The Columbian. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, October 06, 1898, Page 2, Image 2

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LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYES.
How Their Nninbor and Cost Have
Grown Since the Democrats Had u
Voice In the Matter—A Dead Swindle
In the Thing— Kxtra Clerks and Em
ployes Paid for Twice—The Chief
Clorks Defy the Caw's Limitations
as to Contingent Expenses, Etc.
The number and cost of the officers
and employes of the two houses of the
legislature are Justly objects of much
criticism. If the public business were
expedited by the constant increase of
the number of this class of hangers
on, with the attendant large expense
involved, there would be no complaint.
But it is plain that so large a force is
lot needed. Many of them do nothing
it all, practically, to earn the money
they draw from the treasury. Some
of them spend but little more than as
much time in Harrisburg as will suf
fice to sign the requisite vouchers and
draw their pay. Those that are at hand
are so numerous that they crowd each
other and are in each other's way.
There are certain periods of the
session at which some of the
clerks, notably those in the transcrib
ing rooms, are required to work hard,
and even excessively, but this is com
pensated for by the far more numer
ous other times, when they have little
or nothing to do. Outside of two or
three in each house, none of tjiem put
In as much time, or render as much
service, as would be exacted from
them in private or corporate employ
for much less remuneration.
Up to and including 1883 the force
was large enough in all conscience. It
is not easy to dig out of the records
—they are generally in so unsatisfac
tory a state as to details, and change
their form so frequently from year to
year—with absolute accuracy, Just the
Information of which one is in search.
But, in EO far as can be gathered
from the reports of the auditor gen
eral and the general appropriation acts,
the senate in that year had 41 officers
and employes and the house, which was
Democratic, 37. The very next legis
lative year (1885), however, the number
In the house was increased to 68 regu
lars and two extras, making 60 in all.
There was no need or reasonable ex
cuse for the jump. The 7 clerks of
1883 did as much Work as the 10 of
1885, the 6 pasters and folders of 1883
put up and sent out the documents as
promptly as the 11 of 1885, and the 10
pages of 1883 served the personal needs
of the members as faithfully and fully
as the 15 of 1885. But there was de
mand for more sinecures to compen
sate the "workers," who had repaired
in 1885 the damage the machine had
suffered at the hands of the Demo
crats and Independents in 1882, and
they had to be provided.
There were no apparent increases of
the force in either body for the ensuing
10 years, the 41 sufficing in the senate
and the 58 in the house. But in 1895
came an enormous Jump, the number
in the senate being increased to 47 and
that In the house to 69. In fact, ex
cepting the "extra employes," which
gave rise to the indemnity bond scan
dal, there were no more in 1897 than
in 1895. It was the legislature of the
last named year that was the primary
offender in this regard, notwithstanding
the fact that it was scarcely noticed
by the gentlemen who were so indig
nant and outraged by the perform
ances of 1857. And in connection with
the 1895 employes in the senate, there
is something singular. An act of March
5 of that year authorizes the chief
clerk to appoint an executive clerk
at $1,600. two additional transcrib
ing clerks at $7 per day and two
additional janitors at the compensa
tion usually allowed that class of em
ployes. These appointments were made,
and the auditor general's report shows
that the salaries stipulated were paid
to the appointees direct from the state
treasury. But it shows also that $3,700
was paid to the chief clerk for the "sal
aries of additional officers and em
ployes under the act of 1895." Who did
that $3,700 go to? Not to the execu
tive clerk and the others lawfully,
though needlessly authorized, for they
got their money from the treasury on
the regular pay rolls. Who, then, got
it? Are we not right in saying that
it is difficult to determine from the rec
ords how many officers and employes
there are?
There is a very loose and entirely
unconstitutional process resorted to
In both houses to provide for extra
employes and for their compensation.
Section 10 of Article 111 of the consti
tution, which article covers the sub
ject of legislation, says:
"The general assembly shall provide
t>y law the number, duties and compen
sation of the officers and employes of
-each house, and no payment shall be
made from the state treasury or be In
any way authorized, to any person, ex
cept to an acting officer or employe
elected or appointed in pursuance of
law."
