SERRE eR ER
1
i
cE. |
Corporations Favored Freely.
An act declaring valid and inde
feasible as to any right of escheat in
this commonwealth was voted for by
both Sisson and Stober. Senate Jour
nal, 1905, page 891. This measure alsc
fell a victim to Governor Pennypack-
— HALCYON rn
SESSION OF 1905
Boas Mansion Converted nfo a
“House of Mirth” in
Harrisburg,
| governor said: “To permit corpora
tions, organized for reasons given
| above in other states, to hold real es-
| tate and do business here, would be,
| mm effect, to nullify, indirectly, our own
laws. This bill presents to such cor-
porations an easy means of escape
from the disabilities imposed wupon
them.” Vetoes by the governor, 1905,
page 30.
The legislature revealed its subser-
viency to the railroad corporations in
| the passage of the act “in relation to
PARTY BOSSES PLAN INIQUITY
Senators Sisson and Stober, Republi
can Candidates, Supported All the
Vicious Legislation That Made the
Session of 1905 Infam>us.
The legislature of 1905 was a “hal
cyon and vociferous” affair. In imita-
tion of the Albany “House of Mirth,”
the Boas mansion in Harrisburg was
generously contributing to the “gay-
ety of nations” during that session.
Under the control of the insurance
commissioner it was a sort of kennel
of “vellow dogs” of all sorts and con:
ditiens. Each night the gang assem-
bled within its hospitable walls and |
planned and schemed the looting oper: |
ations of the immediate future. It was | i
the seat of reveiry and a fountain of |
corruption.
The legislature of 1905 has gone. in-
to history as the most wanton and
venal in the history of the state. Its
werk was so bad that Governor Pen:
nypacker felt constrained to call it
back to repeal most of its measures,
and the mien responsible for its iniqui. |
ties obeyed orders to thus stultify
themselves with the same servility
that they accepted orders to pass the
bills at the regular session. This fea
ture of the legislature of 1905 has no
parallel. No other legislature within
the memory of man has such a record.
The legislature of 1905 was as eage:
to defeat good legislation as it was
zealous in promoting bad. Few good
bills got out of committee, and such
as did were allowed to die on the cal
endar. Early in the session Senato:
Goehring, of Pittsburg, introduced a
bill providing for civil service tests in
the selection of state officers, but ft
was stifled in the committee. Mr. Ed
miston, of Bradford, introduced a bill
requiring that anthracite coal offered
for sale in the state be 95 per cent
pure, and it met the same fate.
There were a good many othe:
measures which would have conserved
the interests of the people if they had
been enacted into laws. But they
were all killed before that stage, at
which a roll call is in order, was
reached. Under such conditions the
action of a particular senator upon
such bills is left to conjecture. But
the managers of the dominant party
were against such legislation or it
would have passed. Senators Sisson
and Stober invariably voted as the
machine manager directed, and it fs
safe to say that they were against the
bills that failed.
No Uncertainty on Vicious Bills.
But there is no uncertainty as tc
how the Republican candidates for au
ditor general and state treasurer voted
on the vicious legislation projected and
promoted by the machine. The bill to
increase the number of bank examin
ers, for example, was supported by
both of them. Senate Journal, 1905
page 308.
One of the principal jobs of the ses
gion was the “act to amend an act
relating to the board of public grounds
and buildings.” Upon this measure Mr
Sisson and Mr. Stober voted in the af
firmative. Senate Journal, 1905, pag:
842. In vetoing this bill Governor
Pennypacker said: “The effect of this
bill, if it became a law, would be tc
authorize the board of public ground:
and buildings to engage the service:
‘of 132 new employes. The amount ol
their salary and compensation, togeth
er with the increases of salaries and
compensations of persons now em
ployed, would amount to the sum of
$216,969 for the ensuing two years.’
Ny Joes by the governor, 1905, page
2
A bill to increase the number of
;courts in Allegheny county was voted
for by both Sisson and Stober. Senate
Journal, 1905, page 858. This measure
‘was also vetoed by Governor Penny
packer, who said in his message: “The
effect of this bill would be to increase
the number of judges in Allegheny
county from nine to fifteen and to lead
to an expenditure in salaries alone of
the annual sum of $51,000.” Vetoes by
the governor, 1905, page 18.
| Bills were passed providing for ad:
‘ditional law judges in Cambria county
Senate Journal, 1905, page 888, and in
{Brie county, Senate Journal, 1905, page
492, Sisson and Stober voting for both
of them. *
The machine majority in the legis-
lature is always open-handed with the
judges, but during the session of 1905
it was liberal with everybody. A bill
providing for stenographers and as
sistant stenographers for couris was
passed finally on Feb. 23, Sisson and
Stober voting in the affirmative. Sen-
‘ate Journal, 1905, pages 556-567. It
‘was subsequently vetoed by Governor
/Pennypacker on the ground that “it
‘would be an attempt upon the part of
the'legislature and the governor to ex.
