The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1883-01-19

FoIIowINe are the only excerpts from
Gov. Pattison's inaugural address for which
we can find space this week:
adopt, as a direct application TO the pres
ent time, a sentence from President Jack
sons first inaugural. in which Re saws "The
recent demonstration Of public sentiment IN
scribes on the list OF executive duties, in
characters too legible to be overlooked, the
task of reform. This task clearly set he
fore him, the present executive Will strive to
fulfill it. Happily for him. there can he no
doubt of the particular subjects as to which
public anxiety fOrimprovement has maniFPs-
ted itself. These are well defined The
method Of accomplishment is 4 question for
legislative wisdom ultimately 70 datermine
So far as the limits Of an address Hike this
viii permit, let me state a few OF the sub
jeets Of needed reform. The people demand
the abolition Of needless officers, the fixing
of official Compensation at sums cOmmp0Su-
rate with the service rendered bv salaries
definitely aSceTtained. rigid accountability
in the expenditure Of the public moneys. and
the raising of the efficiency Of the public GER
vice by making fitness and integrity along
with the tests FOL appointment The people
demand strict economy in the expenditure of
their money, simple and husiness-like con-
duct of the affairs of the government, and
the repeal Of all laws creating avenues for
the needless spending of the public funds at
the discretion OF the officials. The people
demand that the burdens as well "a the ben
efits OF the government shall be distributed
with fairness, iust0ess and imDartiaIitv
They demand uniformity AID simplicity in
taxation and its distribution in such a man
Der as that, while all shall bear their share Of
the common burdens, those shall contribute
most who receive most, and those suffer least
who can bear least.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
With the augmentation Of corporate pow
er has arisen also other large Accommodations
of capital devoted to various forms of indus
try. Our own state. in the developments Of
its peculiar sources of mineral wealth. IS ex-
ceptionaily prominent in this respect These
aecumulatiCns of corporate and other eaDi.
tai invested in business enterprises, employ
armies Of workmen, concentrated at single
establishments. From this has arisen con-.
tests between those who paw and those who
receive wages. In recent years these CON
ficts have been of frequent occurrence
throughout the entire country and have Of
ten resulted in violence not only to the pub
JIG peace, but to person and property A
continual, though irregular, struggle is now
and has for years been going on between
these two conflicting elements. CompIants
/ of injustice are constantly being made by one
against the other, and each in his turn an
peal to the state for remedial legislation.
Z Such appeals should not 90 unhPpdpd but
should be attentivelv listened to and careful
ly considered These questinnSf al many
times have threatened-to become formida-
Bile element in our politics and Disturbing
factor in our elections This is not as it
4
from iuterminglinC of such matters It gives
excuse for reckless. .demagogues 70 ply their
vocatiOns, exposes labor to debaSement from
the intrigues of politicians. and iuiects pas
sion and rashness into discussion which has
peculiar need for calmness, deliberatiOn and
I dispassiOnate reason.
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR
For government to shut its eyes and close
its ears to the complaints and petitions of
any bOOy of its citizens is folly Snch
.4o 81
Particularly should heed be given to the ap-
peals of so large and important part of the
community as those depending for suhsis-
tcDee upon the wages of toll. Labor is the
main pillar of the State As an honorad
statesman of our own country mas said !:
" Labor is the superior of capital and de-
serves much the highest consideration - but
the consideration given to such matters
should be deliberate and searching. and the
relief thorough and systematic, if it is to be
lasting and effectual
l cannot but INDUCED the belief that our
political system IS capable of providing some
other remedy than the bavOnet forthe settle
ment OF such disputes. Our form Of gov-
ernment, | have no Coubt is competent to
deal with this matter fairly and effectively
without injustice to theTights or interests of
either party to the controversy. Upon the
wisdom OF the legislative department rests
in the first instance the responsibility for a
proper solution Of this Question.
THE Inauguration of Governor Pattison
was simple ceremonial, devoid Of pomp
& eXtravagance or iunkyism. Still there were
large numbers of strangers in Harrisburg
and several civic associations from the East
ern counties Joined in the procession of cjti-
Zens The oath of office was administered
to the GOYernoT-elect by Judge Turnkey
Then there was salute af thirteen guns. at
an outlay, SAYS special. OF five dollars md
odd cents, which was all the inauguration
cost the State. It is not a mere question of
the dollars and cents involved that induced
the abandonment of the George Haady
Smith style of Inauguration. They were in
bad taste, and the thousands OF dollars eX-
pended largely went to hampac,u and other
nonsense. The people OF Pennsylvania have
had quite enough OF that sort Of business
and of the people who engineered it.