Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-03-27
FROM HARRISBURG.
HARRIsBuRo, March %, 1878.
The past Legislative week has not

HARRISBURG, March Id 1919
The past Legislative week has not
s
complished In either branch in the way
of useful Legislation. Indeed, the en-
tire session. thus far. has been devoid
of interest and usefulness, and in this
respect. therefore, the work of the last
1--WE days has only ccnformed to an
every day example since the first
Tuesday in January. 1t is now al.
most three months since the session
began, and il is impossible TO point to
"a single proper or benefcsa, acs .hat
has vet became u law, except, perhaps,
the act to pay the soldiers for their
services during the riots of last sum.
mer. The Republican majority seem TO
be far more intent in pushing through
partisan schemes tor the beseft of GER
Tain individual members OF the party,
than in devising measures Of public
good. Among these partisan schemes
NAV be mentioned the hill to create u
bank department for the sole purpose OF
providing a snug berth for Cant, Hart,
The late defeated candidate for State
Treasurer. and the Philadelphia Re.
corder's bill, for the special behooi of
Secretary Quay, whose term OF office
will expire with that OF Hartranit.
Protest against disgraceful personal
projects OF this kind is in vain, and il
Is truly humlliating to Democrats to
know that even members Of their party
have been found base enough to give
support to these measures.
According to the present outlook, it
is not probable that an adjournment
will take place before the middle or
last of May, and, considering the
dubious character Of the majority, it is
not improbable that many other un-
savory and mischievous projects may
be brought forth and forced through
by the influences that are usually so
potent and irresistible in all the sinister
and selfish acts of Legislation.
The Senate Committee of lnvestiga-
ton is still inquiring into the matter
Of the contract between the Auditor
General, State Treasurer and Attorney
General, of the n part, and Messrs.
Olmstead and Slmonton, ofthe other,for
the collection Of certain taxes due the
Commonwealth by the Union Transfer
20. The developments 30 far do not
show that the motives for the contract
were corrupt, or that any OF the Off
cials received any part OF the commits
sion paid to Olmstead and Simonton
for their services; yet the State author
tiles are severely censured by many
for permitting themselves to be
ver-reached in the matter, and
for entering into a contract at
all with outside parties to do what
they should have been prepared TO do
themselves. 1t was, at best, an i'm
provident bargain for the State. The
worst feature that has como 10 light,
is the five thousand dollar fec received
by Attorney General Lear from the
company, independent OF the ten per
cent. paid By the State to Olmstcad
and Simonton. The Attorney.G General
claims that under the law he was en-
titled to five per cent. from the com
pany, but his claim is generally re
gardeJ as inapplicable to a case of this
kind, and nearly every dislnterested
person who has examined the reasons
given Tor taking this money, is con-
WINGED that Mr.. Lear's conduct is in
deiensible in both law and morals.
From the manner in which this com
mittee Of investigation was constituted
by the president of the Senate Mr..
Cooper, many persons feared that its
work would DO partial, and only result
IN q "white washing" OF the entire
transaction. The public will be graft.
fed to learn that this is not likely to
be the case. Thus far it must be said
that the examination has been exhaus-
tive and apparently conducted with an
honest view 10 ascertain the truth and
develop every fact that bears upon the
subject. Whatever may have been the
design of the mar who made the COM
mittee, 1t certainly has not shown a
disposition to conceal anything, or
shield any one from the Just conse-
quences OF his official action. Especial
~ can this be said Of Senator Pealc, of
your district, who was placed upon the
committee against his desire, but has
not shrunk from its responsibilities. A
large share OF the labor has fallen upon
Mr.. Peale, and be has displayed great
ability and untiring industry in the
conduct of the investigation. 1t was