The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-29
ROBERT E. PATTIsoN's SPEECH.

! representative Democrats from all sec
tions of the State. among whom were
Judge Black, Judge Sharswood, Jas. ii.
Hopkins. Samuel II. Randall, Chairman
HenseI. of the State Committee, Sena-
tor Coke. Judges Findley and Elcock,
Gen. Davis. of Bucks county, Robert E.
/ Monaghan. of Chester county, and 9th
/ ers OF like prominence. On behalf Of
the Club. STATE Senator Eckley b. Coke
( delivered an address of welcome to the
/ candidates, in which, among other
| things, he said that good government,
I self-gOveTnment, just representation,
/ true representation for years to come in
/ Pennsylvania, are the mOmentOus stakes
! which must be won or lost in November
next. You gentlemen" he said, ''are
/ the trusted leaders in that struggle.
I Your nominations have inspired US with
/ the strongest confidence in its victorious
[ issue. Tonight you come 70 US, bring
1 ing great hopes Of deliverance for Penn
| sylvania." " In response, Mr.. PattisOn
spoke as follows
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: I thank
the Commonwealth Club for this tribute to
the State candidates. / am glad to be pres
ent at a reception rendered by an association
which. as / understand, had its origin in the
desire to assist in placing the Democratic
party in Philadelphia in accord with the pop.
ular demand for administrative reform and
I the publication Of the public service. NY
engagements as a public official have made
/ it impossible for me to embrace the many op-
pOrtunitieS hitherto presented for meeting
the people throughout the State. I do not
mean to neglect the duties Of one office for
the purpose of being elevated to another.
i cannot resist a feeling Of diffidence when
I contemplate the Importance of the respon-
sible Office for which | have been named.
The reflection which have given to the sub
ject has strengthened my convictions of the
magnitude Of the trust imposed upon the
Executive of the Commonwealth. The peO-
pie. through their constitution, have COM
manded "that he shall take care that the
laws shall be faithfully executed" This in
junction carries with it weight of meaning
that grows in importance with attentive con-
SideratiOn. It means more than that the
Governor shall be a mere autOmaton to
sign his name to acts Of legislation, nominate
men to office and draw his yearly salary,
The Constitution invests him with the high
est and eravest responsibilities. By his
veto, if faithfully and firmly exercised, the
Governor is a check upon hastY, eXtravagant
and perm icious legislation He has a right
to require an account of their Stewardship
from the heads of all the executive depart
ments. The Treasurer, who IS the custodian
Of the peoples money the Auditor General
who is the chief accounting officer OF the
Common wealth. and the inspector OF every
draft drawn against the treasury; the Sec
retary of Internal Affairs, who has a general
supervision Of the corporations Of the State
and her business and material interests the
Attorney General, the Superintendent of
public Instruction, the Secretary of the Com
mOuwealth-all are subject to the inqusi-
tion Of the Chief Magistrate of the people,
charged with the faithful execution of the
laws.
THE JUST EXECUTION OF LAW.
The Just execution of the criminal law, al
so, is in his keeping. BY the inordinate eX-
ercise of executive clemency the prison door
may be opened and the transgressOr of the
law allowed to escape just punishment 1t
is a mistake to suppose that the favorable
decision of the Pardon Board is conclusive
upon the Executive. The recommendations
of that Board are advisory merely By the
fundamental law the final power to grant
pardOns is vested in the Governor, who alone
is responsible for the exercise of this grave
duty
1 take advantage Of this opportunity to
say that, in my Judgment, the issues of the
coming election are confined within the four
corners Of our State. Between Lake Erie
and the Delaware and from the Northern
Tier to the Southern border is to be found
the reason for every question legitmateiy
entering into the contest. Any attempt to
import issues is an effort to detract public
attention from the real questions involved
In the campaign. This occasion would not
Justify me in making ia lengthy speech. 1t
may be fitting, however, that l briefly state
one or two thoughts upon matters that i'm
press me as important for present public
consideration.
One Of the gravest evils in our political
system is the low estimate of duty held by
public fuuctiOnarieS. This arises from their
failure 90 recognize the fundamental idea of
our government That a public Office is a
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 eXpOnents When
tits conception of duty is lost sight of OF
modified, the way is open for an immediate,
certain and constant drgeneracy of the pub
lie service. y merely mechanical aud neglI-
gent performances OF official functions follow
the ob,iteration of these standards of duty
This result from long continuance in power
OF selfish political leaders, and is a most SER
iuuS evil in the public service. No one can
estimate the injury and loss the people suf-
fered from this cause alone.
THE BOSS SYSTEM.
There is a widespread discomfort at what
is fOTci5ly called "OOss" government. This
is not without much reason. Popular discon-
tent has generally good cause, for the people
have no advantage in unnecessary agitation
and disorder The great evil of boss gov
eTumenU is that the interest OF the official is
made inimical to faithful public service
His interest is not on the side of fidelity to
the public veal, but on that of abject Obe-
dience to the orders Of the machine
he follows his interest.
\ wise economy must be enforced in the
public expense. PrOfuse expenditure by
government is not only buTdensome in ITSELF
but generates in officials a spirit Of pUOti-
Uacy which peTmeates even private life. EX-
travagauCe breeds extravaganza. Every
useless expenditure creates an excuse, if it
does not cause necessity for further waste.
This is true in many ways not always per-
Ceptible to the public, but which become ap-
parent upon an Investigation or systems
Pecu,atiOn may be gross, but can be detoc-
teG. Mere financial extravaganza can be
measured and corrected. The usual and or
dinay "Ieaks" at least discover themselves
and can be stopped. But there is a profit
gacy that invades systems, That is wrapped
up in statutes, that has the protection OF law
and the warrant of long usage II is the
growth Of years, has been line upon line
written into your legislation, represents the
concentrated ingenuity of a succession of
public piuudrTeTs and extends from the high
est department in the State to the lowest in
the municipality.
One manifestation of this abuse may be
designated by the term "p!ace making" The
numerous multiplication OF offices, the cTea-
ton of useless and eNtTavagant boards, COM
missions and trusts is "a strong channel of
waste through which the people are yearly
deSpOied of millions. \ SerVIceaOle pOlltI-
ticiau is out OF place and must be provided
fora Recorders Office is immediately crea-
ted. a iuutO OF leaders determine to pool
their designs upon the treasuTy-a depend
ant legislature iutiiCts "a Delinquent Tax Of
fee upon the community. The ''sDOilS' be-
ing still found insufficient some vast public
Improvement Is suggested and scheme for
public works is designed, big enough to take
in some OF tie needy of both parties.
AN UFGENT AND PRACTICAL REFORM
The abolition Of unnecessary offices. the
reduction OF the number of public depend
ants, the narrowing Of responsibility aud
economy in the public expense constitute an
urgent and practical reform. This would be