. to thisitem $552 659.26 or $817,157.22 less
"been a great outcry for economy, and
VOL. XL.
“
¢
DEMOCRATIC WATCHMAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1895.
A Disgraced
AN UNPARALLELED RECORD OF PARTISAN PATRONAGE AND
: UNBRIDLED EXTRAVAGANCE.
THE PEOPLE'S MONEY NEEDLESSLY SQUANDERED.
A Few Lessons Learned from the Laie Legislature which Furnish Striking
Contrasts Between Republican Profligacy and Democratic Economy—Wanton
Waste of the Public Funds so that Republicar Politicians may be Held Fast
in the Party Fold—A Republican Legislature that had Nothing in Common
with the Will of the People.
The legislative session of 1895 in Penn-
sylvania will ever be remembered as the
most profligate and grossly inco:npetent
in the history of the State. It was essen-
tially a Republican legislature. That
party had a majority of 36 in the Senate,
and 146 in the House, or a majority of
182 on joint ballot. So palpably corrupt
and shameless were the transactions of
that legislative body that the Philadel-
phia-Zedger (Republican), of June 10,
1895, said the members composing it ‘‘re-
turn to their homes with a record which
should ensure the defeat of the greater
number of them whenever they may
come up for re-election, for they have
not been faithful servants of the people,
but mere henchmen of Senator Quay and
‘the corporations.”
AN INCREASE OF 150 PER CENT.
in Two Years Salaries of State Officers
Have Been Run Up at a Reckless Rate.
An examination of the general appro-
priation bill shows some startling figures
as a result of the reckless increase of
salaries and offices.” The increase in the
total amount of the appropriation carrted
is, in round numbers, $1,140 000, and as
the appropriation to the public schools
is the same as two years ago, it can be
seen where the money isgoing. Inthree
sections of the bill alone the expenses of
‘the State Department, Judiciary and the
Legislature;- the increase reaches the
stupendous sum of $1,010,000,
The very first item in the general
appropriation bill is an appropriation ot
$1.369,816.48 to pay the ‘‘ salaries of the
State officers, the clerks in the several
departments of the State government
and for incidental expenses of said de-
partments.” .
In 1893 the Legislature appropriated
than is appropriated this year, In other
words, the ‘new officers and the new
departments created nearly 150 per cent.
of the amount appropriated two years
ago to pay the expenses of the State
officials and their departments for the
next two years. This is somewhat start-
ling, in view of the fact that there bad
worthy objects of State aid were refused
help because the State Treasury was in
danger of being depleted. '
“tciris mms meee este spemsIEen ME Ammon
wre Gave itseir rull Rein.
The cost of the Judiciary was increased
$145,400, and the cost of the Legislature
$57,512. : :
Nor does the latter item include the
expenses of a number of nice little legis-
lative- junkets which are provided for in
separate items, and the sum of $32,000
which was to go to the Senate Elections
Committee for the farcical contest by Dr.
Heller for Senator Laubach’s seat. This
charge the Governor vetoed only because
it was not itemized. It will be itemized
at the next session and the members of
‘the committee will then be given theau-
thority to rob the State Treasury of the
greater portion of this monstrous charge.
The third bill approved by the Gov-
ernor was solely for the purpose of pro-
viding a fat berth for Republican State
Chairntan Gilkeson, and the people of
the State will be-sh rt about $100,0.0 for
the privilege of seeing Col. Gilkeson in
the office of Commissioner of Banking
for two years, as that is in round num-
bers the increased cost of maintaining
the department under the new law.
In the same wayean office was created
for Major John C. Delaney by increasing
the salary of the Superintendent of Pub-
lic Grounds and Buildings, from $1,500
‘to $3,000, and providing a lot of new
places in the department. .