Section 16 of the same article Is to
the following effect: "No money shall
be paid out of the treasury except
upon appropriations made by law and
on warrant drawn by the proper offi
cers In pursuance therof."
Yet. on the last day of the session
of the house of 1897, Mr. Keyser of
fered and the house passed the follow
ing resolution:
"Resolved, That the payment for ex
tra labor In the house of representa
tives for session of 1897, including com
mittee and transcribing clerks, not pro
yided for by special Items In the appro
priation act, be paid by the chief clerk,
on vouchers approved by the speaker
and attested by the chief oterk, war
rant to be Issued by the auditor gen
eral to the chief clerk or the state
treasurer therefor."
The house has no constitutional right
to vote money In that way. The state
treasurer has no right to issue his war
rant upon any such authorization. The
auditor general has no right to pass
such an account. The question of law
ful right or constltuionality will never,
however, amount to a deterrent when
the machine has a purpose to fulfill,
so long as the machine remains domi
nant in the legislature. There Is but
one cure. The Democrats must cap
ture the body named. The Democratic
house of 1883 was as well, If not better,
se/ved by the 37 lawfully authorized
clefks and employes as was the Re
publican house of 1897 by 69, nearly, If
no't twice, the number. The $27,886 paid
during the regular session of 188$ for
..he service vyas sufficiently extrava
gant. The $74,197 paid in 1897 lor no
better service, If as good, was more
than half of it thrown away. And yet,
if Hastings had permitted it, the ap
propriation wouid have been $12,500
more, that being, In round figures, the
sum of the governor's vetoes in this
line. The increase in the cost of the
senate clerks, etc., has been Just about
as great. The appropriation for 1883
was $23,700. The appropriation for
1887-88 was $47,710, and was $54,976 be
fore being trimmed by the vetoes. And
if William A, Stone should be elected
governor and a majority of machine
legislators returned, every Item vetoed
by Hastings will be reinserted in the
general appropriation bill to cover "a
leflcleneles In salaries, etc.," passed and
approved.
The contingent funds of the senate
and house indicate a like degree of
fraud and extravagance, even if we
admit that the money Is actually ex
pended as professed. In 1883 an appro
priation of $4,000 for the senate and
$5,000 for the house, to be paid, out by
the chief clerks, was considered ade
quate to cover all contingencies. In
addition, the librarian of the senate
got $1,200 for recesß postage, etc., and
the resident clerk of the house got
$1,050 for the same purpose. In 1897
the appropriation for the senate for
contingencies was limited to $8,925, and
for the house to $13,580. In 1895 the limi
tations were $7,700 for the senate and
SIO,BOO for the house. Notwithstanding
this, however, the actual expenditures
by the chief clerks for contingencies
in that year were $8,500 In the senate
and $14,741 in the house. In the senate
the limitation was exceeded by SBOO
and in the house by nearly $3,900. It is
not so much the amounts thus expend
ed that is to be deplored as the impu
dent and daring disregard of constitu
tion and statute law that characterized
them, and the evidence it affords that,
under Republican sway, all the depart
ments of the state government are in
constant collusion to loot the treasury
and swindle the people.
COLONEL SHE'S TEN THOUSAND.
Ills Foe Three Times Turner Tlinn tho
Amount Recovered--'The Accusa
tion, tile Admission, and All
tlie Details.
In the Philadelphia Press of April 18,
1897, was an address delivered by Major
George W. Merrick, of Tioga county,
who was a schoolmate of Colonel W.
A. Stone, the Republican candidate for
governor, in which he said:
"I have undertaken to state from the
stump that Colonel William A. Stone,
now of Allegheny, late of Tioga county,
is the slated candidate for governor;
that his candidacy was agreed upon
by the powers that be some two years
since; that he had served the machine
faithfully, during the whole of his po
litical life; that he said to me fre
quently during the past eight years
that his great ambition In politics was
to be governor, but that he could not
be a candidate for office tfrfMl the 'Old
Man' said so, but he would be when he
did say so; that two years ago In the
senatorial campaign, he made the de
claration that his relations to Mr. Quay
were such that his political fortunes
would rise or fall with those of Mr.
