The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-16
QUAY AND LEGISLATION.
Some of the Things, for Which Tie Is
Held Responsible, Examined Care.
tuly-Not as Black as Painted.

From the pottsNi lie Miners Journal.
In the American Craftsman of a re-
cent date we find very able criticism
and keen dissection of one of the nu
merous speeches lately made by the
Hon. John Wanamakcr in his canvass
for delegates to the Legislature, who
would likely be imbued with a sense
of his superior fitness to represent the
state in the senate of the United States.
Particularly is this criticism effective
in dealing with a certain passage of
one of Mr.. Wanamaker's haranGues,
embraced in the following quotation:
Ny friends, look at the record of leg
islative debauchery during the last fif-
teen or twenty years. Shall this man
who has dominated the councils of the
Republican party he longer continued
in power: Of all the Republican legis-
lation which has passed during all
these years not a single act passed
without the consent of Senator Quay
and not a single act has passed which
he has wished to defeat"
The able critic accepts the challenge
thus Valiantly thrown in the teeth of
my friends to look at the record
Of legislative debauchery," mot n sim
gle act" of which passed without the
consent of Senator Quay" and finds
in it so much to confound the distin-
guished orator and initiate to the an
initiation of his general charge of leg
islativc debauchery." that he is entire
ly correct in the designation of his
counter charge as boomerang" Par
ticularly is this dissection effective in
bringing out some of the leading feat
ures of this Legislative debauchery"
which was fOstered and controlled by
Senator Quay, in its application To the
working classes. The latter, whose
field of labor in the mining regions, will
heartily appreciate Mr.. Wanamaker's
service TO them in developing the
author of such measures as are herein
enumerated and fer which they have
already been profoundly grateful, but
to whom credit was due has
hitherto been involved in much
speculation. Mr.. Wanamaker's eX-
position clearly exhibits the fact
that to Senator Quay is due the full
need of gratitude which the working
people feel toward the author of this
most beneficent legislation.
Merely hurried glance, as the writ
er says, over the laws enacted in the
interest of the working classes and fer
which Senator Quay, vide Mr.. Wana-
maker, is responsible, will reveal
splendid record of good accomplished
under the domination" of this man."
NINE INSPECTORS.
Twenty years ago there were no
mine inspectors in the state. There
are now twenty-five, all under the
most rigid civil service rules of any
class of public servants in the world.
These inspectors must be chosen from
those who have made mining their
life work. They must pass one of the
most severe examinations before a
board of highly competent authorities
on mining matters, skilled in the
science which most yitally affects un-
derground workers-eXplosive and 9TH
er deadly gases, etc. Nor is it suf-
ncient that they pass such an exam
ination successfully, for every five
years the inspector must compete in a
public examination with other Candi-
dates for the position and thus from
time to time he must demonstrate his
continued fitness for his tremendously
responsible position, and also that he
has kept himself informed upon all
new discoveries in mining science. For
the establishing of this splendid et-
tcient corps of inspectors organized
for the purpose of adding to the COM
fort and increasing the safety OF tens
of thousands OF men, Mr.. Wanamaker
holds Senator Quay responsible.
Prior TO the time when the Republi-
can legislature passed under the dom
ination" of this Boss" the miners of