The creation of a Department of Agri-
culture was intended as a sop to the
professional farmer politician, for which
the people will have to pay the good
round sum of $98,coo, that sum being
appropriated~to it for two years. The
Secretary is given a roving commis-
sion and can employ at his discretion
experts for special examinations and
investigations, the expenses to be paid
out of the State Treasury, ‘‘as like
expenses are now paid.” The head of
the department is given the salary of
‘$3.500, with a deputy at $3,000, an
Economic Zoologist, whose main occu-
pation, outside of drawing his salary, is
the hiring of small boys to shoot spar-
rows and chipmunks, which he is sup-
posed to stuff and to gaze upon with
satisfaction. The general appropriation
act also allows him a $1,000 for mounting
and repairing specimens, and in order
that his laborious duties may not set too
hard upon him, he is given a clerk at
$1.500 a year in addition.
Then there is a Commissioner of For-
estry, a Dairy and Food Commissioner
and a State Veterinarian, each at a salary
of $2,500, besides numerous clerks and a
contingent fund for traveling and other
expenses of these various officers of
$50,000. —
PARTISAN LEGISLATION.
Measures Intended to Provide Places for
Republican Henchmen.
One of the most outrageous bills
Legislature.
designated by the County Commissioners
in cities of the- first and second class,
who shall be paid monthly out of the
County Treasury, any salary that the
Commissioners may fix. The Commis-
sioners have the absolute say as to the
number of inspectors and the size of the
salary. 6
A bill of almost equal possibilities in
the way of politics at the expense of
the taxpayers is the Farr Compulsory
Education Bill, which authorizes the
employment of an unlimited number of
truant officers at a salary of two dollars
a day, a bonanza for political heelers in
a hot campaign. Two similar bills had
been handled without gloves by Governor
Pattison in ringing veto messages.
Governor Hastings signed the bill, uot,
however, without an apology for doing
so.
Positions most sought after by the re-
presentatives of labor organizations are
those of Factory Inspector and deputy
inspectors. In order to better keep the
labor organizations in the field, eight
additional deputies were created at
salaries of $1,200 a year, with $500 a year
added to each for expenses.
STEWART’'S ILLEGAL INCREASE.
An Instance Where the Constitution of
the State was Clearly Violated—
The Superior Court Job.
In increasing the salary of Adjuant]
General Stewart the Constitution of the
State was openly defied. Section 13 of
Article 3 states clearly :— :
*‘ No law shall extend the term of any
public officer or increase or diminish his
salary or emoluments after his election
or appeintment.”
Col. Stewart was appointed Adjutant
General immediately after Governor
Hastings’ inauguration in January. On
March 4 Senator Baker introduced a bill
increasing the salary of the Adjutant
General from $2,500 to $4 ooo and it
passed both Hoyses and was signed by
the Governor off May 30. As evidence
that the increased salary was to be
claimed by the present incumbent the
appropriation for the next two years
salary is $8,000.
The number of clerks in the various
departments was very generously in-
creased. Early in the session the State
Treasurer wasgivenan #- tant Cashier
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Harrisburg, June 22, 1893.
I herewith file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth, with
my objections thereto, House bill No.
361, entitled “ An Act to repeal an act
entitled ‘An Act to prevent the consoli-
dation of competing pipe lines for the
transportation of oil or to hold the con-
trolling interest in the stock or bonds of
competing pipe lines or the acquisition or
control either directly or indirectly by
purchase or otherwise, and prescribing
penalties for the violation thereof,’ ap-
proved the thirteenth day of June, Anno
Domini one thousand eight hundred and
eighty-three.”
The act of June 13, 1883, which met
the approval of the present Executive
during his former term, was a wise
measure intended and necessary at the
time to prevent a monopoly of the oil-
carrying interests. The long agitation
for legislation which would authorize the
incorporation of oil pipe lines and invest
them with the rights and powers neces-
sary to their successful construction,
eventuated in what was known as the
‘“ Free Pipe Line Bill > To protect and
preserve the rights it secured, the Act of
June 13, 1883, was an essential supple-
mentary measure, else all the advantages
of the Free Pipe Line Bill would have
been lost, by permitting monopolies to
consolidate and to acquire controlling
interest in the competing pipe lines to be
created under the salutary legislation ot
that session.
It is now proposed to repeal this act.
