The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-02
The Boom Ring at Harrisburg.

The scandals about Harrisburg appear
to be as numerous and rs bad as ever. II
was supposed that the wholesome res,ric-
tons OF the new Constitution Ind so cur
tailed the lobby, aud diminished the
chances OF criminal legislation, that the
business would be gradually abandoned;
and there were those who looked forward
to the time when the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture would be as decent as the common
run of such bodies. There may stll be
grounds to hope for future reformation,
but they are not visible IN the history of
the existing Legislature.
The Treasury Ring has everything its
own way. The senate l. abso utcly IN the
hands of MACKEY and KEMBLE, and they
run II as they like in the interest of horse
car lines, boom monopole7, or general
rascality. The House raised committee
at the last session to investigate the Treas
ury frauds of MAcREY, KEMBLE, and the
rest; but 1t did nothing and attempted
nothing. The corrupt Ring includes too
many. or too prominent, Democratic states
men among its secret beneliciaries 10 per-
init II Democratic Investigation.
The latest farce in this line NJ Harris
burg il an investigation of the means en-
ployed on the one side To pass and on the
other to defeat what is known As the boom
bill. Mr. PETE HERpIc of Wilhamsport
and his associates have Il boom in the Sus-
quehnnna river. in which they catch
everybody's logs when they can, AMI make
them pay boomage." But IL the water
happens 10 b. high, and shoots the logs
/ "a ma Ia
boomage all the same. And these rates OF
boomage are simply intolerable, constl-
tuting an enormous tax upon the honest
lumbcrmen of the upper waters for the
luxurious maintenance Of tho public
spirited gentlemen who compose the
Boom Ring. Mr.. HERDIc, however, is "A
| great man about Harrisburg, and has
power under existing laws to levy these
exactions. But the lumbcrmen and the
disinterested public generally determined
| to give PETER "A tussle for these privileges.
So they sent Col. EMBIcK to Harrisburg
TO pass bin correcting some Of the evils
complained Of lie got it through both
Houses, and was in n fair way to get the
signature of the Governor, who, being Il
candidate for President could not have
| Ttlusc'l, With lueJ sprung lHls lHNcsllSii-
ton on him.
1t was proved that 800 was the ruling
price for a square vote, and 5000 for u
clever dodge. THOMAS JEFFERSON BOYER,
Senator from Clear0eld, whom WILLIAM
| A. WALLACE pushed into Office over the
| head Of p. GRAY MEEK, one of the sound
est Democrats and nblest editors in the
| State, is proved to have been around, gen.
orally Offering about 800 apiece for Her.
DC votes But ii was also proved that one
PETRoFF member from Philadelphia,
agreed to furnish EMBICK with fifteen
votes for the round sum of $500. The
| PETRoFF votes were never delivered and
never paid for, but the incomplete trans
action furnishes the IIERpIc lobby and
| the HERDIC press with "A convenient watch
| cry. They now call with one voice upon
| the Ring Senate and the Ring Governor to
smother the blll which has been duly
| passed reducing the bOOmage monopoly,
and thus, as they say in their peculiar
| tongue, TO "stanp the House with dshon-
| or" But cap anybody tell how House
which tolerates REIGHARD's committee
and refuses to touch MAoKEY for fear
| OF hurting WALLACE, can be any worse
! dlsaonored than it isi II is quite safe