The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-11-12
BLOOMSBURG. PA" FRIDAY NOVEMBER -. 1875.

ters, yet we have charters for rail road COM
| panies, telegraph companies, banking COM
panies, and almost all other sorts of compa-
MES, granted by Congress in violation of the
| constitution.
We say this ought to be discontinued
that there should be no arrogant assumption
OF powers not granted. In regard to bank
| ing companies in particular, why this exer-
else of unauthorized powers? Why NAV not
banking institutions be chartered bv State
| legislatures as well as by the Congress of the
United States? We are content that our
state governments shall no more establish
banks of ISSUE They were always a nui-
sance and of doubtful authority, and were
adopted only as lesser evil than the old
United states bank. But our present nation
al banking system has nearly all the evils of
both, together with many others. We say.
then, abolish the national banks and ali
banks of issue, and establish a system of free
banks of discount and deposit, under such
regulations as the States respectively may
prescribe. And we say further, let us have
no paper money except such as may be is
sued directly by and upon the faith of the
Federal government, aif0rding practically
currency based on the gold and silyer and
other property of the whole people of the
country"
Yes, sir, gold and silver" The Demo-
cratic party is and always has been, and |
trust, always will be, "a hard money party"
Gold and silver are the only universal med-
llms OF exchange-the only oReyrecognized
by all nations. We have no fondness for
the rag baby" Irrcdeemable paper money
lso called has no charms for Us. We de-
mand return to specie payments as soon as
it can possibly be effected, without ruin to
all the business interests of the country But
we protest against fixing definite time for
resumption, when we are not in financial
condition to resume-when to force resump-
ton at that time will inevitably result in
financial panic infinitily greater than that in
which we have been involved for the past
two years.
Leaving, now these questions in reference
to the Federal currency and banks, for your
mature elaboration, | desire, for a very short
tlme,to call your attention to other questions
that lie nearer home, and in regard to which
our action this fall will have more to do.
We are about to choose a chief magistrate
for the State Of Pennsylvania for the next
three years, and a State Treasurer for the
period of two years; and it becomes us to
examine critically those questions that stand
connected with the management of our State
government
In the first place, it is manifest that we
are supporting an exceedingly extrayagant
state compared with those that existed under
democratic administrations-extr in |
every department of it, The Salary of the |
Governor has been increased, from five to
ten thousand dollars and in addition
to this, the Governor has been provided with |
a private Secretary, at Il salary of So ,O00, and |
an assistant private Secretary, at salary of
=, 400, and an crrent boy at salary of ST.
fOO. Here is an increase of expenditure in |
the executive department, and in these few
items, of Sll 800 per annum. In the last
year of Governor Packers administration
the entire expense of all the executive de-
partments of the State government was only
S334, 1892. In 1874, under our present |
Executive, it costs us, $945,59267 These
figures are from the books of the auditor
generals Office, and may be relied on as cor
rect Why should it cost three times as much
IN 1871 as it did in 1860, to detray the eX-
penses OF our State government Certainly
no reason can be assigned for it that is credi-
table to the party in power. The condition
OF our State iinaCes are not such rs to Justify |
any increase of expenditure, that is not ab- |
SolutcIy necessary, 1t is said we should |
not be niggardl y-that we ought to give the |
governor Il salary commensurate with the |
dignity of the position he occupies The |
same excuse is made for increasing the |
salary Of :he President from $25,OO to $50
O00 year, and incidentally giving him |
nearly hundred thousand dollars besides
II We had an ovcrhowing treasury-no great |
national debt, or but Il small one-a low rate |
Of taXation-and 'lush times" instead Of
the unparalleled strngency that now pre-
walls, there might be some little excuse for
this prodigality. But, sir, | submit that in |
the present condition of our affairs. this pro- |