ine comtril over the courts.” Vetoes
the governor, 1905, page 24.
on,
——
railroads under lease, and saving their
charters and franchises from forfeiture
or impairment in case of failure of
their lessees to maintain and operate
any portion of their lines.” This was
a slimy and venomous legislative
snake. It would have enabled big rail
road corporations to get rid of any
branch or troublesome small railroad
at the trifling expense of the cost of
leasing it. Under existing law failure
to operate a piece of railroad for two
years works the forfeiture of the fran.
chise, and communities damaged by
being deprived of railroad facilities to
which they are entitled could build a
new branch and connect with another
road. But this bill would have given
the big concern power to close up the
smaller road permanently. It was pas«
ed by the senate finally on March 21.
Sisson and Stober voting for it. Sen
ate Journal, 1905, page 850. Governor
| Pennypacker vetoed it. Vetoes of the
governor, 1905, page 66.
One of the most absurd bills con:
sidered during the session was one an.
thorizing coroners in counties of pop-
ulation between 100,000 and 125,000 to
employ stenographers at a compensa:
tion of $6 a day. Both Sisson and
Stober voted for it. Senate Journal,
1905, page 1670. Fortunately it was
vetoed.
Another legislative absurdity was a
biii providing for the draining of
swampy lands, and both Sisson and
Stober voted for it. Senate Journal,
1905, page 1031. In vetoing this pre
posterous proposition Governor Pen
nypacker said that owners of swampy
lands ought to pay the expenses of
their own improvements, and that if
the measure should become a law it
would clandestinely bestow upon the
owners of the land the right of emi
nent domain. Vetoes by the governor,
1905, page 44.
A Ripper In Disguise.
The bill to provide for the employ:
ment and support of the poor In
Schuylkill county was a sort of “rip
per” in disguise. The obvious purpose
of it was to legislate out of office the
directors of the poor of that county.
and it only failed of its purpose be
cause Governor Pennypacker had a
lucid interval. Sisson and Stober
voted for the bill. Senate Journal
1905, page 897. Governor Pennypacker
disapproved it because it deprived the
people of thelr right to elect their own
local officers. Vetoes by the governor
1905, page 52.
There were a number of water
snakes wriggling through the legisla
ture during the session of 1905. The
machine managers, rich in spoils, had
come to realize the vast value of wa
ter powers and were striving to get
control of all that were available. The
railroad corporations were also reach
ing out for control of watersheds and
water supplies.
Among the bills introduced with this
object in view was one "authorizing
railroad companies to acquire, hold
dispose of and guarantee the stock:
and securities of water companies.” In
the event of a water famine this meas
ure would enable the railroad com
panies to supply their locomotives even
if the people of communities famished.
Sisson and Stober voted to bestow this
dangerous power on railroads. Senate
Journal, 1905, page 1158.
The bill entitled “an act to preserv:
the purity of the water of the state’
was another serpent. It provided thet
consent of the board of health shoul!
he obtained before any community co
company could erect water works. The
iniquity was fought with considerabl:
energy and was supported at evars
stage by Sisson and Stober. On fina!
passage, however, Sisson dodged th~
roll call, but Stober is recorded a*
voting for it. Senate Journal, 199%
page 998.
The gang didn't feel quite secure
with the legislation thus far obtained
and Senator McNichol, the Philadel
phia contractor-politician, introduced »
bill to create a commission to regu
late the water supply and control th»
watersheds of the state. This measure
was railroaded through at a high rat:
of speed. It was “read in place” March
15 and passed finally March 22, Sisson
and Stober both voting in the afirma-
tive. Senate Journal, 1905, page 901.
Pet Iniquities of the Machine.
The Philadelphia “rippers” were pet
iniquities of the machine. John Weav
er, who had been promoted from th»
office of district attorney to that of
mayor as a reward for permitting Sam
Salter to be acquitted, was indulgine
in some in=incere reform pretences
and the machine concluded to “clip his
wings,” so to speak. The “rippers”
provided for the election of the head:
of certain departments by a vote of
councils, which under the then exist:
ing law were appointed by the mayor
It might be said that this was “the
crowning atrocity” of the session
There were three of these bills, num-
bered respectively 441, 479 and 480.
