The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-02
MORE REPUBLICAN OROOKEDNIss.
Prominent Party officials and Leaders OBJ
tain an Advance from the State Treas.
ury TO Pay o.caIIed employees Of the
House ana Senate Who Rendered no
Service, by Giving the Treasurer an in
Identifying Bond.


of the Republican party has recently
come to light. 1t is not Democra-
tic campaign story, as it is printed in
the leading Republican papers. The
Philadelphia Press says:
at will be remembered that at
various times during the legislative
session of this year hints we're thrown
out in the heat of DEBATE regarding
the alleged illegal increase of the pay
rolls of House and Senate. This in
crease came from placing upon the
payrolls the names of political work
ers, ward heelers and members of that
rndiscriminate retinue of political
hangers-on who are repaid for services
done in the manner described. Be-
yond the mere mutterings of discon-
tent at odd intervals during the ses-
sion nothing definite was heard con-
cerning this matter until the closing
night of the session. Then Represen-
tative Coray, Of Luzerne County, dur
ing the discussion on the general ap-
preparation bill, made the open asser-
ton that the payrolls of both House
and Senate had been padded to an
alarming degree, and that thousands
of dollars of the States money was
to be used to liquidate this illegal in
debtedness, that had been piled up in
the payments of political debts"
Mr.. Coray at this time, when he
furnished the proof of his allegations
challenged a contradiction from any
officer or member present in the
House that night. No attempt at
denial or evasion of his serious
charges was made that night or since.
The reason why his detailed charge
has never been denied or explained is
gwen IN the publication of the facts
disclosed here for the first time. The
information concerning this piece of
political handiwork is derived from
authentic sources, andis partially based
upon direct statements which cannot
be disproved. On the otler hand.
at least one of the parties interested
declares that there has been no secret
concerning the matter, and SO far as
he is concerned were the same cir
cumstances presented again to-mor-
row he would not alter his line OF
conduct.
The origin of the story antedates
the last election of United States
Senator Its inception was in the
old practice of supplying faithful party
workers with lucrative situations dur
ing legislative session where there is
maximum of pay and minimum oi
work. Whether or not any of these
debts, paid in places as the coin o.
political life, were contracted in con
nection with the Senatorial contest is
not known.
1t is reasonably certain, however
that the growth of the payroll com
planned of by Mr.. Coray began short
ly after the settlement of that contest
The existence of padded payrolls II
admitted. Every effort has beer
made in the past two months to OBJ
tain a copy of these inflated lists, bu
the reply has been made that 'thes'
must be regarded as personal and pri
vate property" the idea contained IL
these stereotyped replies being that
is possible in the State OF Pennsylva
MIA, at this time and in these days
when State conventions are pledginl
the party to reform, for any Legislative
body to contract debts and incur ex
penses concerning which the peop
must remain ignorant, while furnish
ing the money to pay them.
Shortly after the organization of tn
Legislature several persons high II
party councils and leadership, it is al
legged, waited on the Governor ant
notified him that the force of employ
ees was inadequate; that the work
certain committees had grown so bur
densome that permanent and salarle'
clerks were imperative to the conduc
of the States business. The numbe
of the committees SO situated and i
need of clerks could be counted upo
the fingers OF one hand. In view
the representations made to HIN
Governor Hastings agreed to a Gel
tain limited increase and the matte
was considered settled. In obtalnn
this limited consent the parties to tn
transaction Immediately extended II
range, and then began the wholesa'
padding of payrolls, according to M
Coray, which ended in disastrous vet
and in the present exposure.
Circumstances are not wanting
show that men of unknown antec'
dents and of doubtful character, az
cording to statements made on tn
fioor Of the House of Representative
had their names placed npon the pa