The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-01

claimant as Democrat or Republican. How
the whole atmosphere of that Office changed
under his vigorous, vigilant and healthy ad-
ministration, and what complimentary en-
nifty he won from many whose schemes have
been rendered hopeless by his relentless
scrutiny and determination, is matter of
bubble notorietyl
He unsealed records, opened doors that
had been closed, ferreted out abuses, check
ed fraud and stopped robbery He deter
mined to do the one thing that nobody else
seemed able or willing to do-to see that the
city of Philadelphia got a fair consideration
for every dollar OF the money which he
spent. In the courageous, impartial and in
flexible execution of thai purpose he recog-
nized neither political friend non foe, and he
was daunted by no responsibility which con-
fTonted him. He left unused nc. privilege.
he failed to exert no authority that could
contribute to the result which he kept stead
lily in view. He discovered that money was
being paid TO persons for work not done,
and he stopped it. He found that work ac-
tuallv done and material really furnished
were grossly overcharged and he ended the
robbery and made the robbers disgorge He
put stop to the Illegal payment of bills and
the unlawful issue of warrants. Heexposed
and put an end to the petty pilfer1ngs and
unblushing larcenies under the guise of
'contingents'' and ''incidentals." " He found
favorites given the privilege of furnishing
supplies at exOrbitant figures, and he insist
ed upon legal advertisements for competitive
bids He called public attention to the fact
that appropriations to public institutions
were exhausted long before the year for
which they were made had ended. He
found that fees were thievishly drawn for
Jurors that had not served. He unearthed
frauds committed by means of bogus jury
I lists, and compelled a detected officer of the
court to flee the jurisdiction. He asceIt tain
eG that large sums Of money had been paid
for work never performed and materials
never furnished. BY stern and timely meas
ures he was instrumental in destroying the
evils Of the custom of collecting claims against
I the city by mandamus-a system, which, by
/ its abuses, had grown to be a mighty evil,
fruitful of corruption and loss. In one in
+ stance he refused credit to the City Treasur-
/ er for over s5O, 900, not certified by the City
( Solicitor.
+ He exposed the fniquities and enormities
of the delinquent tax Office, by which the
/ honest collection of the city's revenues was
purposelv obstructed and tax payers were
I remorseIy pIundered to make gain for the
| city ring, who carried off 500, 900 annually
to divide among themselves, to debauch the
/ elections and TO let their party friends es-
cape entirely from the paymcet of their tax
I es. He strenuously sought to reduce the
number of the city officials and to lop off all
. supernumaries, to abolish sinecures and cut
down extravagant salaries. He exposed
abuses of the almshouse management and
called its managers to rigid accountability
His innumerable and manly efforts to stand
between the peoples money and those who
sought to take it illegally are part of the his
tory of the times. His controversies with
the guardians Of the poor the building CON-
mission, the water department and the ben
effcial results emanating therefrom are
freshly and gratefully remembered by the
people of Philadelphia. 1t is Pattison's pc
culiar glory that he did not fear to offend
members OF his own party in the ful6llment
of what he believed to De his duty.
Wherever he discovered irregularities be
/ exposed them: wherever he found eXtrava-
. Cancies and unlawful expenditures he re-
fused to allow them. That conservative
journal, the LedqeT, declared: "He has been
attentive, vigilant and faithful. and since
his installation in the office the ORGANIZED
, PLUMBER BY THE DEPARTMENTS, 1Chicb for
! yaerly passed unchecked there, and in some in
stances was carried on by collusion, has
t0boIIy ceased so far as his power extends"
BROAD VIEW OF HIS DUTIES.
hr laar, he
treasury; had he been simply the passive
obstruction to greed and corruption, he
would yet have been entitled to the regard
of ali honest men. But he was much more
than this. His conduct discloses a broad
and comprehensive view of his duties. He
did not content himself with keeping viei
liant watch over the money. He strove tC
lower the high salaries of the city's employ
ees. He was full of intelligent and econom
ical suggestions upon the management OF
the municipal finances. He suggested to the
/ Board of Revision of Taxes the wisdom of a
more correct assessment of the real estate
BY letter dated October 2, 1875 he advoca
Ted the payment of four per cent interest Oh
the city warrants after January 1, 1879, see
ing that upwards OF $50 600 year would be
saved. Il cannot see any good reason he
wrote, "why the city of Philadelphia, with
its warrants = per cent. above par, should
continue to paw greater interest than The
General Government. Many of the munic
ipal reforms from which Philadelphia now
reaps advantage were the results of bis sug
gestions.
His first balance sheet was the first clear
statement that Philadelphia had had fol
many years of its financial affairs. He
awo1e the citizens to a knowledge Of the ac
tual condition of their municipality. Ht
exhibited the frightful tendency toward
bankruptcy and disclosed to them that g
false and misleading exhibit had been annu
ally placed before them by carrying along
worthless OF improbable assets as cash.
1t was these reforms which enabled the
Controller to say in his last annual report
''The burdens of the tax payers are being
lightened, increased encouragement is giyer