Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-09-14

evening Telegraph says: 1t is gener-
ally conceded among politicians that
the sudden flight of the ex.superinten-
dent of the almshouse and the startling
disclosures which follow it have an
important bearing on the fortunes of
the candidates ofthe three great politi-
cal parties in the coming state cam.
paign. When approached on the sub
iect to. day, Chairman Hensel, of the
b democratic state committee, said {:
"The democratic party doesn't propose
TO make partisan capital out of the
efforts of honest men of all parties to
secure administrative reform. What
ever Mr.. Pattison's office has contribu-
ted to the almshouse exposure, has
been strictly in the line of his uninter-
rupted efforts to secure honest govern
ment in every department of the city.
From the outset of his career-and it
has been watched by the people of the
whole state, he has been aggressively
earnest in his purpose that Philadel.
phia should get value received for
every dollar expended. He has de-
termined that the tax-eaters shall not
rob the payers, and | believe every
body acknowledges that to his admin
istration the success of the reform
movement is largely due. The expo
sure of Phipps' villainy will direct at
tention to the fact that the same sys-
TEN of plundering has been going on
for years at Harrisburg. | have in
vestigated this subject from time to
time, and | am we'll satisfied that by
collusion between the officials on State
Capital hill and the contractors for
supplies there has been extensive plum
der of the state treasury. | know n
contractor who was caught some years
ago delivering 200 pounds of coal to
the ton to one of the departments. In
stationery supplies there have been
gross frauds. The Legislative Record
publication has been accompanied
with iobery and irregularity. The list
of supplies furnished to the Departments
is primG tacie evidence that there are
immense perquisites for hangers.on
around the hill. The prices paid for
some of them are enormous, aud the
character of them indicates that pri-
Yates houses are furnished and store
rooms and cellars filled out of the
states purchases. The people are ask
ing why the state should buy bay rum
and shaving mugs for senators, and
new cuspadores, chairs, sofas. curtains
and carpets every year. The large
contingent funds cover multitude OF
sins. Brooms, buckets, etc, are fur
nished in quantities sufficient to clean
all the legislative halls in the country.
Pastors and folders are employed in
numbers three times as great as neces-
sary, and paid six dollars a day for
the work that they can employ sub
to do for six dollars n week. Four
tons of soap, 600 brooms, and as many
more scrub brushes, 800 pals and
$50 dust brushes, besides $50 feather
dusters-for 10 dozen of which $3.50
a dozen are paid-not to speak of win
dow brushes, long and short, sweeping
brushes and chamois skins, ought to
keep things from ever falling into dirt
and decay around the departments
and legislative halls. But why should
the state buy blacking and shoe brush
e., clothes brushes and hair brushes
Mt s31 so per dozen-nail brushes and
hair tonics, shaving mugs-s43.45 per
dozen--for state officials ? What have
become of the old spittoons, that eigh-
teen dozen of new ones are contracted
for, some to cost $50 per dozeng The
people want to know. They are going
to find out / can go on with a column
catalogue of this sort of pilfering at
Harrisburg. 1t is stealing, and the
people know it, and they see that the
very rascals who have been in it and
are living off it are Beavers most ar.
dent supporters. There is feeling
that Pattison is the man to stop this
thing. Newspaper artillery and the
defamation of reformers have prayed
unavaling. Even well.disposed legis.
Iators do not seem to be proof against
the temptations which are offered them
when the ring provides all these crea.
ture comforts for them. What is need.
ell is an executive of iron will, honesty
of purpose. and inhexible courage. tC
clean house at Harrisburg. The
almshouse exposures will have a great
effect over the state in directing atten.
ton to Pattison as the fitttst man Ia
prosecute similar investigations at the
state capital"
RmalI. P0x In Birds.