The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-09
An Interesting Comparison.

An Interesting Comparison.
While it will not be pretended that
the last legislature did not commit
numerous errors. it is interesting to
note that the Democratic critics Of Its
work live, for that matter in fragile
glass houses. As the Philadelphia
Press opportunely points out, the real
increase in the state expenses this year
sis in about the same ratio as the
growth of the state. The very DEM
| ocratic organs which have most fiercely
attacked the appropriations have COM
. mended the legislature for reorganiz-
ing the Banking department for Great
! ing the Superior court and for legisla-
| tion TO suppress the so-called sweat
shops, These three matters. however,
added to the deficiencies left by the pre-
vious legislature, call for an increased
| expenditure in the next two years OF
| some $425, 900. The reorganization of
the Agricultural department and Of the
| Department Of Public Buildings and
Grounds, which was bitterly assailed at
the time, has resulted in a reduction OF
the appropriation to the former of SO, ,00C
and to the latter of $4,000. In addi-
tion to this 1t has been made certain
there will be considerable saving in
a better system of supplies.
"There has been no such increase OF
salaries as has been pretended for par.
tisan effect, and not anything like what
took place during the last administra-
tion of Governor Pattison, Democrat
Under that paragon Of reform the rec.
ords show an advance of nearly quar-.
ter of a million dollars in the salary
list alone, and this does not include the
pay of the three new judges in Allie.
gheny county. Some of the things done
in those reform days We're to authorize
three additional clerks for the secre.
/
tional clerks for the auditor general
two additional clerks for the adjutant
general-all these at a salary of 81, ,4O(
each. The lieutenant governors sal.
ary was raised from $4,000 to $1,000
The chief clerk and corporation clerk ir
the state department got an increase
from 81, 500 to $4,000; SO did similar clerks
in the auditor generals office. The chiei
clerk Of the attorney general got a
raise from $1,000 to $1,000, and an addi
tional $1,000 was given Secretary Harri
tvs corporation clerk for some work
out Of the ordinary, but done in office
hours.
"Then came some interesting items
The salary Of the superintendent OF
public instruction was raised from &c..
500 to $4,000 and the incumbent refused
to take the office until the increase was
made. The salary of the deputy attor.
ney general was increased from $1,000 tC
"a 900; that Of the auditor general from
81, 900 to $4,000; the deputy superintend-
ent Of banking from s1.4OO to $2,5OO
Among the officers provided for were
dairy and food commissioner, forestry
commissioner, botanist forestry COM
missioner, six additional deputy factory
| inspectors. while the pay of the six al
| ready in service was increased and the
salary of the inspector himself was
doubled while he was in Office.
"These things were not assailed by
the Democratic press at the time be-
| cause they were all approved by a
Democratic governor. Many thou.
sands Of dollars were paid out Of the
contingent funds in the various depart
ments under Democratic administra-
| ton for clerks not authorized by law
the fact that the last legislature legal.
lied their employment does not nee.
essarily add to the expenses. The tall,
of our Democratic contemporaries does
not bear either analysis or compari,
son." The real fact is that the Demo.
cratic party, in Its present and prospect.
i've clamor about largely fctitious leg.
islative extravaganza, is simply trying
to repeat on a smaller scale the grand
bunco game that 1t successfully played
on the people OF the United States In
the presidential election of 1892. We
doubt II 1t will work.
Senator Quay's decision not to oppose
in the August convention Governor
Hastings appointments to the supe.
rior court bench is an eminently pru.
dent one, in sharp contrast with the
senator's first attitude Of poorly-con.
cealed hostility. The bench should moi
be dragged into factional controversy
under any circumstances, least Of all