Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-07-03
STATE POLITICS.
.E nopEs or rae uEaouRAOY

Tho Work Of tho AdministratIon-Ths xe-
forms Ut the Houss-fho Probable
Issues OF the ComiuE Campaign.
Staff Correspondents e OF the Pittsburgh Dis.
patch.
When I came upon w. U. Hensel, chair
man last year aud this of the Democratic
state committee, on a Pennsylvania rail-
road train between Philadelphia and Ian
caster the other day. he was reading "Dr.
Claudius instead of studying tho map of
the state to see how Is Democratic con.
gressiOnal districts could b carved out
without gcrrymandrr.
What's new in politics ?" repeated the
field marshal after me, "dOn't expect me
to know. have been in Harrisburg very
little this winter, and scarcely ever except
when business called me there. Tho
Democratic party elected governor aud
majority of the House to vindicate it's
pledges of administrative reform, and l
think tho politicians of the party, if am
classed among them, have been satisfied
to let them do their work without much
outside interference. After tho House had
organized and the governors chief ap-
pOintments were announced there was
notable absence during the winter from
Harrisburg of Democratic politicians, and
no appearance of any attempt on their
part to boss the officials whom they had
helped to elect. This strikes mo rs au
spicious. 1t has left the Democratic state
administration aud the House free to pur-
sue that policy which best serves the gen
eral public good and, after all, that in the
end serves their party best"
"To what extent have they sue.
ceeded %
.sTo a very great extent. The admin.
iStratiOn has cartaialy III atecially strength
ened the party by its wise, Intelligent aud
honest course. am not slow to recognize
tho fact that the personal relations OF the
governor and his small circle of cOntiden-
tial counsellOrs with the party leaders in
the Legislature and the state arc
Not What They Should be,
DOR do care to inquire where tho respon
sibility for this lies. cannot SEQ that it
has tended in any degree to party disOr-
ganizatiOn. The administration has
shown no disposition to use its patronage
or influence to build up a faction in the
party nor to control the organization for
its own purposes, and SO long as it makes
no such effort, it will be judged fairly by
its work. Thus far that has certainly
commended it to tho party's favor, as it
also has to the approval of the general
public. In spite of adverse criticism upon
some few of the governors appointments
in which joined aud which am still
of the opinion they desorved-it was rec
Ognized generally that this was largely a
personal matter with him, and that the
responsibility for any misfortune occur
ring to his administration by reason of an
unlucky choice Of cOunsellors would fall
most heavily upon himself. Certainly the
outcome of the executive deliberations
thus far has justified his selections.
The Vetoes Not All Wise.
The distinctive work of the admins
tration has been most conspicuously dis
played in the gubernatorial vetoes. Two
or thres of these, think, We're mistakes
for example, ths disapproval of the asses
sors' bill and of the Wolverton referee
bill. but in the main they were sound ;
they have exhibited close scrutiny of
bills, keen appreciation of crude and ill
advised legislation, high regard for the
fundamental law, conscientious devotion
to the reform pledges of the campaign,
and know they have struck the average
popular judgment of the party masses
very favorably. l receive letters to that
effect daily"
"To what extent is this policy due to
the governors advisers ?"
"Of course, sir, l have no means of
knowing that. Nor does it matter, since
he alone is responsible for his acts. 1t is
not likely that he would fai! to call into
his confidence at least his attorney gen.
| eral, secretary Of state and his intimate
friend, Senator Gordon-all three men of
great ability and positive character-and
if he has taken counsel Of them, surely it
| will not be said, even from partisan stand
point, that they have led him estray. In
his positive recommendations to the Leg
islature, the governor has displayed the
same qualities that have marked his
vetoes, and all the reform measures Of the
session had his sympathy. Besides his
official advisers, understood that Judge
Black and Mr.. Piollet have had frequent
consultations and always ready audience
with him. They are, each in his own way,
mon of original ideas who stand close to
the people,"
A Party OF modest Expectations.
q Has the Democratic majority in the
House disappointed the reform expectil-
tions of it's party"
"Certainly. not. 1t left some things
undone, to be sure, aud, like all legislative
bodies, wasted some time, for which the
people had to pay. But, by universal
agreement, it was the best House that has
met in Harrisburg for 20 years So many
of its members were new and untried that
the majority suffered lack of united
leadership. But its impulses wero all
for reform, and no bad legislation stained
its record. Come was slOvenly and care
less, but tho governor has weeded that
out and the Senate, largely composed of
experienced men, must share the respon
sibility for that. Not single charge of
venality was made against the members of
the present House. No bosses cut out it's
work for it no lobby passed nor repress-
ed the measures which engaged its at:en-
ton a number of very salutary bills were
passed and, as the Philadelphia Committee
of One Hundred proclaims, some of these
had been vainly urged for years before
Republican Legislatures. Most of the ben-
eficial legislation was adopted in the Sen
ate against Stalwart opposition and by the
united Democrats with the aid of a few
Independents. If these latter now persist
in joining their Stalwart associates to deny
the Democrats fair apportioument they
will openly shame themselves and give us
a new issue Oh which to go before the
people of the state.
The House Supplies u Key-No
1.-THE appropriations of the session when
fairly tabulated, will show reductions over
former years. The expenses of tho House
were reduced, and l regard it. as strong
point to be made that the Democratic
majority of this body surrendered patron
age belonging to it and refused to fill
AI