The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-29
Reform Still Distant.

The Republican state convention Of
1895. upon motion of Senator Quay, ad-
opted unanimously the following reso-
luton, which was re-indorsed by the
convention of the following year:
Resolved, that we decry the growing
use OF money in politics. and the corporate
control Of legislatures, municipal coun-
ellis, political primaries and elections and
favor the enactment OF legislation and
the enforcement of laws to correct sucn
abuses. We earnestly insist upon form
of civil service which will prevent the
,ens!avement of public officers and en-
ployes, and the compelling of those APP
pointed to preserve the peace to conhne
themselves to their duties; which will in
sure absolute freedom and fairness in be-
slowing state and county and municipal
contracts, and will punish any form of
favorltsm in granting them; which Will
forbid the the right Of exclusive fran
: chises TO deal in public necessities, COM
fort, conveyance and sanitary require
ments, and Will insure the recognition OF
ability and fidelity in the public service
keeping service to the country ever %oT--
most when accompanied by ability and
fitness We demand that public office
should be for the public benefit, and its
term in subordinate positions should be
during good behavior. No public employe
or officer should be permitted to influence
primaries or elections, nor upon any pre-
tense to be assessed upon his salary, and
all unnecessary positions apd salaries
should be abolished and expenditures and
taxation reduced; there should be a uni
form basis Of valuation of property for
public purposes; corporations enjoying
public privileges should pay for them and
schools should be divorced from politics
and kept absolutely from political infiu-
ence and control.
At the beginning of the present legis-
lative session bills prepared under the
auspices of the Republican state COM
mittee and calculated to effect these
ends were introduced at Harrisburg
have already reached the governor.
One of these, as drawn, prohibited the
purchase by political committees of
poll tax receipts for citizens whose
votes these committees thus sought to
influence; as passed, the committee
may purchase upon the voters written
order. In other words, it's character
has been completely changed. In it's
present form the bill perpetuates the
very evil it was framed to overcome.
1t is needless to say that this bill is not
wanted by the people.
The second BILL as drawn, prohibited
the soliciting of political assessments
from municipal employees; as passed, it
permits voluntary contributions" but
denies the right of the heads of de-
partments to demand" them. In prac-
tice this bill will mean nothing at ALL
In it's first form it was not intended to
forbid voluntary contributions; but as
now phrased it opens the door to all
the old evils and therefore is simply a
comical effort at deception. A third
bill which, after being drawn to pre-
vent interference with the right to vote,
was afterward amended by the inser-
tion of the qualifying word, undue"
has fallen by the waysde, and the life
has been taken out of the fourth, or
'civil service reform" bill, by amend
ments permitting the appointment to
Office Of any one who passes the exam
ination, and limiting the term of office
to four years.
Opponents of Senator Quay naturally
endeavor to convict him of bad faith
in these premises; but we think the
blame for this virtual collapse of the
reform movement can be more fairly
placed nearer home. The people had
shown such disposition to worship at
the shrine of reform that Colonel Quay,
two years ago, determined to give them
a practical formulation Of reform ideas.
The resolution quoted above cannot, in
clearness, brevity and pith, be improv-
ed upon. But for it's working out Of
the people themselves must be respon-
sible. They elected the present legis-
lature and if it's work be not satisfac-
tory they must proceed two years hence
TO elect better one. The failure of to-
day is only the incentive for tomorrow.
- -
The news which tells Of Governor
Pingree's waning power in Michigan
politics is not unexpected. He repre-
,.sents nobody hut the people, and in
these days the people too often don't
CoAntI