Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-07-23
HARRISBURG LETTER
The Governors Work Of Pruning
Appropriation Bills,
PEBRosB HASTINGS QUARREL.

True story Of the Controversy Be-
tween tile Junior senator aud the
chief aiagistrate-A fractional Party
war inevitahle
tspeclai CorrespondenceJ
Harrisburg July 20 The revenue
question is sill undetermined but be
fore the end OF the week the governor
VIII have settled The matter IN his own
mind 1t can be stated officially that
the present revenue laws and those
passed by the late legislature. which
are still on the governors table. are
not sufficient to meet the deficiency of
over $4,000 900. and the appropriations
exceed those Of the last legislature
(lss5) about s200,000 or course Gov
ernor Hastings is going to prune the
list of appropriations very carefully.
but lt VIII take lot Of cutting 20 get
tle total down TO the figures that arc
necessary TO come within the revenues.
Much looping off Is necessary TO cur
million or two IN appropriations. and
while the governor is going to make an
heroic effort IN this direction 70 seems
almost impossible for him to get the
total low enough. Two years agu the
principals OF the state normal schools
were called here when the revenue
problem was under consideration. ana
they agreed 70 draw their appropria-
lions IN such a way az not TO embarrass
the state treasury. They Will probably
have to do something Of the sort this
year AS a matter cf fact the grants
10 the state normal schools have been
opposed for several years. and the uex5
session Of the legislature will give them
some trouble, II is argued by the op
ponents of the normal schools that II
was never contemplated that they
should be regularly assisted bv the
state TO the tune Of $3.50, ,OO0 every two
years. II is stated that their promoters
agreed that after the buildings were
erected the commonwealth would be
released from further demands.
The Penrose-ITastings Quarrel.
Since the adjournment Of the legisla-
ture this city has been the storm CEN
tire for some very lively political and
other sensations, While the lawmakers
were here they managed to keep up in.
terest in current events but as sensa-
tlon makers they are not in the same
/ class with Governor Hastings. Senator
Quay and few others Just when the
| atmosphere was clearing and the Ieels-
/ lative mists were fast being dissipated
| Senators Quay and Penrose dropped
into town. and left a few hours later
after starting the liveliest sort Of a DO
liucai row. OF course, there are all
sorts of versions of their call upon
Governor Hastings at the executive
department. but there is only one cor
rect story of the now famous inter-
view, and II is about as follows: Dur.
/ Ing the session Of the legislature new
Republican organization was formed in
Philadelphia, known as the combine OF
ward leaders. II was Quay organlza.
/ tion. and was conceived in a desire to
/ dethrone David Martin as the recog-
nized leader Of the party In the Quaker
l city But IN order to down Martin It
was necessary to also down the city
/ administration, which is In the hands
Of his friends. Mayor Warwick is a
Martin man. Having failed to capture
the mayor, the new combine had intro
/ duced In the legislature by Senator
1 Becker bill requiring all appoint
ments OF the mayor In Philadelphia to
] be confirmed by three-ffths Of the
members Of select council. For awhile
the bill was hung up in the house and
/ It was suspected that it would be de-
1 feated but pressure was brought
to bear by logrolling combinations and
! finally the measure was pushed
through. Now II is in the hands Of the
/ governor, and nobody has any other
idea than that II viii be vetoed.
SO much by way of prelude Cover.
nor Hastings was importuned to ap-
prove the bill, but he was ohish. and
the supporters Of the measure deter
mined to call Senators Quay and Pen
rose to their aid. So they came 10 Har-
risburg and had an interview with the
governor. 1t was red hot confer
ence, and II broke up In a row. sena-
tor Penrose was the hrehrand He
was particularly anxious to have the
Becker bin signed. and insisted that It
should have the approval of the gov
ernor When the latter intimated that
he would not sign the bill tbs junior
senator became quite Indignant. and
strongly intimated that the friends OF
the governor might suffer in conse-
quence. This was taken to mean that
the Quay people would not support
Major Levi McCauley fer auditor gen.
eral. and that certain appointees of the
governor would not be nominated by
the party conventions. Governor Hast
ings was so enraged by these tactics
/ OF coercion that he responded hotly 10
Senator Penrose's suggestions. and
gave him TO understand that he had
appointed good men and that they
could take care Of themselves Senator
Quay deprecated the remarks OF his
colleague. and said that Major Nc
Csuley must be nominated He then
announced that he would be a candi.
date for recollection 70 the senate
A FactioDal War Inevitable.
Returning to their hotel. Senators
Quay and Penrose met some newspaper
men and related that. having seen
Governor Hwtings, II had been de-.
termined by Senator Quay to be can
didate for the senate once more and
that Governor Hastings had promised
te support him. AS soon az the atten
tion OF the governor was called 10 this
statement he denied point blank that he
had been asked TO support Senator
Quay Meanwhile the adherents OF both
factions have been placing their own
construction upon the results OF the
interview. and Il is expected that some
lively faetional politics may be en-
gendered by this episode n Is agreed
upon all sides that the break would
probably not have occurred Ia the alb.
sence of Senator Penrose He is per
soma non grata at the executive depart
ment.
Il is believed that factional wal