The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-09-23
approved TOR alleged extra oflosrs and
employees IN both houses. 3sl.<sA
"Mr Elkin sfatea.

The treasurer very frankly told me
that there was 30 much confusion and
factional discord In the legislature that
he had no assurance that compensation
for the extra employees would be pro-
yided for by the proper legislation. He
thought II was unfair that he should
assume the responsibility and bear the
burden of paying these extra employees
under the circumstances. He did not
hesitate on account Of fear Of execu-
tive disapproval for the reason that the
governor had approved the appoint
ment of these persons at the beginning
OF the session. and had filed with him a
list Of committees so designated. but
was uncertain as to the result in the
legislature
MIR. ELKIN MISTAKEN.
In this Mr.. Elkin Is clearly mis-
taken. as is plainly shown by the above
statement. The legislature appropri-
ated n SUFFICIENT sum to pay all Of its
necessary employees. including the ad-
ditional clerks. to which the governor
had assented, by reason OF the repre-
sentations by the officials Of both
houses, but 1t did more than that-it
appropriated $31, ,434 for no honest pur-
pose that has yet been made apparent.
"The statement Of Mr.. Elkin. think.
obscures the real issue. There is no
controversy about the right of the leg
islature to provide for the payment OF
extra employees in the general appro-
priation bill. That was settled some
years ago by the supreme court. The
real question is as to the propriety of
an officer of the executive department
so indemnifying the treasurer as to in
duce him to pay money out of the
treasury. after his refusal. as Mr.. Elkin
states. to advance the money, because
he had no assurance that the COM
pensation for the extra employees would
be provided for by proper legislation
The want of confidence that the legis-
lature would appropriate sufficient
sum of money to pay the legitimate
expenses of its employees Is not borne
out by the fact, because 1t actually did
appropriate $3l, ,434 more than the legit-
innate expenses Of that body.
1T is not very material whether the
bond was intended to indemnify the
treasurer against legislative action or
executive veto, but since n question OF
fact has arisen as to the conditions Of
the bond or agreement Of indemnity 1t
can readily be settled by giving a copy
thereof to the public"
1t Is needeless to say that the motor
ious bond has not and will not be
made public.
THE GOVERNORS PART.
Your correspondent has endeavored
In the past to make clear the jobbery
which is surrounding the building OF
the new capitol. AS was predicted. the
four Quay members of the commits
Treasurer Haywood. president pro TEN.
OF the senate. Mr.. McCarrell. who
wants TO be the next lieutenant gov
ernor and who has Senator Quay's
promise to that effect. and Speaker
Henry X. Boyer, OF the house. have
taken the whole matter in charge.
Governor Hastings has washed his
hands Of the entire business. and has
refused to have anything further to do
with 1t. The governors reason. In brief,
for getting out Of this combination and
leaving them to their own devices and
responsibility are given as follows In
the wind up Of his speech to the COM
mission before he retired and refused to
be party to the scheme:
In my judgment. IL we take the
step proposed-to throw out all these
plans and begin over again-it will
be acting in bad faith to ourselves, In
bad faith to the architects whom we
invited to compete and In bad faith to
the people OF the commonwealth, to
whom we are responsible. am in favor
of carrying out the program as orig
inaily prepared In perfect good faith
to all. know no architect and I know
no contractor.
"There shall be no favoritism so far
as l am concerned. / want to get the
best plans and the best architect and I
desire further to say that IL you take
the step which you now propose you
are likely to plunge this commission
into legal struggle, Of which we will
not see the end during our terms Of
office, not one of us.
This action will mean that we will
have no capitol for the next legisla-
ture; That we have turned our backs
upon our word Of honor; that we have
broken our promises to all competitors
l hope you will not take the step. /
warn you Of the pitfalls you are pre-
pairing for yourselves. It will subject
this commission to public criticism that
unfortunately for US will be just"
A GIGANTIC SCHEME.
The outcome Of this gigantic scheme
will be litigation, favoritism, and scan
dal. The capitol building will not be
ready for the next legislature and the
state will be put to great expense. The
whole plan Is to throw the work Of
building the capitol into the hands of a
Philadelphia contractor and his favor
ite architects. 1t Is one Of the most
outrageous pieces of work ever at
tempted in the state. The governor has
again won the highest commendation
of the people by refusing to be
party to any such schemes Of Senator
Quay and his followers.
Last week the case of alleged bribery
against T.. A. Van Valkenburg. which
led up, on the other hand to the ar
rest of General Reeder, came UP in the
Schuylkill county court, but was post
poned till November through the ILL