THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURft, iilKUilllJ!. O U:iL'JI J. SESSION OF 1905 Boas Mansion Gonvei ted Into a "Houss of Mirth" in Harrisburg. PARTY BOSSES PUN INIQUITY Senatort Slsson and Stober, Republi can Candidates, Supported All the Vicious Legislation That Made the Session of 1905 Infamous. The legislature of 19D5 was a "hal cyon and vociferous" affair. In Imita tion of the Albany "House of Mirth,' the Boas mansion In HarrLslmrg 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 "yellow dogs" of all sorts and con dltlons. Kf.ch night the gang asseni bled within Its hospitable walla and planned and schemed the looting oper ations of the Immediate future. It was the sent of revelry and a fountain ot corruption. The legislature of 1003 has gone In to history ns the most wanton and venal in the history of the state, lis work was so bad that f!ovcrnor Pen ny packer felt constrained to call It back to repeal most of its measures, and the men 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 lO't.", has no parallel. No other legislature within the memory of man has such a record. The legislature of 1005 was as (;;or to defeat good legislation as it was zealous la promoting bad. Tew good bills got cut of committee, and such as did were allowed to die on the cal endar. Early In the session Senator Goeiiilng. of Pittsburg, introduced a bill providing for civil service tests In the selection of state officers, but it was stifled in the committee. Mr. Kd miston, of Bradford, introduced a bill requiring that anthracite coal offered for sale in the state be 93 per cent pnre, and it met the same fate. There were a good many other 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 loft to conjecture. Hut the managers of the dominant party were against such legislation or it would have passed. Senators Slsson and Stober invariably voted as the machine manager directed, and it is safe to say that they were against the bills that failed. No Uncertainty on Vicious Bills. But there is no uncertainty as to how the Republican candidates for au ditor general and state treasurer voted on the vicious leglsdation 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, 1005, page 308. One of the principal jobs of the ses sion was the "act to amend an act relating to the board of public grounds and buildings." Upon this measure Mr. Slsson and Mr. Stober voted In the af firmative, f Senate Journal. 1003, page 842. In vetoing this bill Governor Pennypacker said: "The effect of this bill, if it became a law, would bo to authorize the board of public grounds and buildings to engage the services of 132 new employes. The amount of their salary and compensation, togeth er with the increases of salaries and compensations of persons now em ployed, would amount to the sum of $21G,900 for the ensuing two years. Vetoes by the governor, 1005, page 158. A bill to increass the number of courts In Allegheny county was voted for by both Sisson and Stober. Senate Journal, 1003, page 353. 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 oounty from nine to fifteen and to lea 1 to an expenditure In salaries alone of the annual sum of $31,000." Vetoes by the governor, 1905, page 18. Bills were passed providing for ad ditional law Judges in Cambria county, Senate Journal, 1903, page 888, and in Erie county, Senate Journal, 1905, page 492, Slsson and Stober voting for both 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 courts was passed finally on Feb. 23, Sisson and Stober voting in the affirmative. Sen ate Journal, 1905, pages 556-557. 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 ercise control over the courts." Vetoes hp the governor, 1905, page 24. Corporations Favored Freely. An Oct declaring valid and Inde feasible as to any right of escheat in this commonwealth was voted for by both Slsson and Stober, Senate Jour nal, 1905, page 801. This measure also M a victim to Governor PennypacU er'? veto axe. In his veto message the governor said: "To permit corpora tlons, organized for reasons given above in other states, to hold real es tate and do business here, would be, In effect, to nullify, Indirectly, our own laws. This bill presents to such cor porations an easy means of escape from the disabilities Imposed upon 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 railroads under lease, and saving their charters and franchises from forfeiture or impairment in case of failure ot their lessees to maintain nnd 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 tins cost of leasing It. Under existing law failure to operate a piece of railroad