The inevitable effect would be to drive
competing lines into consolidation or to
put the shippers of this important pro-
duct at the mercy of the great monopo-
lies which might be able to secure and
hold the controlling int-rest in the stock
or bonds of competing lines. When the
Commonwealth conferred upon these
companies its high prerogative of emi-
nent domain, enabling them totake private
property for what, in the contemplation
of the law, were public uses, it was upon
the implied contract that the public
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, }
of the Board of Pardons for which he re-
ceives $500 a year and shares in various
other items of the contingent fund. The
salary of the corporation clerk has been
raised since that time from $1,600 to $2,200
and there is also allowed for enforcing
‘the laws relative to foreign corporations
the sum of $1,000 which is part of the
work which some one’ of the supernu-
merary clerks in the office is already paid
$1,400 a year for performing.
For classifying, srEjngut and tabula-
ting old papers stored in the loft of the
building formerly occupied by the Exe-
cutive Department and storing same in
proper shelves, &c, $2,0co. These pa-
pers consist of old bonds of notaries long
since dead or out of office, and old worth-
less letters, which for sanitarv reasons,
if for no other, had all better been con-
signed to the rubbish heap.
For expenses incurred under the ballot
law $3,000. This is another steal as the
clerks in the office can do this work in a
few days without the least difficulty, and
the extra amount necessary for postage
could readily be obtained from the funds
for contingent expenses.
AUDITOR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. —
For the payment of the execution of the
corporation laws, $2,000. Yet this de-
partment has a Deputy Auditor General
who is about as much use as the fifth
wheel to a wagon. The actappropriates
$49,000 for clerk hire, and it will be re-
membered that this is the department
where the corporation laws are supposed
to be enforced and where the clerks are
supposed under the heads of the depart-
ments to do the SnibrIne
The enormous sum of $10,000 is ap-
propriated to enable the Auditor General
to collect information relative to taxation
of persons and property, and to classify
and tabulate the same, in order that he
may simply make a report to the Legis-
lature as to how he thinks a tax bill
should be drawn, This item is only a
great big steal. The clerks could get all
this information without costing the State
a cent, and then not be occupied all their
time.
Then it costs the people $800 to store
should have all the advantages of the
MAMI YY
ata salary of $2,20=" ving came
asa wa
$1,400 each. Th¢ Auditor General was
also given a Deputy at $3,000 and the
Superintendent of Public Instruction a
stenographer at $7,000.
The appropriation of the Legislature is
$601,871, an increase of $57,512.10. Of
this the Senate gets $153 370 against
$134,862 last session. The item of salary
of the officers and the employes of the
Senate except Librarian, watchmen and
pages is given at $41,698, an increase of
$10,848 over the amount appropriated
for the same items three years ago.
The appropriation to the House is
$448,521 ¢6, an increase of $38 479.16 over
the amount appropriated last session.
Most of this increase probably goes to
pay useless employees who were forced
upon the House by the demand for
places.
The Judiciary of the State was worked
for all the nice political plums possible
at an increased. cost to the taxpayer ot
$145,400 for the two years. The most
conspicuous figure in this increase was,
of course, the.new Superior Court of
seven judges at $7,5co0 a year.
The provision in this bill that only one
of the seven judges may be a Democrat
brands it as a most partisan measure,
and it is the first deliberate attempt of
the Pennsylvania Legislature to create a
partisan Judiciary. The argument made
to defend the creation of this Court upon
the plea of relieving the overworked
Judges of the Supreme Court, cannot be
sustained.
THE STANDARD Oli. MONOPOLY.
Governor Hastings Signs the Marshall
Bill—Governor Pattison’s Stand for
the Interests of the People.
The effects of the iniquitous Marshall
Pipe Line Bill, which was passed to e1a-
ble the Standard Oil Company to gobble
up all competing lines have already be-
come too apparent to need further refer-
ence. The Governor signed the bill with
an explanation and an apology. The
people. however, are now paying the
piper in the greatly increased price of
oil. Before it passed and was signed
refined oil could be bought for five cents
per gallon; it is now fifieen cents a
gallon and likely to go higher.
