Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-10
Extravaganza in.GOyernment.
HE SUPREME ISSUE IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THE SUPREME ISSUE IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The New York Sun, the ablest, most
influential and widely circulated OF the
Independent journals of the country, in
q resent issue said:
"The reckless prohigacy and prodi'
gality of this Congress exceed all expert
ence.
"The farmers, the mechanics, the
laborers, and the plain people, as Mr..
Lincoln called them, who pay the great
body of the taxes by the sweat of their
brows, have cried aloud for relief; and
they have cried in vain.
Congress will adjourn leaving dis
creditable record. 1t has voted away
the peoples money in wild extravaganza
without any honest attempt to reduce
the burdens that weigh down industry
and enterprise.
"If the Democrats are at all wise in
their nominations, and in presenting
the issue of retrenchment and reform,
as they did in 1874 history will be apt
to repeat itself in the experience of the
coming elections"
The present campaign in Pennsylva'
MIA is State campaign, waged for the
the publication of its politics. While
the candidates of the Democracy are
Democrats, nominated in Democratic
State convention, their records and the
platform on which they stand Invite
the CO. cooperation of all honest citizens
who desire the establishment of hon.
est government" That is the sole issue
of the contest. The Democracy aim at
the overthrow of boss rule, OF the spoils
system, of legislative corruption, OF ad.
ministrative abuses and of pardon board
infamies. They present the most etfec-
tive means to do it by offering for elec-
tion a stainless ticket of men known
to the State, whose courage is unchaI-
lenged. No honest government need
fear to vote for Pattison, Black, Africa,
Clark and Elliott.
Why?
Because they are Reformers and hon.
est and intelligent men. They have
the brains to know the right and the
courage to fight the wrong.
Mr.. Pattison is a young man who has
achieved national reputation because
of his courageous and successful efforts
for municipal reform. For years the
tongue and pen of Mr.. Black have been
engaged in the exposure and correction
of governmental abuses. Messrs. Clark
and Elliott were tall figures in the con.
stitutional convention which accomplish
ed such reforms for Pennsy ylvania while
Mr.. Africa as chief clerk in the Office for
which he is now the nominee, proved
himself so efficient and popular that in
1878 he ran 10000 votes ahead of his
ticket.
When Pattison entered upon the du.
ties of his office as controller he found
official extravaganza and municipal
maladministration prevailing TO re-
markable degree in Philadelphia. The
permanent debt, the department expen-
ses and tax rate were all increasing
yearly. From the very outset Pattison
turned the tide. He not only checked
the constant increase. He has effected
q steady decrease. Instead of an average
yearly addition of $3,622, ,406 to the
city debt there is now a steady reduc
tion of 81 ,246,737 per annum the de-
partment expenses have gone down
from So, ,1S4, ,061.20 to 6,8S3, ,226.92, a re.
duction per annum Of 81 ,30l ,634.2S and
the tax levy is reduced from 1926 to
$l.90, a reduction of the annual burden
on property of 35 cents on every 500 Of
valuation.
The Philadelphia Record, whose pro
prietor was a delegate to the State con-
vention and voted against Mr.. Pattson,
said of him:
at must be conceded that in the of.
fee of controller of Philadelphia he has
given proofs of firmness, integrity and
executive ability of high order--vuali.
ties that are eminently requisite for the
proper charge of the duties of the chief
magistracy of Pennsylvania. In his
management OF the financial affairs of
the city he has brought order and sim.
plicity out Of chaos, and has introduced
an accountability in municipal trusts
which has saved large sums OF money to
the taxpayer. He has permitted neith-
er party nor personal considerations to
swerve him from the courageous dis.
charge of his official duties. There are
many abuses in the State government,
many and deep-seated, which await q
strong hand of this kind for their eradi.
cation. Partly by design and partly by
neglect, important provisions of the
constitution have failed Of enforcement;
and the election of Pattison would af-
ford guarantee that the constitution
had at last been brought under the
guardianship of its friends"