8
THE COLUMBIAN.
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
THURSDAY, MA11CH 21, 1907
IIARRISBURQ LETTER.
Special Correspondence.
Harrisburg, Pa., Mar. 18, 190
There will be a rush out ol
th
State or into the penitentiary
the fin.il result of the capitol srraft
investigation. It has already been
shown that class made in Beaver
couuty has been substituted foi
class-, imported from France as re
quired by the specifications and the
substitution necessarily involved
fraud. Other bidders for the work
rvtimated unou the basis of import
ed class. The favored bidder based
his estimate on the price of domes
tic glass. The difference, some-iV.i-tr
liL-p four-told, is the advan
tage which the favored bidder had
over his competitors.
These facts were obtained by the
examinction of sub-contractors who
supplied Sanderson with materials.
Other sub-contractors will be ex
amined later on and other frauds
will be revealed. It will be shown
that a considerable part of the wal
nut furniture if veneered pine and
that ornaments which should have
betii solid marble or metal are put
ty and paste. By these processes
the State treasury has been looted
to the extent of at least $5,000,
coo. . Probably the money can't be
recovered but criminal proceedings
will run against the perpetrators of
the crimes and justice can be thus
vindicated.
INTENTION OF THE CONSPIRATORS
If J. Lee Plummer had been
elected Stale Treasurer in 1906 the
people of Pennsylvania never would
have .known of these frauds. It
was the intention of the conspira
tors to fasten upon the public mind
the impression that the capitol
building had been completed with
in the. appropriation of $4,000,000,
and the literature for that purpose
had already been prtpared for dis
tribution, when Treasurer Berry
made the exposures. Former Gov
ernor Pennypacker was the princi
pal promoter of the contemplated
fraud. He must have known that
it was false and yet he ei cournged
it in various ways.
In view of these facts it is hardly
necessary to point out the obvious
advantage of a. Democrat in the of
fice of State Treasurer. Mr. Berry's
successor will be chosen at the
election . next fall. The machine
will exiiaust every resource to re
cover that; point of vantage. It is
not only a prolific source of graft,
if misused for that purpose, but it
s a fountain of secret information.
With acquiescent man in that office,
even though he be personally above
reproach and beyond suspicion, the
State funds. can be farmed and the
accounts of all the Departments can
be manipulated.
ANOTHER JhITTLE GRAB.
Another little grab into the State
Treasury has just been revealed.
Pour years ago and again two years
go the publisher ot the. Legislative
Record received e$z.SS a page for
oreparing, printing and publishing
that unusually tardy bulletin of the
proceedings of ithe .Legislature.
Che work is. let by. the Speaker of
he House .nd the , President pro
tern, of the Senate t to the lowest
idder. This year there was only
one bidder and his price, was $12 a
age. The letting . occured while
Henry F. WaKon vwas Speaker and
notwithstanding the obvious fraud
ae contract wae awarded at the ex
orbitant price.
This has called to mind another
auspicious incident. Wbec the con
ract for the State printing was
warded la t there oarere several bid
lers the lowest of which wa3 Clar
ence M. Busch, ,of Philadelphia,
vho fcot the award. The law re
quires that a bond (for the .fulfill
.uent.of the contractaccompany the
oid, whith is forfeited in thcevent
of failure to make good. Never
theless Kr. Busch declined to ac
cept the contract, Jt was then
offered to the next lowest bidder
who declined. The third lowest
tdopted the same course and the
high bidder who happens to be, the
publisher ot the Legislative Record
got the awarl.
Here is what followed. Tlie low
est bidder withdrew his bond and
made no forfeit. The next jo west
bidder became Superinteud&gt of
the plant for the contractor, the
thitd lowest bidder is said to be in
the enjoyment of a rake-off and the
result ot the conspiracy is that the
treasury is being looted constantly
by exorbitant prices for the State
printing. It has been thought that
that operation suggested the plan
tor getting an extortionate price
for publishing the Legislative Re
cord, but instead of taking the
chance? 0 loosing the forfeit, tbo
Yowir Sloqdl
Needs purifying and your whole system renovating in the
spring, as pimples, boils, eruptions, loss of appetite and that,
tired feeling annually prove.