When Governor Hastings says that
under the act of 1883 the sale of a pipe
line which competes with another is ab-
solutely forbidden, and that said act
would prevént non-paying and useless
pipe-line companies or individuals from
selling their stocks, their bonds, or their
corporate franchises to any persons, or
any corporation that may be willing to
buy them. he evidently does not want
to remember that Section 1 of the Act
says distinctly that competing lines can-
not buy each other out, but it does not
passed during the session provides for | prohibit the sale to parties not competi-
the appointment of inspectors of scales,
weights and measures, and under its
tive. The act refers only toany corpora-
tion, association,partnership orindividual
terms the people of Philadelphia, Pitts- | and prohibits such from acquiring, pur-
burg and Allegheny are at the mercy | chasing, or leasing a competing pipe
of a few politicians. The old law, pro-
viding for sealers of weights and meas-
ures which was one of the first things to
fall before the reform wave of 1882, was
respectable compared to the present
measure. The new law places unlimited
power in the hands of the County Com:
missioner which combined with a fac-
tional Governor, can be utilized to create
powerful political lever. The bill pro-
line or operating such competing line, or
controlling the stock or bonds of such
competing line.
he act applies only where there is
competition and the Governor and his
advisers knew it.
In order that the people may judge of
the difterence between a Governor who
served them and one who serves the cor-
porations and the most gigantic monop-
oly known, we quote Governor Pattison’s
competition thus created and promoted.
To deprive them of this advantage by
such legislation as is herein proposed
would, in my judgment, be unfair, unwise
and against sound public policy, and I
am especially unwilling to approve it in
the face of the earnest protest which has
reached me from great numbers of citi-
zens directly affected.
RoBT. E. PATTISON.
LOOTING THE TREASURY.
A Convincing Array of Facts which Prove
that the Public Money is Being
Needlessly Squandered,
While every official at the State Capi-
tol is paid about twice as much money
for his services\as’ he really earns, and
while the work could be far better done
at less cost and by employees thoroughly
competent, which political appointees, as
a general thing are not, and while every
department could easily dispense with at
least one-third of its present force, it
being remembered that the departments
had a great many unnecessary employees
even before the present acts increasing
the number were passed, yet the general
appropriation act is full of items for extra
compensation for work in the various
departments for which the employees
are more than well Dad by their salaries.
Following are a few sample bricks of
the way in which unnecessary offices
have been created for needy politicians,
and money drained from the Treasury on
fictitious pretexts:
STATE DEPARTMENT.—Indexing the
pamphlet laws and titles of corporation,
$300. This work is usually done under
the direction of the Chief and Corpora-
tion Clerks, by the clerks in the depart-
ment. After ihe adoption of the Consti-
tution $1,000 was allowed for the laws and
the same amount for corporations, but
since then the clerical force in the office
has been largely increased. The salary
of the chief clerk was raised fiom $1.89
vides that the Foveviop shall appoint
inspectors as may be
such number o
veto of this same pipe line bill :
to $2,200 a year and he 1sasso the clerk
oo?
V9 VV VIVA
flowers are needed for the Governor's
receptions they have to be bought.
Then comes the Secretary of the
Board of Public Grounds and Buildings
at a salary of $300, which duties the
clerk and bookkeeper should assume
without extra pay.
Then we have $1,000 for renovatin
specimens for the museum of Natural
history, which the Economic Zoologist
at $2,500 a gear will get, and so on
through the list. At every point the
effort is plain that the State is to be
robbed at all hazards.
DEFEAT OF APPORTIONMENT.
With a Stupendous Majority the Republi-
cans Failed to Comply with the Pro-
visions of the Constitution.