for two years works the forfeit tire of the fran chise, and communities damaged by being deprived of railroad facilities to which they are entitled could build a new branch and connrvt with nnother road. But this bill would have given the big concern power to close up the smnller road permanently. U was pass ed by the senate finally on March 31. Sisson and Stober voting for it. Sen ate Journal, 1903, page 850. Governor Pennypacker vetoed it. Vetoes of the governor, 10o5, page Cfi. One of the most absurd bills con sidered during the session was one au thorizing coroners in counties of pop ulation between 100,000 anil 125.000 to employ stenographers at a compensa tion of ft a day. Both Slsson and Stober voted for it. Senate Journal, 1905, page 1070. Fortunately It was vetoed. Another legislative absurdity was a bill providing for the draining of swampy lands, ami both Sisson and Stober voted for it. Senate Journal, 1905, page 1031. In vetoing this pre posterous proposition Governor Pen nypacker r.nid that owners of swampy lands on'-jbt. to pay the expenses of their own improvements, and that if the measure should become a law it would clandestinely bestow upon tin owners of the land the right of emi nent domain. Vetoes by the governor, 1905, page 41. A Ripper In Disguise. The bill to provide for the employ. mr nt 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. Slsson nnd Stober voted for the bill. Senate Journal. 1005, page 897. Governor Pennypacker disapproved It because It deprived the people of their 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 1003. 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 stocks 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 preserve the purity of the water of the state" was another serpent. It provided that consent of the board of henlth should be obtained before any community or company could erect water works. The iniquity was fought with considerable energy and was supported at every stage by Sisson and Stober. On final passage, however, Sisson dodged the roll call, but Stober is recorded as voting for it. Senate Journal, 1903, page 99S. The gang didn't feel quite secure with the legislation thus far obtained, and Senator McNichol, the Philadel phia contractor-politician, introduced a bill to create a commission to regu late the water supply and control tho watersheds of the state. This measure was railroaded through at a high rate of speed. It was "read In place" March 15 and passed finally March 22, Sl3son and Stober both voting in the affirma 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 the office of district attorney to that of mayor as a reward for permitting Sam Salter to be acquitted, was Indulging In some Insincere reform pretunces, and the machine concluded to "clip his wings," so to speak. The "rippers" provided for the election of the heads 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 "tho 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 were voted for- by Sisson and Stober, how over. Senate Journal, 1905, pages 1283 and 1281. It was in this veto message that Pennypacker eulogized tho lato Mr. Durham as "the most Influential political leader In Philadelphia." Ve toes by the governor, 1905, page 1G7, A merry little Joker of the session was the bill Increasing the salary ot tho deputy lnnurar.ee commissioner Mr. Durham wan insurance commis sinner at the time, but he was so bus managing the politics nnd "milking' the people of that city that be couldn't get to Ilarrisburg oltcner than once in two or three months. The warrant? for bis salary had actually t:) be sent to him by mail. This alis- ntce'sr.) do vol veil a good deal of nMillonal labnt on the deputy, and Mr. Durham's per vile slaves In the legislature naturally concluded that hri recompense ought to be Increased In Fie intio that hi burdens were multiplied, Slsson and Stober vote:! for the bill. Senate Join nal, 1905. page 1f,S9. The Quay statue bill was "the apple of the eye" of the machine at tho time nnd ever since has been tho burden ( its grief and an abomination. Slsson nnd Stober both voted for it. Senate Journal, 1905, page 15S9. 