The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-09-24
Senator Chalfant and the Ring Robbing
HIDING Act

vate use, while the people continue to pay
interest upon the bonds which it should take
up-a bill that enables the Radical State
ring to rob the people day by day and to cor
rupt and control elections. We have not the
leisure now nor is it an opportune time to in
dulge in personal controversy with professed
Democrats, and as the editor of the CoLUM-
form any part of the ISSUE nor are they of
pnblic interest. The question for Tom Chal-
! fant to answer, and which any constituent
has right to ask without offence, is, why did
you sit still in your Senatorial seat when the
Hiding bill passed? Why did you not OPP
pose it, or endeavor to have it properly
amended, or vote against it? The following
rom the Harrisburg Patriot gives the main
characteristics of the bill
A legislature largely Republican in both
branches, passed the Hiding Act of 1874, by
which the State Treasurer was enabled first
20 deplete the general fund of the treasury by
turning nearly the whole tide of public reve-
| nue. into the sinking fund.- and aiterward to
place the money among his favorites, with
ont accounting for its whereabouts to any
body, and without any personal account
ability beyond the amount of his bond and
the obligation of his oath. The cash balance
| in the sinking fund usually exceeds mil
| lion dollars. The bonds of the State Treas
| urer are for half million So the people
| have always halfa million dollars in jeopardy
| for which they have no security but thatthi
| liue which divides the sacrcdness of the
| principle of certain sum held in trust from
the sacredness of the interest on the same
| sum, one being considered lawful prize and
the other unlawful.
Though the efforts of Democratic men,
bers of the legislature, assisted by some con-
sciencous Republicans, the Hiding Act as it
originally passed the house and senate con-
templated the publication of monthly state
ments OF the condition of the sinking fund
and the deposits of money belonging thereto,
| as well as larger security on the part Of the
State Treasurer by an increase of his bond
but through the manipulatons Of the Treas
ury Ring these features were stricken out,
and the bill was forced through by par
tisan majority and became law in its pres
ent Objectionable shape, by the aid of the
most questionable trickery and the man
ipulation of the legislative record.
Here was an opportunity for the executive
of Pennsylvania to interpOse the power ves-
ted in him by the constitution for the pro-
lection of the people against legislative mis-
doing. Governor lIartranit was acquainted
with every step in the progress of the sink
ing fund act of 1874. 1t was introduced in
the house, Il fair and honest bill, intended to
make the changes in the lawof 1S70requred
by the changed constitution, and to carry
into effect the letter and spirit of the const-
tuition. 1t came finally to the Governors
hand an abortive and misshapcn thing gut
ted of all its goodness, and impotent forany
useful purpose. 1t depleted the fund in the
Treasury for the current expenses of govern
ment to a condition of penury, and enforced
monthly newspaper exhibito of the skeleton.
At :he same time it sweled the sinking fund
beyond all requirement and hid it in the
Treasurers private keeping. Governor Hart
rantt knew the scope, object and criminal
consequence of this measure. Only by such
contrivance could the people Of Pennsylva-
MIA be longer defrauded of the use Of the
large balances in the State Treasury. Know
ing all this, he deliberately set his hand and
seal to the Hiding Act by which the sacred
| sinking fund of the State was made the safe
coveret where the public moneys could be
mani pulated for the benefit of the Radical
bring which has so long dominated the polit-
ical fortunes of PENNSYLVANIA. Governor
Hartranft has ever been its obsequious SER
want. For this act of treachery he will meet
his reward in November If there is one
thing more than another which the people of
Pennsylvania are determined to reform in
the management Of State affairs it is the
Treasury corruption. Gov. Hartranft has
fatally identified himself with this abuse and
shielded it from the destruction the people
constitution. Hemust now look out lorhim-
self.
When this infamous bill passed the Senate,
Senator Chalfant was in his seat. He knew
its character, as he did not vote for it. He is
a candidate for reelection and many of his
constituents want to know why he did not
oppose the bill. He attempts no reply to the
question respectfully asked, though any con-
stituent has the clear right to ask for expla-
nation, but childishly flies off into a passion
and abuses those who put the question We
have been accustomed to the abuse of rascals
all our life, and care little about it, come
from what source it may. Here is an exact
illustration
BOY.-"Mother, mother, Sam Jones is
biting our Kate right in the mouth w
MoTHER-"Neyer mind, sou, guess he
don't hurt her"
BoY.-"Hurt her darn the critter, she
likes it I"
But, Mr.. Chalfant is candidate for re-
election. 1t is therefore not only proper, but
incumbent upon him to explain, And there
are additional commanding reasons why he
should explain. He is very far from being
above suspicion of completely with the
Treasury ring that has so long been thieving
from the people. When he was a candidate
for Senator six years ago lieutenant Of the
ring appeared in the vicinity of the confer
ence, notoriously in his behalf. 1t was ex-
planned then that his presence was produced
only by the anxiety Of the ring that Mr..
Buckalew should not be elected to the SEN
ate. But when that term expired, Mr.. Chal-
fant was again candidate, and the general
Of the ring appeared Mt the conference and
effected his nomination After his election,
and while he sat in his seat, the ring Hiding
act, as the Patriot calls it, was passed, and he
did not either propose to amend so as to pre-
serve the good feature of the law then exist
ing, or even vote against the pet measure Of
the ring We reiterate, WHY? Let him
answer, and not expect to escape by the in
dulgence of his old womanish propensity for
scolding.
California Golden Victory.
The following is given as the full vote in
California, viz:
.inih 'ulsoSp'
PHELPS, Republican .;..'.',..,.,,........9 .9Og22.
Bldewel, Independent, ,..,.,,.,,.,......, 2g.630.
1t will be seen that Irwin has nearly two
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