Hood's Sarsaparilla is the most effective medicine ever
devised 'for the complete purification of the blood and the
complete renovation of the whole system.
It will make you feel better, look better, eat and sleep
better and give you the best possible preparation for the hot
days of summer, as over 40,000 people have testified in the
last two years. Today buy and begin to take
Hood's Sarsaparilla
Usual form, liquid, or in tablet form, called Sarsatabs, 100 Doses II.
fit" .nSTKET tui'V'r tlio Fnml nn.l rriiT Art. June 30, liHHt. No. 324.
competing bidders were bought off.
THE STATE CONSTABULARY.
There will be another effort made
within a few days to put a bill to
abolish the State Constabulary on
the calendar and the result will be
watched with a good deal of inter
est. The Pennsylvania Federation
of Labor held a convention in Har
risburg last week and not only ex
pressed its interest in such legisla
tion by resolution but did other
things. One seldom sees a finer
looking body of men than that con
vention. The delegates had corns
on their hands, probably, but they
were dressed like bankers and some
of them spoke with the fluency and
correctnessness of preachers or law
yers.
On Thursday morning they visit
ed the Legislature in a body, the
badges of their organization being
conspicuously displayed. They
didn't create any excitement during
their visit except such as is inevi
table, but their presence in such
force made people "sit up and take
notice." They stood in the lobby
and in the space on the floor be
tween the gallery and the bar and
talked quietly but earnestly to Re
presentatives 111 the Legislature.
1 he Senate was not in session at
the time, more's the pity, but the
incident made a profound impress
ion on the House.cnd if the bill gels
on the caianaar something will
drop.
REFORM MEASURES MOVE SLOWLY.
The reform measures which it
was couudently expected would
run like wild fire" through the
Legislature, are making slow pro
gress instead. The two-cent a mile
passenger rate bill which passed
the House just before the Spring
election Tecess has been reported
from the Senate committee with an
amendment which further weakens
it. That is to say as.it passed the
House imprisonment of officials of
the railroad was one of the penalties
for the violation of the law. That
feature has been stricken from the
measure. Everybody knows that
powerful corporat ions don't care
much for fines but their officers
have a wholesome .dread of im
prisonment. The bill giving trolley roads the
right of eminent domain got a bump
on Thursday. It was recommitted
for general amendment. It needed
some alterations and if the action
was taken in good faith .there may
be no loss either in time or any other
way by the action. But those of
us who have watched tthe various
processes of stifling legislation in
variably take a recommittal as an
omen of death by strangulation.
The friends of the legislation in
question may prevent Xhat result,
it it is intended, by vigilance and
courage and it is abso'utely certain
that both will be required.
SOME OF THE SURPRISES.
The progress of Mr. Creasy 's
antitrust bill is one of the wonders
of .be session. The very mention
of the bill spreads consternation
among the trust magnates and still
it moves onward toward final pass
age without the least interruption.
while it was on second reading the
other day a motion to recommit
was defeated notwithstanding a
DR. KENNEDY'S
FAVORITE
if Remedy
Breaks no Hearts, Excuses
no Crimes.
Dr. Dtwhl Kpntwilv'n FA VfiTtTTW UVML
J!DY is not a disguised onomy of the human
E-ic-u ; w ik.-re it camioi ueip, it UiKi not
,lu rm. Jt ia composed of vecotall iuore.
liut8 ant doe not beat or Inflame the
blnrnl tint PAinlu nrwl rmriflua if T, nil jm.!..
