The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-06-24

VCHoItto kuiS VII Oot nteNvStys esAo
II Is now on third reading. The reason
II was reported out was because MIR.
Quay's friends knew that 1t was un-
constitutional. and IL 1t did pass no
harm was DONE because no court would
uphold II.
When the bill came I'D In the sem
ate on last Wednesday Senator Finn
amended II so as TO make II read that
a tax of one cent per gallon shall be
levied upon all beer sold within the
state whether brewed within or with
out It's borders. There was a bitter
fight against this amendment by the
bosses. They finally decided to let 1t
go. because there are still very grave
doubts as to whether or not the bill
Is constitutional, even In Its amended
form.
There will be another bitter fight on
this bill this week. The sentiment Of
the taxpayers Of the state Is in favor of
tax on malt liquors. Representa-
tives and senators have received BUSH
els OF letters favoring a tax on beer,
and 1t Is possible that even Senator
Quay may be compelled to recognize
public opinion and permit a beer tax
bill to become law.
The house Is in an ugly mood. It is
not likely that It will agree to postpone
adjournment beyond July /. 1t has
worked very hard, has passed num-
berless revenue bills, only to see them
sent over to the senate and there killed.
hung up or ruined. The members Of
| this body say that they are determined
to go home on July /, whether the sem
ate is willing or not, and there the
matter stands today.
Sham Reform Bills.
The greatest sham of the session was
consummated this last week in final
action on the so called reform bills"
1t is another evidence of how the
bosses can fool with. and deceive, the
people Of Pennsylvania. No more glar-
ing case Of political bunco was ever
presented than in the matter of these
reform bills" They are Mr.. Quay's
bills. He is responsible for their be-
ginning and their end.
Two years ago Senator Quay had
presented in the state convention OF
1895 a scheme OF four reform bills. The
first proposed the introduction OF civil
service reform: the second prohibited
political assessments upon officehold-
ers: the third did away with the
scheme Of purchasing poll tax receipts
In bulk; the fourth made It a misde-
meanor for any policeman. fireman or
officeholder to influence or cOerce any
voter In the right Of suffrage
For two years these measures have
been proclaimed abroad over the state
as Quay reform bills" Whenever any
man objected to Senator Quay as a
| state boss he was howled down as an
opponent Of honest REFORM" The
bosses and machine politicians for two
years have been shouting the praise OF
these bills. which were to bring the
age Of gold in politics. Quay is no
sham reformer' has been the cry. Two
state conventions, at his request. en-.
dorsed these bills. and now It turns
out that after all 1t was a case OF
April fool"
As promised. the Legislature, at SEN
ator Quay's direction, has passed GER
tain reform bills. but they are not the
reform bills that ne promised and that
the state conventions endorsed. They
are pure and simple fakes.
The People Buncoed.
The first bill regarding civil service
reform has not been passed yet. Great
difficulty is being experienced In shap-
ing II SO that 1t will be civil service
reform in name only. A high official
is authority for the announcement that
when the civil service bill Is presented
1t will be "a dandy" Bill number two.
which was intended to prevent the as
sessing or collecting Of money from
officeholders for political purposes,
simply perpetuates that evil. Under
the original bill 1t was made a misde-
meanor to demand, solicit or request"
contributions from ofiiceholders. The
senate has stricken out the words so
licit or request" making the bill to
read demand money" or any other
valuable thing.
Thus 1t will be seen that there Is no
law against requesting" political
assessment. and everybody knows what
failure to comply with request for
such purpose means to an officeholder.
BIZ number three, which proposed to
end the evil Of purchasing poll tax re-
ceipts in bulk. now legalizes that sort
Of thing. The bill as prepared al
lowed politicians or committees to pur-
chase poll tax receipts only upon the
separate written order" Of 4 taxpayer.
The word separate" has been stricken
out by Senator Quay's friends. All the
committee he's to do now is to pre-
pare a request at the head of a sheet
| Of paper, get 10000 signatures to 1t,
| and purchase 10000 tax receipts.
The fourth one OF these bills. prohib-
iting any policeman, fireman. mayor.
head Of department, county official or
| any firm or corporation from iniuenc-
ing or coercing any employe or citizen
| in his right to vote. has been amended
| and ruined by introducing the word
"unduly" before the word influence"
In the bill. So 1t reads that no person
shall ''unduly influence" another in
voting. There you have the whole
story. To unduly influence a man II
| must be proven that he was threatened
clubbed or sandbagged.
No greater series OF political fakes
have ever been imposed upon the peo-
pie OF Pennsylvania than in these sham
reform bills.