The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-09-02
A POLITICAL SCANDAL
$4,000 Bond Given by officials to
Indemnify a Treasury Raid.
REEDER AND ELKIN IN THE DEAL

The story rs one of the most remark
able, for various reasons. ever devel-
oped In the devious ways OF Pennsylva-
mia machine politics. II involves none
other than the secretary OF the COM
monwealth and the deputy attorney
general in its meshes. 1t Is alleged that
stu higher officials are involved. to-
Rether with men of less degree. 1t is
a disreputable proceeding all the way
through, and one that must result in
the severance OF official relations II the
men involved have any sense OF hon
esty and decency. The story in brief
is as follows:
Shortly after the election OF Boies
Penrose number OF political leaders
waited on Governor Hastings and told
him that owing to the amount Of work
accommodating In the Legislature addt-
tional clerical help would be required.
The governor took the matter under
advisemcnt. and upon the representa-
tion of these men agreed to an increase
of three or four clerks, not more than
that, to net as secretaries to the vart-
Gus committees. The men interested,
however, Immediately took advantage
Of the governors limited agreement
and Immediately began wholesale
padding of the pay roll of the legis-
lature.
Ugly Payroll Rum
II has been asserted, but this Is not
definitely known. that the padding or
the payroll was done for the purpose of
paying political promises in connection
with the senatorial contest. Men OF all
characters and conditions were placed
on the payroll, although they apparent
ly never did a days WORK In the legs-
lature. These men, according to their
own statements made to responsible
gentlemen were placed upon the pay
roll at the orders of Senator Quay. Ger
tain II is that Senator Quay occupied
conspicuous place In connection with
this matter and was one Of the advisers
IN the matter of the now notorious bond
for 1000.
At various times during the session
there were murmurs from the Seventy
Six" about the number Of worthless in
dividuals who appeared to be hanging
around Grace church and who were
eNIucUlly bOtuiiih6 ihohCy ii"'. S''AaS
where. 1t was not until the final night
OF the session that an open attack was
made on the padded payroll.
On that night Representative E. A.
Coray. of Luzerne county. attacked the
payroll item. declaring that 1t was pad
ded. fictitious and largely bogus. That
the names of men were on II who had
never done any work except to serve
the bosses and the machine, and that
now 1t was proposed to take the peo-
pies money to pay the political debts
of the party bosses.
The Heelers Grow ClamorOus.
Long before this, however. arrange
ments had been made to pay the pad
ded roll Towards the middle Of the
session the bosses interested In this
waited on State Treasurer Haywood
and asked him to advance money to In
part pay Off this hungry list Of politi-,
cal freebooters. But the state treasurer
was too shrewd He did not propose to
be bitten. He knew the character Of the
payroll, and though he was advancing
money at the same time to members
of the legislature and legitimate en-
ployes of the house and senate he de-
clined to accede to the request of the
bosses, and so the money was not ad
vanced.
Things now began to look serious.
The heelers were bowling for their
money, and the money had to be forth
coming. Then the bosses waited on
the governor. They brought all the in
to hn, th.,
executive. Senators Quay and Pen
rose used their influence, but to no
avail. When the governor discovered
that the payroll had been padded and
that at least $4,000 of the peoples
money was to be expended In paying
the debts of the machine he served no
tice on all that he would veto any such
item in the general appropriation bill.
This disconnected the machine. 1t
had figured out that the governor
would quietly acquiesce in their ne
farious scheme. Even when he served
notice that he proposed to veto any
such item there was still a lingering
belief that he would prove false to the
people and to his oath Of Office, and that
in the end he would fall in with 'the
gang" and its plans and approve the
padded payroll.
Quay in Consultation.
But in the meantime something had
to be done. Money had to be raised to
satisfy the demands Of the so-called
employees" A meeting was called at
the house of Speaker Boyer. In this
city, to decide just what should be
done. Among those participating In the
conference were Senators Quay and
Penrose Lieutenant Governor Lyon,
Secretary Of State Reeder, Deputy At
torney General and State Chairman
John p. Elkin, John Glenn, corporation
deputy in the auditor generals Office
Speaker Henry X. Boyer, Bank Com
missioner Giikeson and others. II was
finally decided to prepare bond of
indemnity protecting Treasurer Hay
wood in the event of the governor re-
fusing to relent. This bond was pre-
pared at once by John Glenn and was
Aligned by majority Of those present.
The bond was presented to Treasurer
Haywood. who. feeling himself amply
protected. Immediately advanced money
10 satisfy the hungry horde. The bond
Tas for $40. 900, and was executed about
six weeks before the final adjournment