Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-09-29

SNuV uso vi lnc means lntrusted 10 u
keporter-l understand you
mean, Judge Packer, that the san
rule that has governed you throun
! liic IN your private affairs and mini
Tered TO your sncress, you would appl
TO the management of the affairs
] the State were they intrusteu to Won
" Judge Packer Most certainly / dl
manage my railroad affairs precisel
nc same as if they were wholly m
'wn. would manage the STA,
tialrs npon the Same principle. Tn
same rule that has given me person,
success in life has made my railroa
q success, and would undoubtedl
make the administration Of the Stat
success.
DISTRIBUTE TIE spoILs WITH RIGI
ECONOMY.
Reporter-But, Judge, you have n
party favorites to reward, or part
paupers to provide for, in the manage
ment of your own affairs or those q
your railroad.
Judge Packer-The public servic
requires numerous officers. 1t is per
ieclly proper in filling those Offices
Tor the appointing power to select it
own friends and supporters. Bnt il
50 doing there should be no create
number appointed than is absolutely
necessary. Why the Stale should b,
called upon to afford sinecures TO DO
litlcnl drones more thnn "A mere cnrnn
ration surpasses my comprehension
AS ! said in my letter of acceptance
the expenses Of the State Government
should be reduced TO the lowest prac
tieable point, thereby lessening the
burdens and taxation of the people.
THE PARDoNING PowER-oLAss LEGIs.
LATIoN.
Reporter-Are these the only ques.
tions involved 10 this canvass I
Judge Packer-No. There are two
others, which ] regard as Of paramount
importance to the safety of the citizen
and the virtue Of the State. refer to
the indiscriminate use Of the pardon.
ing power ard special or class legisla-
tion. While tho one is an incentive
to crime unless cautiously and spa
ringly used, the other engenders cor.
ruption in the State, whereby the
name of legislator becomes a reproach
Against these evils, reaching magni.
tude that has cast dark shadow over
The State, every good citizen should
protest.
Reporter-How would you remedy
these evils
Judge Packer would exercise
clemency only where deserved, and
upon the clearest showing. and would
not hesitate TO exercise the executive
prerogative of the veto against ali
cnnNsuD' 'n a'Coi Upt rptfit, VI mat can
be covered by general laws. In your
own State of New York you have had
some experience Of the evils of this
class OF legislation, and the extent to
which il can be carried and the pres
ont eminent Executive of that State
has shown what influence a Governor
may exert in counteracting and check
ing this evil, which is even greater
with us than with you.
THE RAILROAD MONOPOLY.
Reporter Do not the vast railroad
OF this State virtually
create u great and powerful monopo-
"; and does not this monopoly exert
nm undue influence upon the legislation
Of the StateY
Judge Paokcr-They might create
a monopoly dangerous TO the State but
for the spirit OF competition for the
trade of the West aud the Pacific
coast, as well as that OF onr own State,
which is so great and steadily increas-
ing, tending TO diffusion rather than
a consolidation Of power. And TO this
end the State may very properly and
safely foster and encourage the exten-
sion and completion, by necessary
Of these trunk roads No
other influence can be SO potential in
The development of the resources Of
tho State as such lines of Improvement
Rich us VIC are in our great mineral
deposits, they would avail US little
without these means Of transportation
Being prominently identified with one
Of these lines Of road, il may be sup
posed that ] speak as railroad man,
and in the interests Of the railroads
alone But am confident that no
consideration growing out OF such q
relation could warp my judgment.
Ny record in that respect is clear, and
was recalled to mind by a letter this
day received from one Of my colleagues
in the thirty-third Congress--the Hon.
Michael g. Trout, of the Mercer dis
trict-who mentions an incident of my
Congressional service that / had almost
forgotten, IN which / appear as voting
against my own pecuniary interests
on railroad and tariff question.
now PACKER VOTED AGAINST HIS own
INTERESTS.
Rcporier-What was the incident
YOU refer tot
Judge Packer-The letter is not con-
fdcntial. lfyou are so disposed, you
may copy the extract, as illustrating
my position on these questions.
The extract referred to is as follows:
suanoS, Pa September 4, 1902
The Hon Asa Packer
Nv DEAR Jtner--You viii remember that rear
ne close Of the last session o. The Thirty third
Congress the Senate added an amendment 10 tho
cifl and diplomatic bill, rtreaiing the duty on
railroad iron, and authorizing the Treasury 10 re-
fun an duties paid on that article for Eve years
nravious When this amendment was reached by
the House on the final passaee oi ne bill there
vas an exciting sccno between the friends Of tho
measure and our delegation on agreeing 70 the
amendment The vote at drst stood 50 to - When
you vore literally bc.icrcd by such men a. Apple
ton. hanks. Wentworth. and other friends of the
moa SURE, who urged volt % chanse lour vote on
The rround that you were a heavy railroad con
tractor aud that by passing this amendment D.
would add half q million Of dollars to yuur profits
| well remember your prompt and drm reply. II
uasi .sYes. gentlemen, I know u but took my
contract knowing what thcduty on railroad iron
was. and Il shall never be sald cf me that voted
against the great interests OF penusl lvauia simply
tccausc q would add largely TO my profits.
vote no." Not only do | remember this but, lest
Speaker boyd might be prCrailed upon 10 vote
nd carry The amendment you vent 10 person 10
Den. McNar. Of the Montgomery District, and
Col Strauh. Of the Schuykill District Who bad
"A 80 - az. ..,,.u. .ltuanf and uroVn lied utlnu