Quay. I asserted also that I did not
deem him a safe man for governor to
stem the tide of corrupt approach upon
the state treasury, since in private life
he had charged the state SIO,OOO for
collecting $2,400.
"Mr. Stone has undertaken to deny
the last statement. Addressing a
meeting at Royersford. April 13, he
said: "It has been said that I charged
the state 310,000 for a case which re
turned $2,400. I never made a charge
against the state.' By this statement
I understand Colonel Stone to deny the
allegation that he received a fee of $lO,-
000 for collecting $2,400. Does he mean
to charge me with accusing him false
ly? I will submit the record, and you
may Judge, gentlemen, who Is guilty
of duplicity. .
"In Colonel Stone's speech last week
In Willlamsport he said, alluding to this
charge: 'X was pained when my old
comrade, Mr. Merrick, stated here In
the dtv of Willlamsport, not for the
purpose of helping me but to injure
me, that I had charged the state of
Pennsylvania SIO,OOO for collecting $2,-
400. This is an old story and retold in
the campaign against me In 1890, but
1 never lost a vote. I never denied the
facts, and I do not deny them now,
but I never presented a bill or made
any charge. That Is 12 years ago, and
is known to everybody in Allegheny
county, and now Major Merrick Is re
viving that old tale.'
"Well, gentlemen, that Is a pretty
broad admission of the truth of my
charge against Brother Stone, but Mr.
Stone is mistaken when he charges me
with reviving this old tale. On Dec.
14, 1897, a clergyman of Wellsboro wrote
him as to the truth of this allegation,
asking for information, saying: 'ln ref
erence to the past record to which you
refer, I wouid say that for some years
there has been a report current here
that once In a case In which you col
lected a claim for the commonwealth
In the amount of about $3,000 you
charged and received a fee of $10,000;
the story seems to be well supported.
If it is true it would suggest some doubt
as to the propriety of placing you in
the high and responsible control In the
office you seek in the affairs of our
commonwealth. I shall be pleased to
receive an answer to this question.'
"In reply to this letter Candidate
Stone, In a letter dated Washington,
Dec. 20, 1897, from which I now read,
said: 'The matter of the fee which you
speak of occurred nearly 12 years ago.
My fee was not fixed by me, but it was
fixed at the request of the auditor gen
eral by attorneys in Pittsburg at $lO,-
000, which the state paid me. Of course
I I am aware that my enemies will raise
! many objections to my candidacy,which
] will appear from time to time in the
newspapers, but it is not my purpose,
' nor has it been my practice, to pay at
| tention to them.' "
{ Major Merrick Is a prominent attor
' ney. He Is a Republican and a na
tive of the county where Candidate
Stone was born, and lived many yeara.
, He was Stone's schoolmate and his
friend in later years. He was every
thing that would have Inclined him
to be Stone's friend. Charges of ao
grave a character, coming from such
a source, would be a serious business,
even without Stone's admission of their
truth, as above avowed.
I ' '
COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG, PA
WAR INDEMNITIES.
The PeniiltiM liii|iiiie<l Sly Nution Fpon
Their Coiiq tiered I oi.
Perhaps the most onerous terms evei
imposed by a eonqueror upon his de
feated foe were those to which Ger
many subjected France in 1871, at
the close of the historic conflict that
culminated In the capitulation of Paris.
They consisted of the cession of the
major portion of Alsace and of Lor
raine, Including the great fortresses of
Strasburg and of jlotz, and the pay
ment of war indemnity amounting to
the colossal sum of $1,000,000,000. The
entire civilized world was startled by
the magnitude of the sum, and very
widespread doubts were expressed aa
to whether poor Franee, which was
believed to be crushed beyond recov
ery, would ever be able to pay. But
these apprehensions proved to be un
founded, and the billion of dollars was
paid with such rapidity and with so
little apparent effort that Prince Bis
marck and the German authorities,
past and present, have never ceased
to lament ever since that they did not
stipulate for double tbe amount. This
indemnity is worthy of especial no
tice, for the reason that It greatly ex
ceeded the actual expense to which
Germany was put by the war, and
was therefore a punitive or "moral
and Intellectual damage"' Indemnity,
to some extent, such as "Oom" Paul
Ivruger wanted to collect from Eng
land for the Jameson raid. In the war
of 1870-Tl. the time was twenty-eight
weeks from the entrance of German
troops Into French territory to the
surrender of Belfort. The German
troops engaged may be taken, for
practical purposes, as an even million,
the official figures of the active forces
being 781,000 at tlie commencement of
the war and 037,000 at Its close. The
total German losses are placed at 128,-
000, the killed alone numbering 20,-
000.
