The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-06-27

place IN American history
-
TIE american, which is published
by Senator Cooper, at Media, Della
ware county, has this to say about
the extra Legislative session:
Next cheap sensations, the present
Democratic administration prefers a
display Of partisanship, SO that it
may keep abreast with the other tidal
wavers, who are more bitterly par
tisan than those who make no other
than parrison profess and who have
better title to public favor. Gov.
Pattison emulates Cleveland when
be insists upon a Democratic appor-
tionment, for all realized that if by
any chance the Republicans should
gain an advantage he will veto the
bills and by arbitrary methods seek
to compel compliance with the wish
es and interests Of AR. Cassidy, who,
after all, is the man in the wood
pile. He made Pattison Governor,
and in turn Pattison is 10 make him
United Slater Senator Ability IL
the one directing mind and official
compliance in the other will accom-
plish all that can be done to carry
out this contract, and the State will
have to foot the bill.
Previous appointments have fre-
quently lapsed, and no injury was
done, nor did the party in power
then show such a fear Of the future
as has Just been manifested by the
pattison administration. Another
election might bring Republicans
into control of both Houses under
an existing apportionment so fair
that though Pattison is a mi
nority Governor, his party has a
large Legislative majorit on joint
ballot. II the election of United
States Senator had been fixed for
next winter instead of the one fur
ther on, there would have been
no constitutional" or imperative"
summons for an apportionment, and
if the Legislature had been disposed
and able to make one, the purpose
would have been defeated by an
Administration which does not hes
itate to lobby for any and everything
it wants.
The twelve day recess taken by
the extra session on its first day is
an instance Of the lobbying of the
administration. 1t soon became
known that the Republicans favored
what was called the Cooper pro-
position, " to defer action until win
ter with the proviso that no expense
should be incurred during the recess.
This would certainly have saved
at least $4,000, and probably Eve
times that amount. it was endorsed
by such men as Wallace, Hall,
Wolyerton, Coke, and all OF the ADLER
Democrats, but the agents of the ad-
ministration defeated it by offering
a toelre dag recess, Uitb pGg-and as
this gave over hundred dollars to
each member, it met the average
mind of Democratic House. was
carried through their caucus, which
all Democrats had to obey, and as a
matter Of course was carried.
And now this extra session will
move its slow length along with fre-
. quent recesses, party from the ease
and pleasure derived, but mainly
because the Governor stubbornlv
refused to direct any other than ap-
portionment work. The best Dem
ocrats in the State protested against
any extra session. aud wheE they
found was fixed, they in conjunction
with reformers, begged for the con-
sideration ofother work. The Com
mittee of One Hundred wanted the
Bullitt or Municipal Reform bill con-
SiGered ; the manufacturers wanted
the revenue measures reported by
the commission included in the call.
The first would have given reform
government to Philadelphia-some-
thing the Governor was pledged to
do-but il was denied. Tho second
would have reduced taxation on
manufacturers and others to the
amount of two millions annually,
but no the Administration had
itself aided in the defeat of these
bills by lending its ear to Victor Z.
Plolett, who advocated State taxation
upon every article Of personal prop
erty and real estate. the counties to
draw FOR all expenses from the State
Treasury. A more grovelllng, COM
munistic system of taxation was
never conceived. No State could
live under it for five consecutive
years, and all enterprise would have
to give its profits to the drones. Yet
this thing, captivating to weak
minds, was strong enough to defeat
beneicent, just and thoroughly con-
sidered revenue measures, and when
opportunity was affarded to retrieve
the failures of Democratic House,
the Governor refused because of his
sympathy with the defeating agen-
cies.
The extra session has been order
ed for single and a partisan pur-
pose. The first proclamation lee
tured the body; the second had
somewhat of a begging tone, as
though the hand which penned it
felt a loss ofpower ana respect. The
sequel will prove that there was
much in sober second thought,
which came too late to check disas-