Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-08
RAT HOLES At HARRISBURG,


One of the most intensely interest.
ing volumes which has recently been
Issued from the office of the public
printer at Harrisburg, is the annual re.
port OF Auditor General Schell. Figures
are usually esteemed a very dry and un.
pHlatable sort of diet, but the volume To
which we refer contains II vast amount
OF food for reflection. and embraces al
most as many amusing features as a com.
&c almanac. Among the various sources
OF revenue are two dollars in "con.
science money" which came from Phil.
adelphia. This is a small beginning,
but IL may contain the promise Of bet.
ter things in the future. OF all the
money pilfered from the treasury dur.
ing the last twenty years these are the
first two dollars that have ever found
their way back again. May we not in.
dulge the hope that they will be parents
ot numerous progeny Of returning
prodigals? 1T is a great misfortune
that history will be deprived OF the name
OF this first great conscicnce.striken
apostle of reform. Future ages will
never know whether it is 'Lish Davis or
Harry Huhn, or Emil Petroh, or George
Handy Smith whom they should rise
up and call blessed. No less novel and
startling il the announcement that the
revenues OF the commonwealth were still
further augmented by the return OF
thirty.four cents, an unexpended bal
ance remaining in the hands of Secre.
tnry Quay. This seems to settle all
doubts as to the candidacy Of Col. Quay
for Senator Wallace seat in the Unit.
Il fugf a. l. al - IL sas.. fn,.
cents as a basis he would be strong
candidate on "A platform of retrench.
ment and economy. The satisfaction
Of the public over the discontinuancc
Of annual sessions of the legislature will
be largely increased by knowledge OF
the TACT that the last senate cost the
State sl4E. 10S.92, and the house $500.
jG3 90, with S2g,67I.2I additional for
the Legisiatre Record. Whether the
State received corresponding benefit
many persons will feel disposed TO ques-
ton, in view of the fact that the only
measure of general legislation TO which
they devoted their time and talents
was the scheme tn stssl four million
dollars out OF the treasury under pre-.
tence OF paying the damages OF the
Pittsburgh riot. In justice to the sena-
tors and members il must be admitted
that they didn't pocket all the swag
themselves, but were most munificent
in their largesses TO their political
friends who constituted the grand army
of clerks, door.keepers, messengers,
pastors and folders. Over fifty thou,
sand dollars were paid in salaries to the
officers of the senate. Six thousand
dollars were paid for stationery for the
senate, and fifteen thousand for the
house, and every member OF each body
was allowed $2j for stationery and 500
for postage. For buckets and brooms
$1,000 were expended e. 246 were paid
to 9l scrub women 10 clean up the sen.
ate's dirt, an average of forty women
every night, almost one to every sena-
tor. The resident clerk, at salary of
5000 and contingent fund" OF So
200, and who has really little or moth.
ing to do, had two clerks TO help him
do il at salaries amounting TO 81 300.
The Inauguration OF Gov. IIoyt cost
Si,09S.ll. and the sum OF $l0,99S.9l
was expended in refurnishing and re-
pairing the executive mansion. The
public printing cost the enormous figure
of $2ST T,q2i.56; and the superintend.
ent of public grounds got the nice little
plum of Sl3,42i.7S. The furnishing Of
a room wherein the Lieutenant cover.
nor discharges the arduous duties of his
Office cost over 500. The embrionic
statesmen OF Harrisburg cost the COM
monwealth $l29.50 for ice water TO mix
with their whiskey and reduce the tenn
perature Of their blistered outlets.
These are only few specimen items
selected out of volume Of 276 pages
How much more undiscovered richness
the report contains may safely be left
to the imaoination of the raadar