The two latter were so vicious that
Pennypacker vetoed them. Both pre :
voted for by Sisson and Stober,
by the governor, 1905, page 187.
sioner at the time, but he was so busy |
managing the politics and “milking”
the people of that city that he couldn't
get to Harrisburg oftener than once in
two or three months. The warrants :
for his salary had actually to be sent |
to him by mail. This absenteeism de-
volved a good deal of additional labor
on the deputy, and Mr. Durham's ser-
vile slaves in the legislature naturally '
concluded that his recompense ought
to be increased in the ratio that his
burdens were multiplied. Sisson and |
Stober voted for the bill. Senate Jour- |
nal, 1905, page 1689. |
The Quay statue bill was “the apple
of the eye” of the machine at the time |
and ever since has been the burden of |
its grief and an abomination. Sisson
and Stober both voted for it. Senate
Journal, 1905, page 1589.
The act authorizing street railway,
electric light and power, hotel and
park companies to merge or consoli- |
date, was a sort of tub to the smaller
corporation whale, There are a num-
ber of men in the cities, tin-horn gam-
blers, thimble-riggers and other sorts,
who go to the legislature or ply their
vocations in the winter, and imagined |
that such a combination of powers
would afford them splendid opportuni-
ties in the summer. These gentlemen
proposed to legislate themselves into
the chance. The bill was introduced’
and passed, Sisson and Stober voting
in the affirmative. Senate Journal,
1905. page 1.90. Pennypacker vetoed
the bill.
Snakes In the Legislative Grass.
Another snake in the legislative
grass was the bill authorizing manu-
facturing corporations to deal in goods
and materials manufactured by others.
It was in direct violation of the con-
stitution, the spirit of the common
law and the traditions of the country.
Sisson and Stober voted for it. Senate
Journal, 1905, page 895. The bill was
vetoed.
The bill to rebate taxes on forest
lands, enacted during the session of
1905, was what the old-timers would
call “a little thing” for the timber and
tannery trusts. It provided for a re-
bate of 80 per cent of the taxes on
scrub timber tracts for a period of
thirty-five years. Before it was intro-
duced the trusts had bought up prac-
tically all that kind of land in the
state with a view of holding it until
another crop got ripe and ready for
the axe. Paying taxes on land during
the period in which they were waiting
would be expensive, and the always
fertile-minded trust managers conceiv-
—
yond & Co.
LYON
We are agents for Butterick Patterns, the
Fashions and Delineators.
——————————————— — re ——
Claster’s Clothing Store.
WANT.
er you pay much or little,
Claster’'s Clothing Store.
I = mE
READ WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY
When you come to spend it at CLASTER'S UNDERSELLING STORE. You get satisfaction not
only while you select the merchandise but after it is paid for and even has been worn and found wanting.
You get better value for less money than any other store in town gives, because we are satisfied with less
hii and still believe it legitimate methods. You get the best material made by the best workmen wheth-
You get your money back and no arguments.
worth to us the price you paid for it, if you should have any doubt about it.
good will,
Our merchandise is always
We never sell a customer's
Extra Heavy §1 50 Coat Sweaters,
trimmed, all colors, borders
SPECIAL ogc.
the best sweater ever shown in
Bellefonte for the money.
Heavy 50¢ Fleece Lined and Ribbed
Underwear in all colors,
SPECIAL 39c.
500 Woolrich Socks, io all colors,
SPECIAL ssc,
or 3 pair for §1.00.
Men’s Suits.
We can thoroughly please
you at any price you have in
mind. Our Specialty
$4.95 to $15.00.
MEN'S $1.25
Wool Underwear
in all colors.
SPECIAL 8gc.
Men's $1.25 Flanoel Shirts, iu grey,
tan, red or hlge.
Men's $3 00 Corduroy Pants, in
Lighs or Dark Brown Patterns,
SPECIAL $1.98.
Men's $2.50 Shoes, Box Calf, Pat-
ent Leather or Gun Metal.
SPECIAL $1.98.
PATENT LAT LT AT AV ALT AV AVY .AV.AVT AV .AVT.LT
ed the plan expressed in this law to
escape the burden. These facts were
pointed out clearly, but the trust
agsnte stick together, and the bill was
passed, Sisson and Stober voting for
it. Senate Journal, 1905, page 1346.
The bill to increase the salary of the
harbor master of Philadelphia was the
payment of another installment of the
machine obligation for the acquittal of
Sam Salter. The then harbor master
swore to all kinds of alibis and other
things to justify the packed jury in
voting to acquit the champion ballot.
box stuffer, and the easiest way to
reward him for his crimes was to in-
crease his salary. The bill passed
finally, Sisson and Stober voting for
it. Senate Journal, 1905, page 1689. The
acquittal of Salter has cost the state
more than any other crime ever com-
mitted within its borders.