Amid so many flagrant acts of omis-
sion of which the last Legislature was
guilty, none will stand out more clearly,
or bring more disgrace od the Republican
party than its failure to obey the clear
mandate of the Constitution, and pass
Congressional, Senatorial and Legisla-
tive apportionment bills. For almost
two decades, this duty has rested heavily
upon the Legislature of this State, but
never has it performed it as the Consti-
tution directs. During Governor Patti-
son’s terms he returned bilis without his
approval giving constitutional and con-
vincing reasons for his vetoes. At the
last session with the phenomenal majority
of 146 votes in the House and 36 majority
in the Senate and an Executive elected
by a tremendous plurality and of the
same political faith, the Republicans
were totally unable to perform this duty.
The bills as presented were of the most
partisan character, disfranchising Demo-
crats on every hand, gerrymandering the
State, and failing to make the districts
compact and contiguous as the law re-
quires, and were for these and many
other good reasons strenuously opposed
by the Democrats, who had the Constitu-
tion back of them and whose love of fair
away the old papers of this department
Harman Yerkes
for Superior , udge
£
we fof
(\o¥ ]
Gute Judge !
Y= 4,
en) F-Meyers
hiDiaae hist
from the basement of the executive
building, which is $1,200 less than it cost
the State Department for similar ser-
vices. Both items are entirely unnces-
sary.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.—The clerks
in the Treasury Department get $25,800,
and yet $2,c00 additional is appropriated
for transferring and re-indexing accounts
of corporations, $300 for moving papers,
books, &c., and $500 for electric fixtures
and fans.. :
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
—Here we have $35,000 for contingent ex-
penses, $12,0co for traveling and other
incidental expenses of the Bureau of In-
dustrial Statistics, and the sum of $10,000
for the collection of the tax statistics as
required by the Act of May 9, 1889, P. L.
157. When the sum paid the clerical
force of this department is remembered
to be $63,000, the enormity of the above
items is apparent.
Then it was discovered that the bound-
ary line monuments between Pennsyl-
vania and other States were out of re-
pair, and $2,000 was appropriated for ex-
amining them and repairing them.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC GROUNDS
AND BuILDINGS.—Major J. C. Delaney
gets $3,000 a year for acting as Superin-
tendent of Capitol Grounds, etc. His
bookkeepelr gets $1,500 a year, but he
has a hard time occupying his time.
There is $900 a year fur a mechanic,
but no one knows what he does ; a night
watchman at $900 a year and a gardener
at $1,0c0; an assistant gardener at $900 a
yearand a Sergeant of Police at $1,c00 a
year ; five policemen at $go00 a year each,
and two elevator men at $920 a year
each. Inthe above items $1,500 would
have been a large salary for the work
which the Superintendent does, and his
predecessor got no more.
Then follows the item of $12,500 to
keep the grounds in order and repair the
same, being a big chance for a steal.
Then there is a contingent fund of
$3,000 a year.
Then a rose propagating house at
$1,800. There is s~arcelv ever a flower
there which is worth anything and when
9999999999099 90 VVVVVN
play would not pérmit them to support
CORRUPT AND SORDID.
THE LAST LEGISLATURE CONDEMNED BY
A REPUBLICAN AUTHORITY.
MONOPOLIST JOBS PREVAILED
WHILE LEGITIMATE LEGISLATION WAS
ALTOGETHER IGNORED—THE PHILADEL-
PHIA LEDGER TELLS SOME GALLING
TRUTHS REGARDING THE ‘‘ TRICKS AND
DEVICES ’’ OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS
—A SCATHING CRITICISM.
That the late State Legislature merited
the condemnation of honest Republican
opinion as well as of Democratic senti-
ment is amply evidenced by the adverse
criticism of the intelligent Republican
press. Every vote at the approaching
election that is cast for the Republican
candidates will be an endorsément of
that reckless and disgraceful Legislature.
Every vote cast for the Democratic
ticket will be a rebuke, and*a demand
for honest State government.
_ The Philadelphia Public Ledger,
Republican, had this to say about the
essentially Republican Legislative body
in whicn the interests of the people of
Pennsylvania were recently misplaced :
Whatever. the .majority of the Legislature nf
Pennsylvania could do, either by acts of commis-
sion or omission, to make the adjournment of
that body gratifying in the highest degree to its
Songiitusncs: it did, and the end of no session of
the General Assembly has been received with
such a profound sense of popular relief as that ot
the last.