, . . , - uf ...... . ... .uuii.ngc.
of Kidney trvubles, hirer complaints, Con
stipation of tthe Bowels, and the delicate
derumt-menU which ufHwt women, the ac
tion .$! Dr. Kennedy'. FAVORITE REM
EDY la beyoaJ pruine. Thousands of
trratoful tutonla voluntarily ...-( if v in ttiU
in letters to Dr. Kennedy 1 and with a
warmth ant fullneiM of word which mere
WiinijH oerlittuute never jobsob8. It
inake.fl no f1mnkiLrr1ii4TniiuAa .n'm
treuki no heart. We challenge a trial and
are oonnotint or tue result. ONE DOLLAR
a Bottle. AU drugiints. Jlenr in mind the
name and address. Dr. DwtUl KENNEDY,
ltondout, New York, Write for free ho.
pie bottle and mediciil booklet full of velu
ble tu.0i.ul advice, Mvutipn. thi paper.
THE COLUMBIAN,
strone assertion that its passage
would impoverish widows and
orphans whose funds were invested
in such securities The interest
which agents of the trusts take in
widows and orphans under certain
circumstances is pathetic.
The bill to tax companies is also
moving forward with surprising
celerity. In the old days when the
Penrose-Durham machine and the
United Gas Improvement company
of Philadelphia, were running the
Legislature for their joiut profit and
advantage such n bill would have
been jumped upon with both feet
before it had reached the centre of
the committee room. But this year
it was not only promptly reported
from the committee, took its place
on the calendars of first and second
reading but was considered in its
regular order. Maybe the inten
tion is to brain-clout it later on.
HIGHWAY BUILDING AND IMPROVE
MENTS. The proposition to borrow $50,
000,000 in order to create a fund for
road construction and improvement
would "take one's brenth away,"
probably, if he didn't know how
prolific in graft the State Highway
Department is. With such a vast
sum of money to come and o on
that department could easily supply
the machine with ample funds for
ordinary party work and give every
party boss sufficient to piovide
strawberries for breakfast in mid
winter, which I understand, is the
highest aspiration of those states
men. It would be almost equal to
State ownership of the railroads as
a party asset.
Nothing can be justly said
against generous expenditures for
the construction and maintenance
of highways. Good roads are a
help to the farmer, an advantage 10
the mechanic, a boom to the busi
ness man, and a beneficence to
everybody. But the method of
creating them should be completely
changed before another dollar is
appropriated by the legislature to
the State Department of Highways.
It is not only wasteful but corrupt
and it is safe to say that every foot
of road built under the direction ot
the Department has cost double its
real value. In other words half the
money disbursed goes in graft and
folly. !
SPECULATING ON ADJOURNMENT.
People about the capitol are be
ginning to speculate as to the
length of the session and predic
tions are made that the final ad
journment will be about the middle
of May. That would give about
eight weeks for work and a vast
amount of legislation ought to be
perfected in. that time. I am inclined
to think that it will be impossible
to complete the work a couple of
weeks earlier than that. But to
accomplish that result it will be
necessary that better order be main
tained in the House. At present
it is very much like a primary
school and the Speaker would be a
Botd understudy for a teacher of
such an establishment.
G. D. H.
Supervisors' Blanks.
We have printed a supply of
blanks for Supervisors under the
new law, and will keep them in
stock. They include order books,
tax notices, and daily ro-d reports.
Samples aeut on application, tf.
WHY We LAUGH.
"A Little Nonsense Now and Then,
Js Relished by tu Wisest Men."
Judge's Quarterly, $1.00 a year
Judge's Library, $1.00 a year
Sis Hopkins' Mon., $1.00 a year
On receipt of Twenty Cents, we will enter your name
for three months' trial subscrintion for- either of thp: hricrht
witty, and humorous journals,
it ft i r t
icue s weeKiy or juage
Address
Judge
225 Fourth Avenue
BLOOMSBUfsfl. PA,
THE MOST BECOMING COLOR
Shades for the Brunette end H11
Auburn Haired.
Not one wotunn In ton realizes thfl
importance of awcrtalnlni? and mak
ing a careful study of onn particular
color most becoming to her and cf
always having a touch of It Introduced
in some part of her dress.
The auburn-haired woman looki
best In brown shading Into the tortea
of her hair or In rich, dark greens.
The yellow-haired girl can wear
red. The greens, too, are delightful
on her, also certain yellows and black.
