Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-07
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MONDAY EVENING. AUG. 2, 1857.

NOstNdStt1 EUIIlls4CItltl
MONDAY EVENING, AUG. z, 1882.
Net Very Discreet.
TIE Philadelphia Press, with marvel.
lOus lack of discretion, continues to
invite discussion of the preparation for
the duties of the Office of governor
which Mr.. PattisOn has had in the dis
charge of his duties as controller of the
city Of Philadelphia. IT the Press could
comprehend or had any real sympathy
with the movement for municipal re-
form in Philadelphia, it would know that
the controllers Office and Mr.. Pattison' Is
administration of it have been the key
stone of it. In meeting them he was
confronted with responsibilities as great
and judicial powers more complicated
and weighty than those with which a
governor Of Pennsylvania is invested.
The idea of "populsr reform in munich
pal affairs" is just the notion that
needs to be applied to state affairs. 1t
was Mr.. Tilden's conspicuous part in
the New York city reform movement
which made him governor of New York,
and his brilliant administration of that
Office consisted largely in the application
of his system of municipal reform to the
abuses which existed in state affairs.
Reform in detail, thorough and far
reaching, is the demand which the pub
lie makes upon its official servants, and
one who has instituted and vigorously
carried out this system in great city
like Philadelphia is just the kind Of a
man to merit and receive the confidence
of the people Of the state.
Tie Press may recall to advantage the
fact that in 1872 its party in this state
took its candidate for governor from the
Office of auditor general, experience in
which is nothing like as valuable train
ing for public service rs that of the con-
troller of Philadelphia and although
Hartranft had been weak and iIefii-
cient If not corrupt and dishonest au
ditOr general, the Republicans made him
governor twice and ran him for presi-
dent. Again, their present candidate
for governor, Gen. Beaver, is absolutely
without experience in public affairs. He
is an ordinary lawyer, taking no rank in
the profession of the state. He has had no
political experience, except that of being
a very independent Republican up to the
time when he saw that Don Cameron
made the nominees Of his party in this
state, then he sank his independence and
manhood, and put on tue collar and got
the nomination which had been previ
ously denied him. His only experience
as a civil administrator has been as
president of the board Of trustees Of the
state college. Does the Press mean tC
say that in this position Beaver has dis
played Ian experience with the world,
a knowledge of affairs, executive ability,
a comprehensive knowledge Of his state
its resources, its requirements. its people
and their best aspirations "-such ;Is fits
hin, to be governor ?
THE SO-cllIel investigation at the
almshOuse will not by any means satisfy
the public that tho unfortunate inmates
of that institution receive proper atten
tion. The superintendent himself makes
feeble apology Iy trying to shift the re
spcnsililty upon The failure Of the Iii
rectOrs TO give him the right kind and
sufficient quantity Of help. This will
no doubt explain some Of the deficiencies
of management and should receive the
prompt attention of the directors. But
the crying want Of the almsllOuse and
hospital is \ resident physician There
are on al average Il hundred patients
there who need attention, and to speak
of the daily visit Of a physician who is
changed off every three months ;ss the
proper medical supervision for these un.
fortunate people Is the grosScst absurd.
ity. The delicate and dangerous con
ditjon of the inmates of the lunatic asy
lam alone ought to have the constant
care and study of one man, and since a
grand jury has recommended this sys-
TEN, we fail to understand why the iii
rectOrs do not put it into operation.
Their delay is culpable and only explica.
ble Oh the ground that they consider
themselves elected only to attend tC
such matters rs the warning Republican
rings and factions have Il speculative in
tereSt in.
GEN. SHERMAN seems to make an
apology for the government going to
the verge Of extravagance in granting
pensions. Had the matter stopped there
the people might have pardoned the in