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 smallet corporation whale. There are a num ber of men In the cities, tin horn gam biers, thimble-riggers and other sorts, who go to the legislature or ply theit 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 i and passed. Sisson nnd Stober voting' In the affirmative. Senate Journal.: 1905. page 1590. Pv iinypacker 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 stitutlon. the spirit of the common law and the traditions of the country. Sisson and Stober voted for it. Senate Journal, 1905, page S95. The bill was Vetoed. The bill to rebate ta::rs on forest la"ds, enacted duWriS the pesr-lon ot 19i:5. was what the c-M-tlniers woul 1 call "a little thing" for the timber and tannery trusts. It providr-1 for a re bate of ) per cent of the taxes on Forub timber tracts for a period ot thirty-five yeprs. Before it was Intro duced tho trusts had bought up prac tically ail that l.inl of land in th? state with a view of boi ling it until another crop got rip? and ready for the axe. Pavt.ig taxed on land during the period in which they were waiting would be expensive, and the always fertile-minded trust managers conceiv ed the plan expressed in this law to escape the burden. These facts were pointed out clearly, but the trust agents stick together, and the bill was passed. Sisson and Stober voting for it. Senate Journal, 1905. pase 1340. The bill to increase the salary of tho harbor master of Philadelphia was the paymeut of another Installment of the machine obligation for the acquittal of Sam Salter. The then harbor master swore to all kinds of nlibis and other things to Justify the packed jury in voting to acquit the champion ballot box stuffer, and the easiest way to reward h!:u for his crimes was to in crease his uabry. The bill passed finally. Sisson and Stober voting for it. Senate Journal, 1903, page 1089. The acquittal of Salter haa cost the state more than any oilier 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 HOC, 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 wretched grammar and other delinquencies in form and expression of the bills sent i to him for approval. Finally the legls- j lature passed a law providing for the I appointment of a man to edit the bills and whip them Into some sort of shape. Keally the purpose was to pro vide a fat and eminently respectable job for some favorite political "lame duck." and Peniiypacker's criticism in spired the Idea and furnished the ex cuse. Both Sisson and Stober voted for the bill. Senate Journal, 1903. page 781. Another office of similar char acter was created during the cession of 1909, both Slsson and Stober voting for it. The lawyers of Pennsylvania are bearing testimony, every clay, to their high appreciation of the learning, abil ity end fitness of C. Laltuo Munson for a seat on the supreme court bench. Wherever Mr. Munson goes ho is most cordially and enthusiastically received by lawyers. Even the partisan lawyer relaxes his prejudices when the ques tion of putting a fit or unfit man on the bench confronts him. Mr. Munson fulfills the lawyers' ideal of a Judge and the lawyers will express that fact at the polls this year. Democrats used to win in Pennsyl vania because they used to feel that good government is as Important to the average citizen as good crops. In this country the average farmer, with a family of four or five children, pays the prlco of fifty bushels of corn an nually In excessive taxes. If ho would sacrifice time to the value of ono bushel of corn in order to voto the Democratic ticket, tho party which overtaxes blm would bo put out of business and ho would perform a civic duty and iwave money. DEFEAT AMENDMENT" NO, 7 IS URGENT DUTY Pittsburg Charnbsr of Commerce Sounds Alarm to Voters. City Gangsters Could Manipulate Elec tion Results, Through Corrupt Elec tion Officers, If the Seventh Amend ment Is Adopted. Defeat of amendment No. 7, of the series of constitutional amendments on which the people of Pennsylvania are to vote this fall, has been called for by the Pittsburg Chamber of Com merce. It Is the fear of tho Chamber of Commerce that amendment No. 7 will allow political schemers to gain con trol ofcity election boards for crooked purposes. Should this particular amendment be adopted, it would open the way for the naming of such boards In the- city by appointment instead of by election. That change undoubtedly would serve to make election boards more corrupt and to multiply ballot frauds. In a public Malemont the directors of the Chamber of Commerce say: The board of directors of the Cham ber of Commerce of Pittsburg would respectfully call attention to the fol lowing matter of vital importance to the (itu'tis of Pennsylvania, and one worthy of the most can ful consider ation and action by the electors of the mate: lly joint resolution of the senate and house- of general semhly of Pennsyl vania, paused a'., t.ie kcss-'ioii ot r.'"i. a i number of r.:::e:ii!!:ieirs were projos"-! : to tin.' present constitution of tins state. Anion;; them are the following: "Amendim nt 7 To