White Is less becoming, but she must
be brilliant In complexion or else
most delicate as to tints to wear grays
and blues to advantages. Blues, par
ticularly the pale and cold bluos, are
beat adapted to brunettes, says Wo
man's Life.
The woman whose hair is a dull
brown and whose complexion and
eyes lack brilliancy may still be most
attractive, but she should avoid bright
tatted or glittering hats. Dull browns,
neither yellowish nor reddish, should
be eelectod. Avoid the satin straws.
Take the dull finish.
A Flower and Fruit Holder.
For formal table decoration a sil
ver centerpiece which serves the pur
pose of flower holder, meets with tha
Ideas of many housewives. The flower-holder
may be had in different
sizes the demand being for those of
moderate height. Occasionally a tall
centerpiece la selected and one such
as here illustrated Is the latest type
and is an exceptionally ornate piece of
workmanship. It differs from the gen
erality of tall flower holders in that
three silver dishes are attached which
may be used Independently when d
sired for bon-bons, or almonds. Thfe
combination flower-holder makes an
especially effective decoration for an
elaborately arranged dinner table.
Coal Counties to Form Pool.
Purpose is Fight tor Increased Taxation on
Fuel Tracts.
The big coal companies of the an
thracite region having united in an
appeal to the Courts to prevent
taxation on their coal tracts, the
Commissioners ot Schuylkill and
Northumberland Counties, at a
meeting held at Pottsville Tuesday,
took step3 which will probably be
joined in by all the coal counties to
pool their issues just as the cor
porations have done. The com
panies will strongly contend that
the iucrease of their taxation 200
or 300 per cent, on some lands is
unjustifiable.
We are prepared to furnish the
Woman" s Home Companion for 50
cents a year when taken with The
Columbian. The two for only
$1.50. Send in your name while
the offer lastc tf.
Demand for Farm Lands.
There is a good demand just now
for farming properties, the first of
April being the time of transfers of
tenants and ow ners, and there is a
probability of many old farms being
worked again as well as the cutting
up of the larger farms into smaller
plots. This large increase in the
price and demand for farms is be
cause the farmers are making more
money these days than ever before
in the history of the country. Farm
lands were quite a drug on the
market up to recent yearn and could
not be sold at any price, lands that
were from $20 to $50 an acre have
1 i j.
very largely increased in price, so
that it is a poor contract that is not
quoted at from $50 to $100 an acre
farming pays big these days and
tne tarmers are all prosperous.
or for One Dollar will add
tor the same period of time
mpany
New York
N
OOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
GREAT SEMI-ANNUAL
SURPLUS STOCK SALE
Our 2nd surplus stock sale
will eclipse all previous ones,
both as to price reduction and
the enormous stocks of fine
merchandise.
NOW GOING ON.
$1000 IN PRIZES
TO BK DISTRIBUTED AB
SOLUTELY FREE.
Tne the Wtorft contained In the tout ! "VK T
MOKE'S COWAN fT," and form as many wonts
an you can, tiring Iimib either backward or
forward, but do not use any letter In game word
moie:ltnn than tt appears In "WETMOKK'S
COCOANfT." For example, tlio words wet,
ate, too, etc. The person rortnlng the freat,st
number of words uslnif the letters In the text,
will receive fiuoincash; for the) next l.trtfext
list we will (flv'e 7H; for the next f-JA cash, and
for each of the next tn largest Hits we will
Klve m In gold In case two or more people tie
then l tut prize wll. be divided equally between
such persons.
It you aretroodnt word making you can se
cure a valuable prize, as t he Wet more Company
Intends KlvliiR many handsome, special souve
nlr prizes to the persons senill',ir them a list
eonuiiilnit over fifteen words Writ your name
on I1h: of words (num'er) and enclose Iho same
posipald a lib vour name and address, and you
will receive a free suiuple package of Wetmoro's
t'ocoanut.
This word contest will be carefully and con
scientiously conducted, and Is solely for the
purpose of further advertising and Introducing
Wet more's Docminut In new localities. If you
are able to make a Rood list of words and ans
wer promptly, you will stand an equal opportu
nity to secure one ot the valuable prizes.
