The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-19
A Proud Record

The Democracy are proud of VIM. p.
SchelTs administration of the office of Au-
dtor General. 1t is such a plume in the
party's cap as the Republican party has not
once in the entire history of its domina-
tion in Pennsylvania entitled itself to wear.
1t has been honest as the day is long,
and efficient as the fullest appreciation of
its Importance and the most intelligent
and scrupulous application of the law could
make it. Mr.. Schell entered upon the du
ties of his office with the intention to en-
force the law vigorously and with absolute
impartiality, and to do no thing and per-
NIT the doing of no thing for which there
was not the clearest warrant in the law; and
TO that intention he has lived constantly
and without an ota of deviation. 1t will be
remembered that year or so ago it was
charged against him that he had appointed,
we think it was two of his sons a. special
attorneys to prosecute claims of the State
against delinquent corporations. This act, it
was said,wa an act ofinexcusable nepotism.
The fact that the annual report of the De-
partment Just emitted shows that these two
Schells, jr., and thirteen others similarly
employed, mot by General Scbell as alleged
but by the Board of Public works which in-
cludes the Governor, the Auditor General
and State Treasurer have collected nearly
half a million dollars of tax that were due
and unpaid Dec. 1st 1873, and much Of it
ln Il r1,o;1 InE,rn hot ,uettG.l
the remark made at the time by some friend
that it was pity he had no more sons ofthe
same sort for tha, kind of service.
The business of the Auditor Generals de-
has been in any previous time in the States
history. Old and defaced records have
been restored or carefully duplicated. Old
accounts have been gathered in. Ohicialin-
terpretations have been given to all debat-
able points of the law relative to the assess.
ment and collection of State taxes and the
payment and auditing of State expenses.
Corporations and individuals who under
previous administrations successfully
shirked the payment of taxes legally due
by them, have been hunted up and made
to disgorge The facilities for close collec-
tions in the hereafter have been greatly
added to. The books and records have
been made to show more clearly the finan-
cial transactions aud status of the state
Very many disgracefu and serious Treas
ury leaks have been eflectually stopped up.
The current work has never at any time
been permitted to accumulate, but has been
industriously prosecuted as it came in to
be done. Much valuable information has
been collected and furnished the Legisla
ture and been made by it the basis of
fresh and greatly better statutory regula
tions of the department, its business and
generally Of the tax levies and financial
expenditures of the state. The report
just issued is the most complete and COM
prehensve ever yet put out by the Auditor
Generals Department. In short, the busi-
ness has been proptly DONE honestly done,
well done, aud wholly done. If, as General
Schell and Treasurer Noyes believe, the
100000 deficiency in the State Treasury
the result of criminally extravagant Repub
lcan legislation shall be made up in two
years, no small share of the credit will
be due General Scheil and the efficient and
gentlemanly corps of clerks in his employ
Edward Herrick, the chief of those subor-
dnates, ia candidate for the position Gen
eral Schell will vacate in May 1881. He
has been valuable lieutenant to his chief
and if nominated and elected, can be de-
pended upon for an equally conscientious
performance of his duties, and to still fur
ther improve the efficiency of the Depart
ment as the official supervisor of the receipts
and expenses of this great state Union
| Ieader