There has been no recent Legislature of this
Commonwealth of which there were not some
members of Senate or House who were not either
morally or intellectually incompetent, and no
majority of which it can be truly said that all its
acts were inspired solely by public policy.
Among the Senators and Representatives of pre-
vious General Assemblies there were some cor-
rupt, sordid men, or reckless, unscrupulous par-
tisans who put before their duty to the State their
own venal. selfish interests or the assumed inter-
estsof their respective parties. Men of this class
frequently controlled legislation and exerted a
powerful influence detr mental to the people ; in
the Legislature which adjourned Saturday men
of this character were in evidence in much of the
legislation which was consummated. They did
not represent the Commonwealth; they repre-
sented themselves or party. Another large and
influential class of the members of this Assembly |
was composed of the political henchmen of rival
olitical Bosses who have been recently contend-
ing for the control of the Republican ‘ Machine"
ofthe Stateand city. The men of this class, with
a cynical disregard of and contempt for public
policy, which has been seldom, if ever, so reck-
essly or unscrupulously exhibited, ranged them-
selves upon cpposing lines to pass or defeat
measures of the first importance to the people of
the Commonwealth. They did, or refused to do,
as legislators of Pennsylvania, not what their
constituents demanded they shonld do or leave
undone, but what their respective political
Bosses ordered them to door notdo. The con-
sequence was that between these two classes of
Senatorsand Representativesthe Commonwealth
was represented by au ineffective minority of
honest, public-spirited men, who were unabfe to
accomplish desirable legislation, or to prevent
the consummation of a great deal which was
mischievous and pernicious, * #* * =»
In a subsequent issue the Ledger said:
Reviewing the work of the Legislature some-
what in detail, it appears that it is not to be con-
demned merely for its sins of omission, which
were many an ievious, but for its sins of com-
.mission—the pa¥sage of acts intended to promote
or create corporation monopolies. At the open-
ing of the session there was a great demand for
economy, because of the falling off in revenues,
and Governor Hastings vetoed a few bills to show
A TREASURY SCANDAL
REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS ARRAIGNED BY
REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPERS.
B. F. MEYERS’ HONEST STAND
WHILE REPUBLICAN STATE TREASURERS
ARE PILLORIED FOR FARMING OUT
PUBLIC FUNDS, HE DECLARES THAT
ALL INCREMENTS BELONG TO THE
PEOPLE—HEYWOOD IS SILENT ON THE
SUBJECT.
As between the Democratic and Re-
publican candidates for State Treasurer
the voters of Pennsylvania should have
no difficulty in determining their prefer-
ence. The position of the Democracy is
set forth with emphatic distinctness in
the address of Hon B. F. Meyers in ac-
cepting the nomination for State Treas-
urer. He strikes at the root of the
flagrant mismanagement that has char-
acterized the office under its Republican
nmbents: In his address Mr. Meyers
said :
Gentlemen of the Committee : Althoufh
the nomination for the office of State
Treasurer tendered me by the late
Democratic State Convention was made
contrary to my wishes and hepe, I feel it
to be a public duty to obey the behest of
my party. Neither the honor conferred
nor the responsibility imposed by this
nomination 18 to be lightly regarded. Be
assured that I appreciate both in their
full and complete significance.
It will hardly be expected that in ac-
cepting ‘a nomination the nominee will
enter upon an exposition of the principles
and policies set forth in the platform of
his party. It will be sufficient for him to
say that he gives them his endorsement
and support. 1 will, therefore, content
myself with saying that I most cordially
approve the platform of principles
adopted by the late Democratic State
Convention.
The duties of the State Treasurer are
simply and purely ministerial, but asa
member of the B6ard of Revenue Com-
missioners, and as the financial agent of
the Commonw:alth, that functionary
should not hesitate to make such sug-
gestions and present such plans from
time to time for the consideration of that
Board as he may believe to be calculated
to benefit the revenues and at the same
time alleviate the burdens of taxation.
