The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-07-04

the 26th day of June, 1883, John Casebeer
in his s0th year. Mr. Casebeer was born il
Somerset township, and resided there an,
/ in Somerset borough all his life. His genia
manner, kind and sociable disposition. mad
him pleasant and agreeable companion t.
his acquaintance. He was a good citizen
and had acquired the love and respect o
all who knew him.
EDITOR HERALD:
In 1863 Andrew g. Curtin, Governor o
Pennsylvania. sent two companies OF STATE
soldiers into Somerset county, for the pro
lection Of the southern border Of the State
For some time these soldiers were quartereC
Heffley, in Berlin. For the use of the hOus,
and premises, and the damage done thereto
Mr.. Heffley made claim against the STATE
oftwo hundred dollars, which was shown {,
be correct, and the claim moderate and JUS
by the sworn statements of disinteresteC
witnesses, one of whom was the captain o.
one of the companies, Capt. William NJ
schrock. of Somerset. Mr.. Heffiey has mad,
every effort in hispower to obtain his money
from the State. since 1864 or 1865. Failing
to get the accounting officers Of the Com
monwealth to adjust and pay his claim, b,
applied 10 the Legislature, some fifteen
wears ago, for the passage OF an act directing
the Auditor General and State Treasurer 10
adjust and pay his claim. At several ses-
sions Of the Legislature bill was introduced
and passed one branch of the Legislature
but failed in the other for want Oftime. Al
the last session, by untiring efforts, bill
passed both branches Of the Legislature, and
went to the Governor for his approval
The following is what he has 10 say about
the bill
al herewith file with my objections, in
the office of the Secretary of the Common
wealth. house bill No. lG5, entitled IN act
authorizing and requiring the Auditor Cen
eral and the State Treasurer to audit and
settle the account of George Heifiey, Of Som
erset county. l decline to approve of thi,
bill because without sufficient, or any rea.
son that ] can see, it imposes upon the State
the penalty of twenty years interest on a
debt said to be due and owing 10 a citizen.
During June and July, 1863, Geo. Heffley,
Of Somerset county. 'quartered and kept
state troops in his twO-story house. For
this service he now claims compensation Of
the State, an this bill accords him two
hundred dollars with interest from July l.
1868. There is no allegation that he ever
before claimed compensation Of the State,
and that she resisted his claim. The fact
that he was entitled to be creditor of the
state may have only recently dawned upon
him, for it does not appear he was much
affected in his property or estate by this
"quarteringn and keep of the troops
Nevertheless this bill gave him his debt and
twenty years interest-quite good invest
ment for him. TIE bill in one clause re-
quires the auditor general and state treasur-
er TO adjust the claim, and ir another
fixes two hundred dollars with interest from
July l. 1863, as the amount for which the
auditor general is peremptorily required TO
draw his warrant How can that officer
have any discretion to adjust a claim in
the face of such an obligatory direction ~
What a message Not a single reason as
signed for his action The message is made
up of mistateTnent of fact, an insinuation
OF dishonesty, and boyish attempt al ridi-
cule. IL seems to me that the Governor of
the great State of Pennsylvania ought to
blush with shame to file such a State paper.
" There is no allegation that he ever before
claimed compensation of the State. What
will be said of thi. sentence, uttered by the
Governor. in the face Of the records under
his nose of the sworn testimony and allie
CATIONS. made ana repeated for many years.
.' Tn. lsct that he was entitled 10 be 4 cred
itor OF the State may have only recently
dawned upon him" This i an insult 20
the honest, upright character OF Mr.. Heiiiey
and his family. Recently dawned upon
him Eighteen years ago he was demand
ing payment of what was justly and honest
lv due him. and which has been denied and
DELAYED ever since "Forit does not appear
he va, much affected in his property and
estatc. etc" This i best answered 10y silent
contempt. Nevertheless this bill gives
him his debt and twenty wears interest,
quite a good investment for him There
being no allegation that the claim j. not
inst or that the State is not liable and
should pay il, can there be any good reason
assigned why the interest should not be
paid The State has had the Use Of this
money, and has made interest on it. Don't
the Governor know if he does not he should,
that if this money had been paid Mr.. Hefiiey
when il was due him, and when he first de-
manded il, that he could have made from
ten 10 twenty per oentum upon it, during
the greater portion of the time, at least
The representatives of the people IN gener-
al assembly met. after 4 careful examine
ton of the claim and the evidence of it
correctness. and after hearing the statements
of members for and against Il, uasSed an
act directing it, payment. The Reform
Governor says il shal not be paid. Why
is the claim unjust? No. Does the act Ill
recting its payment violate any provision Of
the Constitution > No Was the act passed
without due and proper consideration Ne.
But am the Reform Governor, and say it
shall not be paid. That settles IL for the
present. for the Legislature has not the op-
portunity OF passing the bill over his veto.
Ir reform meals that the state. or an indi-
vidual is not to pay honest debts when able
to do So then take it the people, especially
of Somerset county, will not want much of
the Governors reform. Perhaps some allow
ance should be made for the want of knowl-
edge and experience on the part Of the Gov
prnor. and the blame should rest upon the
people for electing such an incompetent
man. After four years dose Of such n
Governor and his rule the people will be
more than satisfied, and will be- willing to-
return 70 Republican rule
More anon,
JrsrIcE
Har,5s5urg. J,cae p, lss5-
Says the Indiana Progress Ii Is said that
the cupidity and ayarice of Westmoreland
county farmer led him to have sheared a
large flock of sheep at an earlier day this
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