Germany therefore received In cash
$35 a week for each man's services, or
SB,OOO for each man lost; on the whole
pretty good pay. But Germany—or
Prussia—has a hahlt that way. Only
four years before the war with France
she took $11,750,000 from Austria and
her allies, beside $3,750,000 requisi
tioned during the campaign. This war
lasted only a month. Prussia had
437,000 men In the field, and lost 11,-
000. The Indemnity gave her $25 a
week for each man's services, or $4,-
250 for each man lost However, It
was an enormously expensive war for
Prussia, costing her some $115,000.-
000, so that the Indemnity did not
make her balance good.
It Is thanks to the Intervention of
Russia that Japan was prevented from
exacting an Indemnity of analogous
proportions at the close of her war
with China. She was forced to con
tent herself with a mere bagatelle of
$185,000,000, receiving In addition
thereto the Island of Formosa and the
Pescadores, neither of which had ever
been of any use, either financial or
political, to China, and which will
make necessary the expenditure of
much treasure and life before Japan
can derive any profit therefrom. The
war lasted about nine months and 80.-
000 troops were engaged on Japan's
side. The indemnity paid, therefore,
SGO a week for each man.
The Turko-Russlan war of 1877
came to a close with the treaty of San
Stefano. the terms of which were re
vised In 1878 by the congress of Ber
lin. They comprised, among other
things, the surrender of the sultan's
protectorate over Roumanla and Ser
vla, the practical abandonment to Aus
tria of Herzegovina and Bosnia, the
grant of Independence to Bulgaria and
of autonomy to Rumella, the Prince of
Bulgaria remaining, however, subject
to the suzerainty of the sultan. The
treaty likewise provided for tho ces
sion of a strip of Turkish territory to
Greece, but this clause was never en
forced. and finally the Sublime Porte
was compelled to pay a war Indemnity
to Russia amounting to the sum of
$160,000,000. Russia demanded a much
larger Indemnity than that, however.
For costs of the war she demanded
$450,005,000. and for losses to Russian
subjects and Russian commeroe $251.-
000.000, a total of $701,000,000. The
Indemnity finally awarded to her In
cash and land, amounts to $0.23 a week
for each soldier engaged In the war.
Great Britain hus received two In
demnities of considerable amount from
China. The first was one of $20,000,000
altogether, but part of It went to com
pensate merchants for opium deliv
ered up to the Chinese government,
nd the portion specifically claimed on
account of the expenses of the expe
dition just equalled the vote of credit.
The second ludemnlty, of 1800. was
about $10,000,000, or less than one
tfilrd of the vote of credit for the war.
The settlement of Canada's claim for
Indemnity for the Fenian raids from
this country Is noteworthy. By the
first raid Canudn lost six men killed
and thirty-one wounded; she had to
call 20.000 volunteers to arms; she had
to guard the frontier with 17.000 reg
ulars and volunteers, as well as sev
eral gunboats on the rivers and lakes.
Her farmers lost heavily, as the raid
occurred at a busy time of the year;
and she had to pny away a lot of
money In pensions and gratuities. Yet
tho United States did not pay a farth
ing compensation! When Canada
pressed the matter on the home gov
ernment she was assured that It was
not worth while making a claim, as
"tho amount of compensation would
be so small."
No indemnity was exacted from
Denmark at tbe close of tbe war of
1864, neither was any money exacted
at tbe close of the war of 1859 between
Austria on one side and Italy and
Franco on the other, tin tact the ex
action of war Indemnities may be re
garded as a practice of, relatively mod
ern origin, the vtctqrs In former times
having contented themselves with the
surrender of territory on the part of
the defeated foe.