He should see to it that the laws regu—
lating the administration of the finances
of the Commonwealth are implicitly
obeyed. He should regard all incre-
ment of the funds in the Treasury from
whatever source as accruing to the Com
monwealth, and not as his personal per-
uisite or as the spoils of party. To
these views thus briefly outlined I may
be permitted to add that those who offi-
cially control and direct the levying and
disbursement of the revenues of the
Commonwealth should, in their reports
to the Governor, call attention to the
importance of the abolition of all un—
necessary and useless offices and tlie
payment of all public officials by fixed
salaries instead of fees. Not only is the
abuse of the fee system a great hardship
the State and county officials were made
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
such unjust measures. The Democrats,
with a membership of only 29 in the
House, while the Republicans ‘had 175
are now charged by the latter with be-
ing responsible for the Republican failure
to do their sworn duty in this matter and
pass the bill through the House of Rep-
resentatives. Their logical position is,
that they cannot legislate or obey the
Constitution, which they are sworn to
support, unless they have every member
in both branches of the Legislature. =
The people wil” y, however: ‘Since
vou Republicans. 182 majority on joint
ballot, you ought have been able to
legislate without t. assistance or even
against the oppositic of the Democrats,
and failure to do so can only be properly
charged to your incompgtency or to the
disgraceful influences at work in your
body.”
NEEDED CHARITIES NEGLECTED.
Jobs and Jobbers Had to be Provided for
and Humanitarian Efforts were
Therefore Ignored.
An examination of the laws of 1895,
and a comparison of them with those
passed at the session of 1893, will show
that the appropriations to charity hos-
pitals and various benevolent institutions
were largely cut down, and the acts
which failed to pass or bgcome laws and
which were most needed for the public
improvement were neglected altogether.
Almost every section of the State
where such institutions exist will realize
that the last Legislature, while phenom-
inal in its expenditures and waste, failed
to do its plain duty, and approvriated the
money to each respective section to which
it was entitled. Space will not permit
the giving at length the institutions thus
rr or those places where the
people’s money could have been judi-
ciously expended, but a casual exami-
nation of the acts of 1895 will convince
anyone of the truth of the above state-
ment.
the Legislature that he would nent countera=ce
Rena But ~ev tha &
ci 8 ae eee. IRIE WRSEONCE LL. Asi, gD
the plea for economy thus lest some of its force,
it was used effectively to cut off some appropria-
tions that should have been made. On the other
hand, the greatest extravagance was exhibited
in other directions, and unless Governor Hast-
ings should again use his veto power much of the
money of the State will be squandered on un-
worthy objects.
The Legislature *® * # increased the
the Government more than $8o0o,cco This in-
crease amounted to more than 150 per cent , and
was due in part to the increase of offices # * »
The University of Pennsylvania had its appro-
priation cut down from $500,000 to $2c0,000 not-
withstanding the liberal offer to double the ai
given by the State. . . # The oh
delphia School bill was def-ated through the
tricks and devices of small politicians. * #
On the other hand, these same influences passed
the Superior Court bill in such form as to give
the mincrity party only one out of seven Judges,
which is manifestly unfair. .
But it was by sins of commission that this
Tegisiatute registered its character. It passed
and the Governor signed a Pipe Line bill which
enabled the Standard Oil monopoly to tighten
its bold and make millions of dollars in a few
weeks, = ® 8
THE BOODLE BRIGADE.
Some of the Reasons why the Republican
Party has a Grip on the State.
There were in the last House of Rep-
resentatives a number of members who
were known as the ‘Boodle Crowd.”
No bill could get their support unless
the question, ‘““‘How much is there in it?”
was satisfactorily answered. Boss Ma-
gee, of Pittsburg, did as he pleased ; got
all the legislation he wanted and got the
Governor to sign every bill he was inter-
ested in.
Certain representatives had their pock-
ets stuffed with railroad passes all the
time, and an office was opened at Har-
risburg for the confessed purpose of ad-
vancing legislation desired by the Stand-
ard Oil Company.
