Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-06
BEAVER is WORRIED
Over the Half Million Borrowed for
Johnst0wn Sufferers.
4 SPECIAL ACT TO BE PASSED
To Relieve Him Before His Successor Is
lnaugurated.
LIVE NEWS FROM THE THREE STATES

SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DlsPATCH.l
HARRISBURG, Jan. 5.-The talk of pass
ing spportionment legislation before the in
auguration of Governor Pattison, because
of an apprehension that be might veto it, has
entirely disappeared, for the reason that it
would be impossible to reconcile the differ
ences which would arise as to how the
several districts should be constituted in the
time intervening between the opening of the
session and the close of the present State ad-
ministration. 1t is far more likely that the
Legislature will pass an appropriation bill
to cover the amount of money which Gov
ernor Beaver borrowed from a Philadel-
phian, supposed to be William H. Kemble,
10 abate the nuisance which followed the
Johnstown flood.
There is alleged 10 have been expended as
a sanitary regulation, under the direction of
The State Board of Health, about S400, 900.
Grave doubts have been expressed as to the
constitutional right of the Governor to as
sumo this great liability without legislative
sanction, and fear that Governor Pattison
might take this view of the matter and veto the
legislation looking to the liquidation of the in
debVedness has suggested the wisdom and pro-
priety of enacting the necessary law during the
term of the present Governor. There is no
doubt that Governor Beaver would readily at
Tach his signature to a bill that would indem-
Nifty HIM, and it is equally certain that the in
coming Chief Magistrate would be glad TO be re-
lieved of the duty of passing on the suggested
legislation.
The Bill Could Easily BE Passed.
BY the prompt introduction of such
appropriation bill. and its reference to
special committee. its passage could
easily be secured before Governor Pat
tison assumes his Official duties. Attor-
ney General kirkpatrick does not think the
proposed scheme necessary, as he has no doubt
the incoming Governor would recognize the
good sense and justice OF the course of his
predecessor in making the loan to meet great
public emergency like that of the Johnstown
disaster.
Tie calling Of a special session of the Legis-
lature to relieve the flood sufferers the Attor-
ney General says would likely have resulted in
WaSteTul extravaganza. While Governor Bea-
Yers plan involved an expenditure of only
about s4OO,OOO in his, The Attorney Generals
opinion, special session OF the Legislature
would have ent2lled an expense on the State
aggregating from 81. 5000O to s.. .00O0O0. OF the
constitutional power of the Governor to secure
the money needed in the way be adopted, the
Attorney General had not the least doubt Re
thought 1t would be good idea for the Legis-
Iature to make good the amount borrowed
early in the session, but he could see no reason
why action on the matter should be taken be-
fore the Inauguration of the next Governor.
Kirkpatrick's Excellent Record.
Attorney General Kirk patrick will leave his
Office with the satisfaction that moro claims
were collected during his administration than
during any preceding one. Under the law he
receives salary aggregating $1,000 1880 of
which he gets for being a member of the Board
of Pardons) and commissions not exceeding
5000 year. The exact amount he made as
Attorney General during his term of four years
Is S44, 600. Twenty-eight thousand dollars did
not represent the entire amount of commissions
that passed through his hands, as almost
enough was turned into The State Treasury in
excess of the 5000 allowed him, to pay the ex-
penses of his office for the past four years.
The commissions are paid by corporations
against which suits have been instituted in al
dItion to the claims filed against them SO that
all moneys paid into the State Treasury as CON-
missions are a clear gain to ii. The unprece-
dented record made by Attorney General Kirk.
patrick is mainly due to the decision of the
courts sustaining the constltutionality of the
loan tax, which was resisted judIcially for sew
.eral years. In obtaining the full commissions
allowed by law the present Attorney General
was no luckier than his predecessors the past
10 years all OF whom managed to capture the
maximum amount allowed, and graciously
allowed the State small surplus.
What Secretary Stone Has Done.
During his term of Office Secretary Stone,
who is now in Congress, received from salaries
and fees an amount about equal to that OBJ
tanned by the Attorney General. His salary
aggregates S. 100. and in addition he is allowed
So for every charter filed in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth. He says the
position is worth from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
the amount depending on the number OF char
ters issued. Mr.. Stone is perfectly satisfied
with the financial outcome of the Office which
he recently resigned to become member of
Congress, but Secretary SUenger is said to have
had even a better term.
The Office of the Secretary of the Common
wealth is yearly becoming more profitable to
the State, as well as those who preside over its
desunles. The receipts of the department in
The shape of fees earned, received and paid
INTO the State Treasury more than pay ali the
salaries and expenses of the department of
every Kind. Last year the excess of receipts
gradually increasing work, the employment of
additional clerical force will soon be necessary
and as Secretary Stone called attention to this
TACT IN his last report to the Governor the in
coming Secretary of the Commonwealth will
probably be authorized to employ more men In
the office by the Legislature which will begin
its sessions tomorrow.