The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-07-05

EXPENSES GROW $1,000, 900.
Under the above captions the
Philadelphia Pecori Of Monday con-
tans the following:
"The three weeks which have clap
sed since the Legislature closed up
and went home have been ample to
give the people a chance to recover
and to begin to realize the extent to
which their alleged representatives
have involved the Commonwealth,
looted its Treasury and disgraced
them generally.
If they need reminding of their
shame they receive it almost daily in
the announcements Of the Governors
approval and Endorsements Of the acts
OF the Legislature.
Under cover of the unusual major
ity which accident gave the Republi-
cans last fall, the raid on the Treasury
was begun almost as soon as the oath
of Office was administered. Salaries
were increased with { lavish hand
and. in one case at least, in absolute
violation Of an express provision in
the Constitution. There are many
lawyers in the Legislature. and the
Governor is himself a member Of the
bar, with two Others in his cabinet;
yet all gave the measure their unqual-
flied approval. 1t has become a
common expression on the Hill
whats the Constitution between
friends, generally made in fun, but in
one case at least in sober earnest.
FALSE CRY OF ECoNo,W.
Remembering the Governors Wig
orous message on the necessity for
economy in the early part of the ses.
sion, his approval of the mass of new
offices may have been . surprise to
many; but in a desperate factional
political fight there is no weapon SC
effective as a lot Of nice, fat Offices,
the purchase OF d mans influence
with an appointment not being recog.
nized as bribery under the criminal
code.
AN INCREASE OF OVER SI,ooo,ooo.
An examination Of the general ap
preparation bill, which is to provide
for the ordinary expenses Of the Gov.
eminent and the support of the pub
lie schools for the two fiscal years
shows some startling figures as a re
suit Of the reckless increase O
salaries and offices. The increase ir
the total amount of the appropriation
carried is in round numbers SIIAo,
900, and as the appropriation to the
public schools is the same as two
years ago, it can be seen where the
money IS going to. In three sections
OF the bill alone the increase !!
$I.oGo,ooo - the expenses of the
State departments, the Judiciary anC
the Legislature. 1t is true the gen
eral appropriation bill has not ye
been signed, but the increases il
these three sections have already beer
authorized by other legislation. anC
the only items in the Dill which thC
Governor can veto are insignificant il
comparison to those already provided
for.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
The increase in the cost of runnin.
the State departments alone is $817,
I57, sufficient to have provided al
the funds asked for the improvement
OF the Delaware River channel anC
to have given the University o
Pennsylvania the full amount o
$4,000 needed for the advance
ment OF that great institution O
learning. But that disposition of tn,
money would have given no oppor
tunities for rewarding political favor
ties. The cost of the judiciary is in
creased SI45,4co, and the cost of tn,
Legislature $57,5Ia.
Nor does the latter item includ,
the expenses of a number of mic,
little legislative junkets which are pro
vlded for in separate items, and tn
$4,000 which is to go to the Senat
Elections Committee for the farcica
contest by DR.. Heller for Senate
Laubachs seat. The testimon
showed so conclusively that Laubac
was elected that the two leading Re
publicans on the committee refused t
yield to the pressure of the admin:
tration forces and vote to seat Heller
a'vote which could have been take