The Kind You Have Always Bought, aud which has been
iu use for over 30 years, has borne the signature of
and has been made under his per
( -/J 2 - . sonal supervision sinco its infancy.
Allow no one to deceive you in this.
All Counterfeits, Imitations and Substitutes are but Ex
periments that trifle with and endanger the health of
Infants and Children—Experience against Experiment.
What is CASTOR!A
Castoria is a substitute for Castor Oil, Paregoric, Drops
and Soothing Syrups. It is Harmless and Pleasant. It
contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic
substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms
and allays Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea aud Wind
Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation
and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the
Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep.
The Children's Panacea—The Mother's Friend.
GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS
jrt Bears the Signature of _
The Kind You Have Always Bought
In Use For Over 30 Years.
THK CENTAUR COMPANY. TT MURRAY BTRCCT, NEW VORK CITY.
STOVE NAPTHA, the Cheapest and
Best Fuel on the market. With it you
can run a Vapor Stove for one-hall
cent per hour. Give us a call and be
convinced.
W. O. Holmes, Bloomsburg, Pa.
Eshleman & Wolf, "
L. E. Wharey, "
W. F. Hartman, "
A Limbless Millionaire,
Portland, Ore., corresdonpence of
the San Francisco Bulletin.
Henry YVendhoft", of Mauch Creek,
Penn., at present visiting friends here,
is perhaps the only armless and legless
millionaire known on earth. His arms
were amputated beiow the elbow and
his legs beiow the knees twenty-two
years ago, so that by this time he has
succeeded in accepting his afliction
most philosophically.
Mr. Wendhoff, who came here re
cently, attended by a valet, weighs 200
pounds, and is as jolly as if he were in
possession ot perfect physical health
and all his limbs. His valet has been
with him ten years, and he says that
he yet has to see Mr. Wendhoff out
of temper, despite the many discom
forts his physical disability entails.
The afflicted man manages to walk
fairly well on two automatic legs made
for him in Vienna and fitted up with
an ingenious mechanism that materi
ally aids his locomotion. He also
has two mechanical forearms, the
hands of which enable him to hold a
handkeichief, newspaper, book, etc.,
and to pick up articles from the table.
These four artificial limbs cost $25,-
000 betore they were brought to their
present state of perfection.
Volume on Domestic Animals.
A volume of 500 pages, giving the
treatment, cure and care of domes
tic animals, horses, cattle, sheep, dogs,
hogs and poultry—by Ur. Frederick
Humphreys, an acknowledged author
ity on the subject, the discoverer of
Humhreys' Veterinary Specifics, with
which more animals are treated,cured
and saved, than by any other known
system of medicine.
This book is sent free on request
by addressing the Humphreys' Hom
eopathic Medicine Co., Cor. William
and John Sts., New York.
HAVE YOU A SKIN DISEASE?—
Tetter, salt rheum, scald head, ring
worm, eczema, itch, barber's itch, ul
cers, blotches, chronic erysipelas, liver
spots, prurigo, psoriasis, or other erup
tions of the skin—what Dr. Agnew's
Ointment has done for others it can
do for you—cure you. One applica
tion gives relief. 35 cents. 23
Sold by C. A. Kleim.
CASTOR IA
For Infants and Children.
Tbe Kind Yon Have Always Bought
Signature of
Beduced Bates to Pittsburg-
Via Pennsylvania Railroad. Account Knighis
Templar Triennial Conclave.
On account of the Knights Tem
plar Triennial Conclave, to be held
at Pittsburg, Pa., October 10 to 14,
the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany will sell excursion tickets
from stations on its line to Pitts
burg aud return at rate of single
fare for the round trip, with mini
mum of 25 cents.
Tickets will be sold October 8 to
'3. good to return until October 17,
inclusive. The return limit of
tickets from Ifarrisburg and points
east thereof can be extended to Oc
tober 31 upon depositing same on
October 13 to 17 with the Joint
Agent at Pittsburg and the pay
ment of fifty cents.
OFFENSIVE EVEN TO MYSELF.—F.
