Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-09-28
Mr.. Pattison's Speech.

Mr.. PREs DENT AND GENTLEMEN: thank the
Commo nwealth Club for this tribute to the
State candid ateS. l am glad to be present at
a reception rendered by an association which,
rs understand, had its origin in the desire 10
assist In placing the Democratic party III Phil
adelphia in accord with the popular demand
for administrative reform and the publication
OF the public service. My engagements as a
public official have made it impossible for me
To embrace the many opportunities hitherto
presented for meeting The people throughout
the State. do not mean to neglect the duties
OF one office for the purpose OF being elevated 10
another.
/ cannot resist the feeling OF difndence
when ! contemplate the importance OF the
responsible office for which | have been
named. The reflection which have given TO
the subject has strengthened my convictions OF
the magnitude of the trust imposed upon tie
Executive ofthe Commonwealth. The people,
by their constitution, have commanded that lie
''Slall take care that the laws be faithfully exc
| cuted." This injunction carries with it 4
| weight Of meaning that grows IN Importance
| With attentive consideration. 1t means more
| than that the Governor shall be mere auto
mator to sign his name 10 acts of legislation,
| nominate men to Office and draw his yearly sal
ary. The Constitution invests him with the
| highest and grayest responsibilities. BY his We.
to, If faithfully and firmly exercised, the Cover
Tor is a check upon hasty, ex;ravagant and per-
nicouS legislation. He has the right TO require
IN account OF their stewardship from the heads
of all the executive departments. The Treas
| urer, who is the custodian of the peoples mon
ey; the Auditor General, who Is the chief ac-
counting officer OF the Com monwealtt and the
inspector OF every draft drawn against the
| treasury; the Secretary of Internal r6hr5o;o- hg;
who has general superYtiSfiisiaess Ytifisiaess and material
interests the Attorney General. the Superin
tendent of Public Instruct on, the Secretary of
the Commonwealth-all are snbject to the in
QUESTION OF the Chief Magistrate OF the people.
charged with the faithful execution of the law.
The Just execution OF the criminal law, also.
is in his keeping. BY the inordinate exercise OF
executive clemency the prison doors may be o.
pened and the transgreSsors of the law allowed
TO escape just punishment. 1t is n mistake to
suppose that the favorable decision OF the Par
don Board is conclusive upon the Executive.
The recommended tions of that board are advise
ry merely BY the fund amental law the final
power 10 grant parlonS is vested in the Cover
nor, who alone is responsible for the exercise OF
this grave duty. 4
take advantage of this opportunity to say
that, in my judgement, the issues OF the COM
| ing election are confined within the corners of
our State, Between Lake Erie and the Della
| ware and from the Northern Tier to the South
ern border Is 10 be found the reason for every
question ligitinIatey intering into the contest.
Any att empt to import issues is an effort to de-
| tract public attention from the real questions
| involved in the campaign. This occasion
would justify me in making lengthy speech.
| 1t may be fitting, however, that briefly state
| one or two thoughts upon matters that impress
me as important for present public cOnsidera-
| ton.
| One OF the gravest evils In our political Sys
| TEN is the low estimate CT duty held by public
| functiOnareS, This arises from their failure to
recognize this fundamental idea of our govern
ment: That public Office is public trust to
be executed for the benefit of the whole people,
| to whom alone officials owe responsibility and
of whose will they should be the faithful expo
| nents. When this conception Of duty is lost
| sight OF or modified, the way is open for an i'm
| mediate, certain and constant degeneracy OF
the public service. A merely mechanical and
negligent performance Of Official functions fol-
lows the obliteration of these standards OF duty
This results from the long continuance in pow
er OF selfish political leaders, and a most
rious evil i'll the public service. No one can es-
innate the injury and loss the people suffer
from this cause alone.
There sa.widespread discomfort ut what is
forcibly call ed 'boss' government. This is not
without reason. Popular discomfort has
generally good cause, for the people have no
advantage IN unnecessary agitation and disor-
der. The great evil of 'boSs government is that
the interests of the official is made iniinical to
faithful public service. His interest Is not on
the side. of fidelity to the public veal, but on
that OF abject obedience to the orders Of the
''machne'-and he follows his interest. I
A wise economy must be enforced in the pub
lie expense. Profuse expenditure by govern
ment is not only burdensome i'll itself, but gen.
crates in officials spirit OF proftigacy which
permeates even private life. Extravaganza
breeds extrava gance. Every useless expendi-
ture creates an excuse, it does not cause a
necessity for further waste. This is true III
many ways not always perceptibe to tho pub
lie, but which becomes apparent upon an i'll
vestigation OF systems. Peculation may be gross
but can be detected, Mere financial extrava-
gance can be measured and corrected. The U.s.
ual and ordinary leaks at last discover them
selves and can be stopped. But there is pro-
fligacy that inyades systems, that is wrapped up
in statutes. that has the protection of law and
the warrants oflong usage. 1t is the growth of
years. has been line upon liue written into
your legislation, represents the concentrated
ingenuity of succession Of public plunderers
and extends from the highest department in
the State to the lowest in the municipality.
One manifestation of this abuse may be deS-
ignated by the term ''place making" The
numerous multiplication of offfces. the creation