Paid agents of railroad companies sat
in the Senate and furnished to members
in that and the adjoining House free
passes as occasion® required.
If the voter would stop for a moment
to think, he would discover in these facts
some of the main reasons why the Re-'
publican party has such a grip on this
State. Itlis because of the cohesive pow-
er of plunder. The corporations recog-
nize that the return of the Democratic
party to power in Pennsylvania would
mean exact justice to all and special fa-
vors to none, and they, therefore, prefer
to stick by the party which is for them at
all times, at all hazards and at the ex-
pense, in a large majority of cases, of
the rights of the people. “
A10 PER CENT. INCREASE.
The Thomas iron Co., of Allentown, Makes
its Employees Happy.
Evidences are forthcoming every day
of the continued prosperity in industrial
affairs, under the encouraging auspices
of a Democratic administration. On the
16th inst. the Thomas Iron Company, of
Allentown, announced another 10 per
cent, increase in the wages of 350 of its
employees atthe works at Hokendauqua.
This is good news, and was received with
a great deal of satisfaction by the em-
ployees. This is an eloquent argurient
for Democracy that the Pennsylvania
voters should heed.
appropriations to the Executive Department of
to the fe ind btit if the fees now paidto
a part #f ‘“e revenues ofthe Common-
ation wis. they arc now obliged ju;
bear. peg
tesies you have extended, and share with
you the hope that a brighter and a better
day is about to dawn upon the politics of
our beloved State.
Here's Another Picture.
Compare this intelligent and patriotic
declaration of principles with the greed
and spoiliation that have worked the ad-
ministration of successive Republican
* | State Treasurers for so many years. So
brazen has been the cheat played upon
the people that the most partisan of Re-
publican newspapers have been com-
pelled to cry “stop thief.” The bare-
faced jobbery of the office is no more pro-
nounced just now than it has ever been,
but special attention is called to it by the
failure of State Treasurer Jackson to turn
over its share of the school fund to Phila-
delphia
Read what Republican newspapers say
of the policy and practices of Republican
State Treasurers:
Philadelphia Press, October 9.
THE INTEREST ON PUBLIC MONEYS.
The refusal or failure of State Treas-
urer Jackson to nay to this city the bal-
ance cf the school fund appropriation due
at the end of last June is amazing. Nat-
urally it is causing much adverse criti-
cismof the State Treasurer in the absence
of any explanation from that official.
It has been boldly asserted that the
reason the money has been. withheld
from the city so long after it was due,
and in spite of City Treasnry Oellers’ re-
peated requests that it be paid, is that it
could be kept in favored banks here and
there in the State which were doubtless
paying interest to somebody for it.
Whethet this be the reason or not Treas-
urer Jackson has certainly, by his delay,
tforced a renewed discussion of
familiar old question of interest on the
State moneys deposited in various banks.
It has been talked over and done over
many times without resulting in any-
thing ; but sooner or later something will
be accomplished. Chairman Quay may
put it in among his other proposed re
forms and insist upon a change.
The city of Philadelphia, which carries
a considerable balance in the banks all
the time, adopted the policy some time
ago of exacting interest on such deposits,
aud the interest is paid into the public
treasury. not into the pockets of individ-
uals. Why should not the State have
the same advantage from the money
which it keeps in different banks? The
public has no definite knowledge that
interest is now paid by the banks on the
State deposits, but when allegations are
made that such is the fact they are not
denied. What is known, however, is
that no interest on such deposits is paid
to the State, while if there is any interest
to be paid at all it clearly belongs to the
State.
There is something of a scandal in
Pittsburg at this very time growing out
of the payment of interest on public
moneys to private parties, or, rather, to
If such is the practice with the State
moneys—as has been cften charged
and never, so far as we know, denied—
sooner . or later there must surely be
scandal, if not worse. This is an era of
reform, and all abuses of whatever nature
must -come under its influence. The
State is carrying many miilions in the
shape of bank deposits all the time. In-
terest on this, even at a low rate, would
I thank you most kindly for the cour-
officials who had no right to receive it. °