We Intend spending a larite amount of mon
e l-i the distribution pf prizes In this contest
and assure you that your result will be most
KiHtllylntr. Itcosts nothing to enter the eon.
t-st, but, we will be pleased 10 hove you tell us
whet her your irroceryinan handles Wetmore s
uocoanut or not.. Write your name plainly and
send list as early as poss'ble. Address
THE WETMORE COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
DOCTORS SAY
WHISKEY
Is tha bent stimulant we have.
They nuan, of course, pure whiskey.
It iu Invaluable in many eases. There
seems to be lioudetjtiateBubHtitute for it
Koine people drink too much. Koine
eat too much; Home smoke too much.
For those who need it there in nothing
better than
A. P. WARD & CO'S.
BLACK DIAMOND WHISKEY
Properly aged, rich, smooth flavor; ab-
uoiuieiy pure, rrice moderate.
13 N. Washington St.,
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
NOW IS THE TIMF
of year when you think of cleaning
iiuubo, ttinu til uieuuiug Up 11)6 rUU-
bish and foul matter which has ac-
mimmiitMl ntmnr vnur nmmluu.
j " . i'. Limns O) itj
guard against sickness, but do vou
........ ..I .... . I . . 1 X 1 I . . . .
Old llllllt-lll nnunliltni.r Dl ... 1 .1
1,110 bvuuimi uiuuirni ro tne
Fixtures which breed disease right
Jv uwubct, xi you lUIUK
W lIlSLUilliJg
New Fixtures
I am ready to quote you good price
o n STAN DA RD SANITA Jt Y
MFQ. CO'S Enamel Quads, all fully
guuiuiiieeu.
QAII Jobbing ol Plumbing tnd Healing
Promptly Attended lo
P. M. REIULY,
43M Centre Kt. Bell 'Phone
FHOTOl
For the Satisfactory
Kind in Up-to-date
Styles, go to
CapwelPs Studio,
J(Over Hartm.t Store)
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
:1
W. L. Douglas Shoes
FOR MEN
are worn by more men than
anv other shoe made.
Come in and let us fit you
with a pair.
PRICE,
$3, $3.50 and $4
W. H.MOORE,
Corner Main and Iron Ss.,
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
Our Pianos
are the leaders. Our lines in
clude the following makes :
Chas. M. STIEFF,
Henry F. Miller,
Brewer & Pryor, Koiiler &
Campbell, and Radel.
IN ORGANS we handle the
Estey, Miller.H.Lehr & Co..
j AND BOWLBY.
This Store has the agency for
SINGER HIGH ARM SE W
JNG MACHINES and
VICTOR TALKING
MACHINES.
WASH MACHINES
Helby, 1900, Queen, Key.
stone, Majestic.
J. SALT ZER,
Music Rooms No. 105 West Main
Street, Below Market.
BLOOMSBURG, PA
The New York World
THRICE-A-WEEK EOITI0N.
Read Wherever the English Language 11
Spoken.
The Tlirice-e-Week World hopei to he in
1906 better paper than it has ever been be
(ore and it ha made it. arradeements ac
cordingly. Iti newt service covers the en
tire globe, ana It reort everything fully,
promptly and accurately. It i. the only pa
per. not a daily, which ii ai good ai a daily,
and which will keep you as completely in.
formed ol what is hapning throughout the
wcrld,
i tic Thrice a.Week World is fair in its !
Iitical reports. You can get the truth fiom
us columns, whether you are Republican or
Democrat, and that is what you want.
A special feature of the Thrice-a-Week
World has always been its serial fiction It
publishes novels by the best author in the
world, novels which in book form sell lor
i.So apiece, and its high standard in this
respect wt be mnidtained in the future a. in
the past.
THE THRICE-A-WEEK WORLD'S
regular suoscription price is only fi.co p-r
year, and this pays for 136 papers. We ( J
ler this unequalled newipaper and the Cot
Umbun together for one year for i.co.
1 ,.e Mvi-la, vjbKtli-tton r,r!c of :!,ctw
ln to 92.M. u