigation that will
rid the rolls of names that should not |!
be on them, it.is high time for the
small fry Republican sheets to with-
draw their opposition. IMounest pen- |
sioners have nothing to fear from this!
investization, which we trast will be
undertaken by the next House. but the
dishonest ones, who are entirely too
numerous, may well feel shaky and
fear the jst indignation of the people
who have been and are , being robbed
of millione for their benefit.
An |
The New Road Law.
The new road law lately introduced
lin the Legislature is attracting wide-
e | spre. ud attention. It will completely
{ change the present road law of the
State, aiming at the establishment of a
system that will give us better roads
and highways. The prosperity of the
country, and especially of the farming
class, is largely due to the kind of
roads they have to get their produce to
market. Good or bad transportation
facilities increase or decrease the val-
ue of land. A good macadamized
road or turnpike in front of a man’s
farm adds at least ten dollars to every
acre.
There may be some defects in the
bill, but upon the whole it is in the di-
rection of better highways, The State is
to make 4d very considerable appro-
priation for the improvement of the
roads. If some such system had been
established fifty years ago the country
would now be supplied with good and
serviceable highways, millions would
have been saved that have been wast-
ed on poor roads, and millions added
to the value of farms which is always
enhanced by easy access and practica-
ble avenues of transportation to mark-
et. This might have been the case if
a better road system had been estab-
lished years ago, but it is never too
late to begin a good work,
On Tuesday a Granger's petition was
handed into the Senate protesting
against the passage of the road bill.
As its object is chiefly for the venefit of
the rural districts, objections coming
from that quarter should receive due
consideration, but it is to be hoped
that they will not be found incompati-
ble with the greatly needed improve-
ment of the roads.
It May Be Only Neglect.
One of the honorable State Senators
the other day made such a powerful
appeal for the erection of a monument
to the Pennsylvania <coldiers on the
ficld of Chickamauga that the cannon
could almost be heard roar and the bat-
tle smoke be seen to enshroud the Sen-
ate chamber. It may be a patriotic duty
i for the State to erect the monument in
question, but it may at the same time
| be asked why there is such delay in
| passing the bill for the erection of
| equestrian statues of Meape and Ha~-
| cock on the field of Gettysburg ? Less-
| er heroes by the score have been honor-
ed and their monuments and memor-
ials are seen on every part of that field,
of these two distiagnished soldiers on
the great battle field of which they
| were the leading heroes.
Is it because of petty spite and jeal-
| oasy? They having both been Demo-
| cratic soldiers, has politics been allowed
| to step in and rob Mgape and Hax-
| cock of the honors due them? We
| hope neither of these reasons has been
I the prevailing cause, but that it has
| been simply a matter of reglect for
| which amends will be speedily made
| from a sense of the merits of these two
heroes.
The New Mint.
The question of erecting a new Mint
in place of the old coin factory in Phil-
delphia is before congress and there
are parties who would like to .take it
away from that city and establish it
some where else. The Philadelphia
Republican congressmen are unable to
have a bill passed that will authorize
the construction of a new Mint and re-
tain its location in that city. That
they have little or no inflaence is
shown not only in this Mint question,
but also in the matter having
League Island made the first class na-
val station it should be. The city is
in the habit of rolling up immense Re-
publican majorities and this is so
much a matter of course that the party
leaders don’t thing it necessary to
i wake any return for it.
The only hope of Philadelphia suc
ceeding with the new Mintat this ses-
i sion lies in the Senate where Senator
| CAMERON may be able to push it
through. His independent course has
! 80 largely increased his influence that
he will be able to get assistance for the
| measure even from the opposite party,
, while in the Ilouse the Philadelphia
m2mbers are subjected to ecntemptuous
snubs on account of their abject parti-
san subservieney.
Cleveland’s Reported Withdrawal.
Last week the Washington Post pub-
lished a statement, purporting to come
from the best authority, that Mr.
CLEVELAND would not suffer his name
to be used in connection with the
next Presidencial candidacy and that he
was about to write a letter to that ef-
fect. This was a startling announce-
ment, to which was attached the fur-
ther detail that a caucus of Mr. CLEVE-
LAND's friends had been held with a
view to uniting upon some other Dem-
ocrat for 1892, as all persuasion had
failed to induce him to abandon his de-
termination not to be a candidate.
