The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-10-15
CONCERNING MR.. VANDERSLICE.

l
objection shall be shown.
Pending the canvass for nomination, Mr.
Vanderslice was called to account for his
course in the Legislature upon the Pittsburg
riot-bill ut the session of 1879, an submit
| ted his explanation aud defence to popular
| Judgment His action as Representative
| upon that bill was then very proper sub
ect for examination, was directly involved
| in the canvass, and was virtually passed "p-
on 10y the people at the primary elections
and by the convention in perfecting and
announcing his denomination.
The question is now, however, revived by
a newspaper Of this county; its discussion is
insisted upon, and we have quoted to us the
views ofa newspaper in a ncighboring coun-
ty in support Of the demand. Mr.. v, is
| denounced in one of the journals referred
| to, as "a dishonest rooster" and by the 9th
er, as "a man who has been tried and io1ud
to be dishonest and corrupt" This charge
is made broadly, in the most unqualified
terms, and fit be true it will completely
Justify the object aimed at by those who
make it, namely, the condemnation and re-
| lection of Mr.. Nanderslice. Fer we may
| agree that man who is a corrupt rooster
in the sense here intended, ought not to be
elected to Office.
But is the charge true Is it made upon
substantial proof or, on the other hand, is
it made up.ustly and rashly?
| Mr.. V gave votes in favor of the consid
Grafton of the bill by the House, and to
permit its amendment, bat did not vote for
its adoption or passage. In fact the bill did
not get beyond the stage Of amendment up
on second reading, aud its first reading, like
that of other biI!s), was matter of t rm.
H e voted for an amendment which reduced
the maximum of appropriation from four
| mi lions to three, imposed one. fourth part
| of the claims upon Allegheny county, AIMED
new commissioners to ascertain losses, and
provided that no money should be contri-
buted by the state until the constitutions
| validity Of the hill should I've attirme! hv
the Supreme Court. tie voted also again>t
he indefinite pOstp0nem'nt cf the biz,
when such postp"neuIent wuuid prevent the
cpnsi leraton of amendments to the bill and
a direct vote upon the bill on securd reading
Finally, in perfect consistency with the vote
last mentioned, and upon the earnest appeal
of tue Speaker of the llou-e, be voted to re-
consider postponement aud permit amend
ments to be proposed. These are the facts
disclosed by the record, upon which any
complaint or accusation against Mr.. Van
lerslce must be placed for Independent OF
them nothing to his disparagement has ever
been urged or mentioned But we assert
with confidence that when those votes were
given they could be fairly and honestly Civ
| en-, in the exercise of reasonable discretion
and judgment in other words, that they do
not imply sinister influence, unworthy mo-
tive or corrupt conduct. but on the contrary
that until something shall appear to estab
lsh an evil intent in casting them) the pre-
sumption must be that they were fair and
upright votes.
The argument that the bill should be full
| ly considered and the sense OF the House
taken upon it by direct vote, and that its
friends should be allowed to perfect it by
amendment before it was passed upon, was
one of evident force, and to those ends alone
the votes given by Mr.. Vanderslice were d.
! rected
Besides, 1t must be admitted that bill
properly drawn and properly supported for
the relief of the people Of Allegheny from
at least part of the burden Of the riot
claims, would not have been unjust or un-
reasonable, and that the bill presented had
in it an element of merit in so far rs it re-
,pected their interests and proposed thelI
relief There were three capital grounds on
which the argument for them could be
placed lst. That the riot was not an or
dinary local disturbance such as the local
authorities Of Pitts5urg should, in oontem-
platiOn of law have prevented or repres'ed
but was connected with wide spread Tesis
tance to authority in other cities, towns and
states; extending to Ohio, New York, Mary
land and West Virginia ; partaking of the
nature of an insurrection aud requiring the
intervention of both State and United States
troo, 5. Ind. That the State military au
thorites were in actual control a. Ptt7burg
when the destruction OF property occurred,
commanding all the resources Of power and
virtually dis2laliHg the local government il
the matter of preserving peace and order. 50
chat the presumption OF neglect and thtre-
fore Of responsibility for losses did. not lie
against the municipality and 3rd That il
=.
zens Of Aiitgheny county lin walsh Pits
burg is sltpated) the whole burden Ct riot
losses for which beyond all question, most OF
them were ia uu way b. blame and which
they cou d not have vented As well
might the Taxpayers of Columbia cOunly
be required To pay Tor properly destroyed Oi
a mob in bloomsbury, Cea,ralia or B'iw'c
because those towns happen 10 Oe lpcA ei
within the limits of the county.
1t is true that by subsequent dev.lnp-
mynts it was shown that William II. KEN
BILE aud Others, mainly in the interest VI The
p, nusy lyana Raiiroa Company mad reaort
ed to improper and unlawful means t. aid
the passage of the bi.!, aLd the ,dium o.
lhtlr CohI lcl ltl lLhl'Cilh'ta at ~ uR'h al
who wera interested in the measure. Cui
zen and corporation alike were struck by II
reaction Of public opinion, and tn guilty
agents of &C ,rrupt 'lcitsIion" We're justly
subjected to criminal prosecution by v,tr
of the House. How the ends Of jls ice
were defeated in their eases, after 'her CON
yiction, by Republican Board OF Pardors
and by II Republican Governor, is We'll
known to all tie people cf the CImmor-
wealth aud mark, d shameful spot il cur
history.
But wha. we are at present concerned
with is tho fact that in all the pr o4eding. in
| the Legisla'ure ard in Court to investigate
and to punish the corrupt sGilcltaliCn which