A. Bottom, druggist, Cookshire, Que.,
says: "For twenty years I suffered
from catarrh. My breath was very
offensive, even to myself. I tried ev
erything which promised me a cure.
In almost all instances 1 had to pio
claim them no good at all. I was in
duced to try Dr. Agnew's Catarrhal
Powder. I got relief instantly after
first application. It cured me and I
am free from all the effects of it."
Sold by C. A. Kleim.
Almost a Complete Wreck-
St. Patrick's church, at Audenried,
is almost a complete wreck because
of extensive depressions under the
foundation wails. The altar and all
fixtures pertaining thereto have been
removed from the church and other
furniture taken from the rear to the
lront of the property to be in readi
ness for {another crush. Forty hours
devotion services, for which prepara
tions had been made, have been in
definitely postponed and the church
will be abandoned for the present.
You ARE MAKING a great mistake
in not sending for a 10 cent trial size
of Ely's Cream Balm. It is a specific
for catairh and cold in the head. We
mail it, or the 50 cent size. Druggists
all keep it. Ely Brothers, 56 Warren
Street, New York.
Catarrh caused difficulty in speak
ing and to a great extent loss of hear
ing. By the use of Ely's Cream Balm
dropping of mucus has ceased, voice
and hearing have greatly improved.—
J. W. Davidson, Att'y at Law, Mon
mouth, III."
OABTORIA.
Basra tlx Kind Yo Htw Alain BongM
Fine PHOTO
GRAPHS and
CRAYONS at
R. B. GROTZ,
Bloomsburg.
The best are
the cheapest.
TID-BITS FOR MA' HONEY!
and tender little juicelets for the chil
dren, ate all right, but papa and "the
boys" want a good, big, juicy steak,
roast or chop when business or school
duties are over, and we can cater-to
them all. Our stock of prime meats is
unexcelled for quality, and we send
them home in fine shape.
J. E. KEIPFR
THE MARKETS.
BLOOMSBURG MARKETS.
COBBBOTBD WBBKLY. BXTAIL PBICBS.
Butter per lb $ .23
Eggs per do/en .16
Lard per lb ,c 8
Ham per pound .10
Pork, whole, per pound ,c 6
Beef, quarter, per pound.... .07
Wheat per bushel .So
Oats " " 35
Rye " " .50
Wheat flour per bbl 4.80
Hay per ton 9 to $lO
Potatoes per bushel .80
Turnips " " ,j
Onions " " 100
Sweet potatoes per peck .25
Tallow per lb .05
Sho'ulder " " .09
Side meat " " .08
Vinegar, per qt ,05
Dried apples per lb .05
Dried cherries, pitted .12
Raspberries ,ia
Cow Hides per lb _
Steer " " o|
Calf Skin .80
Sheep pelts .75
Shelled corn per bus .60
Corn meal, cwt 1.25
Bran, " .05
Chop " .95
Middlings " ,95
Chickens per lb new .12
" "old TO
Turkeys " " Ta J
Geese " " .14
Ducks " " .08
COAL.'
No. 6, delivered .6e
" 4 and s " 3.85
" 6 at yard 3.35
" 4 and 5 at yard ' 3 60
Tlf Leading Conierfalorr of Amarlni ,—-""3
Caul Fabltbn. Director. Uj
Founded In 1833 by
living: full information.
W. HALE, General Manaftr.
Drives
; | away _/if *TVnr
; 1 pain. pIMfcLJ
PATENTS ~
Caveats and Trade Marks obtained, and all
Patent business conducted tor MODULATE
OUK OFFICEIB OPPOSITE THE U. 8. PAT
ENT OFFICE. We have no al
business direct, hence can transact patent bust
ness in less time and at Less Cost than those re
mote from Washington.
Send model, drawing or photo, with deserts
tlon. We advise If patentable or not, freed!
charge. Our fee not due till patent Is secured
A book, "How to Obtain Patents," wlthiSer
ences to actual clients In your state,Oountr. o
town sent free. Address
C. A. BNO W CO., Washington, D. O
(Opposite U. 8. Patent Omoe.j
■ PARKER'S
_ HAIR BALSAM
ClMmn snd bssutiflM Iks lsk.
Promote# S hnrarisnt growth.
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