It would seem that this report was
entirely unauthorized and altogether
of a sensational character. To a re-
porter of the New York Herald who in-
terviewed Mr, CLEVELAND in regard to
the Post's report, he denied that there
was any ground for such statement
concerning him, and at the same time
said that nothing had come from him,
either in public or private, to lead any
one to believe that he was anxious to
obtain a renomination to the Presiden-
cy. But he believed that his ideas on
that subject were quite well understood
by all who were ent’tled to be called his
friends, and he was sure that’ whatever
they might determine on would be for
the good of the party. From this it
may be inferred that Mr. CLEVELAND
would accept a renomination if tender-
ed him by the Democratic party.
The Bill Taxing Unnaturalized® For-
eigners.
We observe that the constitutional
lawyers who edit the Bellefonte ZRe-
publican, the Centre Democrat, and the
Centre Reporter, and give the public
the benefit of their legal lore, have de:
but there is no such tribute to the fame
Why is this?
cided that the bill introduced in the
| Senate by Senator Meek, providing
! for the imposition of a poor tax on un-
cannot become a
law because it is unconsticational.
They haven't been explicit enongh to
say whether it auntazonizes the consti
tution of the United States or of Penu-
sylvania, but they seem to be certain
that it conflicts with orzanic law of
some kind. In this they differ with
the Judiciary General [Committee of
the Senate, which is composed of some
natural foreigners,
of the ablest constitutional lawyers of
the State, who have reported the bill
favorably and it has already passed the
first reading in that body.
There is nothing in the constitution
that prohibits the imposing of such a
| tax upon unnaturalized foreigners, and
| where the purpose of such a measure
is to provide for the care and assistance
of the the people affected by it,to which
they should be compelled to contribute,
its passage would certainly noi be 1m
conflict with common sense or the re-
quirement of organic law. If this
shall fail it will not be on account of
its being unconstitutional.
a PEA
——Attorney General Hexsen has
signalized his taking charge of the le-
gal branch of the State government
by a decision which his natural gal-
lantry would no doubt have made oth-
erwise if the law would have given
him the power to do so. Ile has de-
cided that married women are anable
to avail themselves of the advantage
of the general corporation act of 1874.
The issue came up on the application
of lady members of the New Century
Club of Philadelphia for a corporate
charter, the Attorney General deciding
that the act of
1887 does not coufer such a right. In
this matter the Legislatareshould come
to the relief of the ladies by giving
them the right which Attorney Gener
al HeNsEL is not able to find in the
law as it now stands.
LAT SL REAVER
married women's
Senator Cameroy denies that he
opposed the confirmation of Foster's
nominatioz for Secretary of the Treas-
ury, saying that he was not present
when it was brought hefore the Senate.
Sach being the case, the strictures of
the Press on the Senator's alleged ac-
tion in this matter were entirely gratui-
tous. It is to be hoped that the Press
will not fall into the habitual abuse of
CaMeroN as the New York Sun bas
gotten into the habit of abusing CLeve-
LAND.
cs
—§150,000 ought to give Pennsyl-
vania a pretty good show at Chicago.
spawls from the Keystone.
—EKutztown has seventy-two widows.
—Scranton Poor Directors spent $73,000 last
year.
—Incendiaries threaten Harrisburg school-
houses.
—There’s a “speak-easy patrol” along the
river front in Pittsburg.
—Many $5 counterfeit notes are circulating
through Bucks county.
—Three more bodies were recovered fron
the Jeansville mine on Saturday.
—There are said to be over 100 widows resi-
dentalong Doylestown’ s State street.
—Carpenters in the car shops at Reading
will work nine instead of ten hours.
—It cost $2000 for J. J. Clayton, of Hunting-
don Valley, to recover a $5000 verdict.
—Annie Quinn and John Hazlewood, lovers,
strolled on the tracks at Braddocks, and were
killed.
—As a stimulus $20 is offered for every
drowned body found in theriver around Johns-
town.
—Pottsville has a mysterious fellow known
as the “Cloak man,” who frightens lone wo-
men.
—Shamokin constables have been arrested
for stretching out their bill of charges against
the county.
—William Gogee is alleged to have slander-
ed his Whitehall neighbor, U. Z. Kohler, $5000
worth.
—Sitting down before his mirror at Ashland,
Simon Smith, aged 67, shot himself through
the head.
—Reading Railroad deteclives are trying to
scatter the tramps along the Lebanon Valley
branch.
~The widows made by the Dunbar disaster
have compromised their damage claims for
$500 each.
—Several Berks county townships have vot«
ed to put road machines at work on their bad
turnpikes.