The number and salaries of em-
ployes of the state treasury were in.
creased, Senate Journal, 1905, page
1106, and the number and salaries of
the employes of the state library were
increased during the session of 1905,
Senate Journal, page 777. Sisson dodg-
ed the vote on the treasury increase,
but voted for the library increase.
Stober voted for both.
Pennypacker Provokes Foolish Bill.
In his veto messages Pennypacker
was in the habit of poking fun at the
legislature on account of the wretche? :
es meses
Lvon & Co.
}
& CO.
Don’t be misled by other
stores. When you come
to Lyon & Co’s Store
you are in the right
place and buy your
goods at
THE RIGHT PRICES.
COAT SUITS.
A large assortment of Ladies’ and Misses
Coat Suits in all the new colors and black, all
this seasons styles. A large assortment of new
Winter Coats for Ladies’, Misses and Children.
Our prices on Coat Suits and Coats will convince
you that you can save money by buying them
here.
DRESS GOODS.
We are opening new goods every day. A big
assortment of swell Dress Goods, everything that
is new in Broadcloths, Satin Swedes, Satin Mir-
ror, Soleil Rayure, Serges, Voilles and Panamas,
new Flannelettes, Flannels, Kimona Cloths and
new Dress Ginghams.
CORSETS.
The newest Corset Models in Royal Worces-
ter, Bon Ton and Adjustor, prices the lowest. All
our departmentsare filling up with new Winter
Goods. We take pleasure in showing our goods
and prices will be the lowest.
LYON & COMPANY,
47-12 Allegheny St.,
Bellefonte, Pa.
DS ASRS BNL
grammar and other delinquencies in
form and expression of the bills sen’
to him for approval. Finally the legis-
lature passed a law providing for the
appointment of a man to edit the bills
and whip them into some sort of
shape. Really the purpose was to pro-
vide a fat and eminently respectabl~
job for some favorite political “lame
duck,” and Pennypacker's criticism in-
spired the idea and furnished the ex
cuse. Both Sisson and Stober voted for
the bill. Senate Journal, 1905, page
781. Another office of similar char
acter was created during the session
of 1909, both Sisson and Stober voting
for it.
——Do you know where to ges the finse
teas, onffees and spices, Sechler & Co.
important to Mothers.
Examine carefully every bottle of CASTORIA,
a safe and sure remedy for infants and children,
and see that it
Bears the
Signatare of A
In Use For Over 30 Years,
The Kind You Have Always Bought,
Children Cry for
Fletcher’s Castoria.
Claster’s Underselling Store,
Crider’'s Exchange, Allegheny St.
Bellefonte, Penna.
I ——
med @Wettige in the WATCHMAN.
Children Cry for
Fletchér’s Castoria.
New Advertisements.
ILES A cure guaranteed if you use
D. Mau. Fagmpaon, Supe Graded Beoon
om tL.
Statesville, N. Tren Pi they dc
| § ail you laim for {hew. om beg
» § Raven Rock, W. Va. writes: b. asl A uat-
versal satisfaction.” Dr, H.D.
burg, Tean., writes: “In a pruectice of 23 years
Pi Te Hnstnite. Foon.’ Bohr oy
cen .
aud is Befiatoate by C. M. oh
Call for Free Sam
52-25-1y
MARTIN RUDY, Lancaster, Pa.
, Fine Job Printing.
—
FINE JOB PRINTING
’ Que A BPECIALT You 0
AT THE
WATOCHMANIOFFIOE.
There is no style of work, {row the cheapesi
Dodger” to the ness :
${-—-BOOK~-WORK,—1
that we can not do in the most satisfactory maa
ner, and at
Prices consistent with the class of work, Call op
or communieate with this office.
Bellefonte Shoe Emporium.
FREE!
FREE!
FOR LADIES ONLY.
Corn Plasters
We
reads this paper, who
box of Corn Plasters
that cure corns.
will send to any lady that
has trouble with corns, a
Free. This is the most
wonderful little corn plaster ever made, it will
cure corns. Very easy to use; you do not need
to tie up the toe as you
do with other corn cures.
We want to send every lady in Centre county a
box free. Do not send any money. We do not
want it, we want to make you a present of it. Do
not hesitate to send, it does not matter if you buy
shoes here or not, but we want to send you a box
free. Just send in your name and address and
you will receive a box at once free. Please do
me the kindness to send for a box if you have
corns.
YEAGER’S SHOE STORE,
successor to Yeager & Davis.
Bush Arcade Building,
BELLEFONTE, PA.