The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-18
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
rom the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
The certainty that the various expense
bills vetoed by Governor Hastings at the
last session of the legislature viii come
up in the next legislature, II circum-
stances are favorable, has led TO the
matter becoming a leading issue In some
counties in the canvass for the nomina-
ton of legislative candidates. Discus
sion of the subject is more and more pro-
nounced from time to time. whether
any future attempt to make the state
pay these bills-most Of them totally
fraudulent-shall succeed will depend
upon the character of the next governor
and legislature II both can be depended
upon to be in sympathy with the out
rageous raid upon the treasury every one
of the vetoed bills will be passed anew
with such additions as may be devised
In the meantime, and with other bills
for similar committees which it is GER
tain the next Legislature, should it be
that kind of Legislature, will encourage.
These committees are ordinarily created
to enable members of them to draw
money from the state treasury TO pay for
services not rendered the state, but of a
personal character. II they fail at one
session they will come back at the next
as has been shown by abundant eXper-
ience, and they are usually larger when
they reappear.
In view of what may be expected
therefore, and the live interest that is
being taken in the matter, 1t is worth
while to look into these various bills a
little more pointedly. The bills of half
Il dozen investigating committees were
disapproved bv Governor Hastings, as
follows: Capitol fire investigation, $3.50;
Insurance scandal $133.i0;. bituminous
coal region inquiry, s2,42j.0l; anthracite
coal region inquiry. $l4O1.50; peniten-
tiaries and penal institutions investiga-
tion, S3,ll6.25; investigation OF Dairy and
Food commission, s2.SSi.60. There was
vetoed also an item of S3142 for the
Saunders-Roberts contest in this city and
1894 for the Shiffer-Leh contest in North
ampton, and the bill of $1,000 for the leg
islative tunket to Now York and to this
city to dedicate the Grant and Washing
ton monuments, together with a charge
for expenses at the Mckinley Inaugural
tion. These, added to the appropriations
intended for three bogus hospitals, which
were vetoed. make total of $65. 3S3. 36
outside the items in the general appro.
priation bill.
The amount cut out of the general ap-
preparation bill By the veto knife was
Sl52, GOSH, which, with the above SG5
333. SO, makes total of S217,340.77 shut
Off, and every dollar of this will be
demanded in the future If circumstances
should favor the grabbers. More than
that. everyone knows that the chief grab
of all, that of 100000 or more to pay for
the fraudulent investigation in this city,
was not even passed ut the late session
because it was known the governor
would not approve it. Senator Andrews
is only waiting a favorable opportunity
TO bring that bill forward and make the
state nay il, though it was an expense
not incurred under the authority of the
state. If he can own a governor and a
Legislature he will be able to accom-
plish his ambition.
In view of the large sums involved and
the principle underlying this matter it is
small wonder it is regarded as an issue
In the selection of candidates for the
Legislature 1t is really an important one
and cannot be too much discussed.