The Saint Paul globe., 1897-07-10

A year or so agO-to be exact, in the
fall of 1895-the country, that is that
part of those who make up the coun-
try who pay any attention to such
matters, was surprised and astonished
to have the government of PennsyI-
vania issue a solemn pronunciamen-
TO in favor of reform. Reform in
everything, state legislation, munich
pal government and administration;
retrenchment, economy and a general
reign of virtue. Coming from Quay.
with his record, his cynical disdain of
reform and reformers, this looked like
another case of Saul smitten by .
great light. But only to the credulous.
When he talked about the need Of
probing the municipal affairs of Phil
adelphia to the bottom the incredulous
knew he was only after Dave Martin.
When he talked state and civil re-
form the incredulous knew that some
body needed fooling again. And the
doubters are not disappointed. QUAY
sick may pretend piety, but sick or
Well the government Of PENNSYLVANIA
remains the same old Quay.
The legislature that was to redeem
these promises, under the auspices and
by the gracious permission Of the gov-
ernment, has met and adjourned. There
were gullible, simple persons in it who
ho
ment had promised and who prepared
bills to embody them. made In
good faith, believing the government
would order their ratification from his
seat in Washington. When the bills
had attained the proper degree of
ripeness the government sent his as
slstant, Penrose, over from the ma
tional capital to take the starch out"
OF them, which he did with the deft
ness of an adept in his masters school.
GOV. Black, Of New York, was not
more artful So adroitly is The starch
extracted that the bills to prevent as
sessments on officeholders, to prevent
them from manipulating primaries and
TO prevent committees from swelling
the poll lists by lump payments of
delinquent poll taxes, non-payment Of
which forfeits the privilege of voting,
are each and all actually shields for
those who commit these acts The
phrasing has been so cutely changed
as to make conviction impossible ana
therefore, allow the offenses to be COM
mitted with impunity.
Another reform was retrenchment
and economy. So staunch an organ of
the government as is the Philadelnhia
Press is constrained to cry out I'm
vigorous protest against the profiigate
sQuandering of funds. The farce Of
Unearthing Dave Martin cost over S6s.
600, and produced nothing A commit
tee Investigated the penitentiary and
put in bill for $14,S93 The anthracite
miners seemed to need investigation.
and that cost $11 $751; while it took Sill
AIS to look into the condition of the
bituminOus miners. Even the fire that
burned down the old rookery they
called their capitol had to call for ST.
F05 worth of investigating, while $4,7S4
Were claimed to have been spent In
looking over the state treasurer's &C
counts. The farmers must have been
growing, for $1,000 was spent" in
probing for oleomargarine. But the
acme was reached when the junketina
party that went up to New York to
attend the unveilinS CT the Grant
monument turned in an expense ac,
count Of $11 81. with nothing to nav
for transportation, in what way could
B11,3T be expended?" asks the amazed
Press. 1t says, doubtless truthfully,
that the Investigations were designed
not to investigate, where they were
not Investigating something everybody
knew before. '"It is an appalling
situation" it says, brought about by
selfshness and greed" Not wholly,
we should say. Mainly and directly
because Mr.. Quay is the government
Vt Pennsylvania, and partially because