Article VIII. Feet Ion I 1. "Section S. ,'riend Section II of Article VIII, .' Iiieh reads as fol lows: "District elc et inn boards shall con sist of a judge and two Inspectors, who shall be chosen nlinu illy by the citizens. Kach elector shall have the right to vote for tho judge and one inspector, and each inspector shall appoint one clerk. The first election board for any new district shall be selected and vacancies in election boards tilled ns shall be provided by law. Flec tion officers shall be' privileged from arrest upon days of election and while engaged in making up and transmitting returns, except upon warrant of a court of record or judge thereof, for an election fraud, for felony or wanton breach of the peace. In cities they may claim exemption from jury duty during their terms of service. "So as to reail : "District election boards shnll consist of a judge and two inspec tors, who shall be chosen bien nially by the citizens at the mu nicipal election: but the general assembly may require said boards to be appointed in such manner as it may by law provide. Laws regulating the appointment of said boards may be enacted to apply to cities only; provided that 6uch laws be uniform for cities of the same class. Kach elector shall have the right to vote for the Judge and one Inspector and each inspector shall appoint one clerk. The first election board for any new district shall be selected, and vacancies In election boards filled ns shall be provided by law. Flec tion officers shall be privileged from arrest upon days of election and while engaged In making up and transmitting returns, except upon warrant of a court of record, or judge thereof, for an election fraud, for felony or for wanton breach of the peace. In cities thev may claim t::emption from jury duty during their terms of ser vice." This proposed amendment will be submitted to the voters at the election this fall for approval or rejection, if approved, it b; comes a part of the state constitution, anil must be ob served as such, unless eliminated by a future constitutional amendment. In asmuch as the constitution cannot be amended more than once in live- years, this proposed amendment would' have cons-tderable time to operate before It could be replaced or superseded by an other. The -amendment is surrounded by a multitude of other proposed amend ments, which diwit the mind from its purport, and it Is only by close read ing that its meaning and mischief be come clear. Only forty-eight words seek to change the practice respecting selec tion of election boards for almost a century, and to destroy the first inun dation of tho people's political free dom. These words are s obscure and the amendment bo sandwiched between others of more or less liarnilessness. and placed with such cunning in the proposed amendment itself, that only a close reading reveals the true pur port of the chunge. The proposed amendment first pur ports to leave the constitution just as It Is respecting tne selection or elec tion boards, it begins by repeating al most the exact words of the same sec tion of the present constitution, viz.: "District election boards shall consist of a judge and two inspectors, who shall be chosen biennially (Instead of annually) by the citizens at the mu nicipal election." A hasty reader would overlook the meaning of what follows, for the last part of tho pro posed amendment is similar to the par agraph on the same subject of the present constitution. It is as follows: ''Hut the general assembly may require said board to be appointed in such manner as it may by law provide. Laws regulating the appointment of said boards may be enacted to apply to cities only, provided, etc." It leaves the cities in a worse con dition than the country districts, for by its provisions the country districts may be left in full enjoyment of their ancient privileges, while the cities may lie deprived of them, or both city and country may be legislated into the merciless hands of the political party In power, either or both at the will of the majority. It Is doubtful if such a Iilece of legislation was ever proposed efore to a free and Intelligent people. MM AYegctablc PrcparnlLonfor As similating ilicFoodnndRcula ling the Sloumchs and Dowels of Promotes DigcslioivChecrlur nessandnest.Contains nniilier Opuim.Morpliiuc norHiiitraL KotHaiicotic. vr afOUtirSUKlTirtTCWi flaptin SfJ Jlx Smtm Aiuir.trrd Jtaprmmt -Hi (rtnnlr-ttda CtmhrJ )hrtpM rianr. Apeifccl Kcmedy forConstirvv 1 ion, Sour Stomarh.llicirrhoca Worms .('onvul sions ,r"e vensh ncss nnd Loss of Sleep. 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