—The Ellis & Lessig Iron Company’s strik-
ing employes resumed work at Pottstown at
the reduction.
—Ex Congressman Sowden says he is a can-
didate in the Berks-Lehigh district, whether
it be divided or not.
—A young man named Sievert was found
deed in a stable at Scottdale. The deceased
had been drinking.
—The Prohibition Brass Band of Dolington,
Bucks county, is giving a series of entertain-
ments through Bucks county.
—Langhorne borough recently elected wo-
men School Directors for the first time, Lizzie
Longshore and Lydia A. Wiley.
—Several robbers beat Wilson H. Peters al-
most to death at Allentown on Sunday night
robbed him of $16 and escaped.
—Captain S. Ferguson fell off the Pittsburg
and Lake Erie railroad bridge across Big Run
and was probably fatally injured.
—Prize fighting and cocking-mains will be
prohibited in Luzerne county. It has been
heretofore one of the chief diversions.
—Eleven-year-old Charley Griffith fell off a
coal train at Pottstown, while stealing a ride,
and had both legs cutoff. de will die.
—John Rebman, a Lancaster business man
who for years has refused to sleep anywhere
but in his stable, died there a few days ago.
—Some boys set fire to a field at Eastun, and
of the United States or of Peunsylvania |
bill |
there was an amusing scamper among a lot of
| tramps who were sleeping in the high grass.
—A young man named Reid, a resident of
Chester, was Killed by a train on Ridley ereek-
bridge, and William Powell was fatally injured.
— There will be over 100 cases to dispose of
at the March term of court at Uniontown,
many of them being for illegal liquor selling.
—Pottsville lawyers are jealous of the Jus=-
tices of the Peace: with fewer officers of’ this
, kind they think they could make more money.
—A Harrisburg man bla hes every time be
thinks how he once refused to buy the con-
trolling interest in Bell Telephone stock for
$7000,
{ —The Knights of Labor people at Union--
| town are on the lookout for John Richter, who
| bas been collecting money for the strikers
without authority.
—PFugitive Bowers Baughman has beens
brought back from Ohio aud lodged in jail at
York, charged with felonious assault upomw
Benjamin : ohr’s daughter.
—It is reported that the miners in the
Houtzdale district are making preparations:
for a strike on Mareh 5, when the probation:
asked by the miners will expire.
—An old farmer was found dead in his bed"
at iis house, near Manheim. It is supposed:
he died several days ago, and as he lived
alone, the fact was rot known.
—Five-year-old Howard, Jr., a son of Howard
Frick, of Hilltown, Bucks county, is an expert
on the mouth-organ, and can play every air
known to the world of warblers.
—A Pineville (Bucks county) farmer, who is
to sell his stock and househould goods soon,
has created a sensation by advertising that no
dinner will be farnished at the sale.
—Rev. James L. Davis, of Bridgeport, has
been elected pastor of the first Baptist Church
at Pottstown, to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Rev. B. G. Parker,
—Master Workman R. D. Kerfoot, counsel
for the widows of the Hill farm mine disaster,
denies that the suits against tie Dunbar fuar-
nace company have been settled.
—The Concordia club, composea of the
wealthiest Hebrews of Allegheny City and
Pittsburg, will build a palace club house in Al-
legheny City at a cost of abcut $100,000.
—Richard Dalton and Henry Shecter, whoo
were suspected of thieving, were attacked
by drunken Belgi:ns and left unconscious im
the streets at Robertsdale on Saturday.
—Thomas Oliver died at Rainsburg, Bedford
county, at the age of 104. He was by far the
oldest citizen in that section of the state, and
used tobacco and liquor until the day he died.
—Samuel Hoffer, of Mechaniesburg, while
driving across the Pennsylvania railroad
at Lancaster, was struck by a train. His horse
was killed and wagon demolished, but he es-
caped without injury.
~ Editor Rauch, of Maue!: Chunk, who is
known as Pit Schwiiflebrenner, and who be~
came famous as an expert in handwriting duzr-
ing the Whittaker will case, has been retained
in several similar cases. :
—Mrs. Margaret Ambler awoke at her home,
near Bristol, at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning,
to find that her insame sister, Sarah, had got up
from her gide in the night and drcwned her
self in the water-barrel outdoors.
—Arthur Henney fell exhausted in the mud
on Shetiand avenue, Pittsburg, while going te
his home Sunday morning. He sank into the
mud gradually until only his headand one arm
remained above the surface. About 6 o'clock
he was discovered and removed to the nolice
station. He is in a precarious condition.