The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-08-09
WASTING
PUBLIC MONEY
Squandering Thousands For Needless
Supplies for the Departments of the
State Government.
There Was No Money For Many Worthy
Charities OF The State. But Plenty
For luxures For The Officials.
The Harrisburg Patriot of last
Monday contains the following:

The Harrisburg Patriot Of last
Monday contains the following:
Thousands of dollars OF the peoples
money are to be squandered this
year for needless supplies for the
various departments of the state
government. Contracts have been
awarded by the board Of public build
ings and grounds for an abundance OF
the best bay rum, fancy soaps, exper-
sive towels, rare flowers, cham ois
skins and Dresden china inkstands.
Tie board has also ordered expensive
furniture, sllverware and cut glass for
the executive mansion and costly
furnishings for the new quarters of
Lieutenant Governor Lyon on the
second floor of the north wing Of the
capitol. 1t will be hard to convince
the average citizen that the State is
short of funds when he learns Of this
extravaganza.
Requisitions for all these things
were made year ago upon the
board, but Auditor General Gregg
and State Treasurer Morrison, who
constituted majority. refused to al
low them and they were stricken from
the schedule of supplies, stationery,
furniture, &c. for the senate and house
OF representatives and the several de-
partments. But things are different
now. Everything that was refused
then will be supplied this year, and a
great deal more.
A new feature this year is the bulb
and flower schedule, which indicates
that the state is going into the floral
business on an extensive scale. This
schedule includes all OF the finer
varieties of roses, Dutch and Roman
hyacinths, lilies, daffodils, Chinese
sacred lilies, lilies OF the valley,
japonicas and the ixla crateroides,
fiery scarlet flower of great beauty.
The schedule also calls for zoo strong
clumped japonicas TO cost 50 a hun
dred and the same number of
japonica compacta multifora, the cost
OF which Is scheduled at 50 hundred.
Another new feature this year is
two dozen leather cases for carrying
postage stamps, one dozen real seal
card cases, selected, and four German
silver reading glasses with ivory han
dies. Eleven thermometers are called
for to keep the clerks and officials
informed as to the condition OF the
mercury. In the matter Of stationery
there will be fancy writing paper, with
envelopes to match. in costly boxes.
There will also be fine pocket knives,
scheduled at SS.25 each and combina-
ton pocket knives at 81 each. Buck
skin pocket knife cases will be sup
piled to preserve the knives from rust
and dirt. The schedule calls for
three dozen of scissors and forty
pairs of shears. Nine dozen of foun-
tain pens will be distributed among
the state officials and employees. Be
sides hundreds of ordinary pens and
penholders are scheduled, together
with many gross of lead pencils and
hundreds Of quarts of writing fluid.
The board has contracted for two
dozen inkstands, three dozen fine cut
glass inkstands, some oak bases, six
porcelain inkstands, a dozen Daisy
automatic ink wells and several hun.
dred quarts Of Arabian mucilage.
The principal items in the soap
schedule are fifty dozen Colgate's
olive palm, fifty dozen White Rose
glycerine, twenty-five dozen Colgate's
superhne and twenty-five dozen Cuti
cura for the skin. There are also
scheduled about 1880 pounds o.
scrub and cleansing soap.
The supply schedule includes hair
hat, clothes, shoe, nail, scrub and dus
brushes, six dozen coat whisks anc
numerous dabbers. This schedul,
also calls for seven dozen waste pape
baskets, ten dozen bath sponges
fifteen dozen chamois skins, ten dozel
china, nickel and stone cuspidor
and twelve backing cases of oak ant
walnut. In the book schedule ther
are sixteen Harrisburg, fifteen Phila
delpha and eight Plttsburg directories
There are also six dictionaries, Sc
of Appleton's encyclopedia, a Wes
colts history Of Philadelphia and
library OF 500 volumes OF standar