The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-05-03
FACE THE PEOPLE
Disoreditable Work of the Caucus
Boilers in the Legislature.
RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR PARTY

iuiN~NNhs buN Niit
Responsibility VIM BE Placed by
theNotcrs wherc Il Properly Belongs
Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg, May 2.-Governor Stone
has been confronted with a very un-
pleasant and disagreeable task. The
legislature adjourned leaving him to
grapple with a problem in which the
whole people are keenly interested It
Is that of the state finances. With reck-
less disregard for the credit of Penn
sylvania and the honor of the Republi-
can party, which has been charged
With the administration of the affairs
of the commonwealth, the legislature
failed to make suitable provision to
meet the current obligations of the
state This omission and the fact that
appropriation bills were passed with
out stopping TO consider how the pay
ments provided therein were to be
paid, can he charged up to the So
called Republican Insurgents. These
men started out at the beginning of
the session to hamper, harass and dis
credit the administration of Governor
Stone in every possible manner. They
formed an alliance with the Demo-
Gratis in both the senate and the house,
and until the closing hours of the ses-
sion they were found working hand in
hand with Democratic leaders block
ing the measures advCc ated by the Re-
publican state administration to raise
revenue and favoring extravagant ap-
preparations which, owing to the de-
pleted condition of the state treasury,
the governor and the leaders of the
regular Republicans in the legislature
strenuously opposed. The proposition
to have the state retain the personal
property tax for two years. the bulk
of which would come from Pittsburg
and Philadelphia, and which, it would
be supposed, the members from the in
terror counties would support, was bit
terly fought by these Insurgents. With
the help of the Democrats they de-
feated the bill intended to carry this
plan into effect. They also defeated
the bill providing for a direct inheri-
tance tax aud several other measures
which would have netted the state an
immense amount of revenue.
INSURGENTS HELP CORPORA
TIONS
While claiming to be reformers
many of these insurgents were found
with IN Of hN Ia
corporations that were eager to pre-
vent the passage of measures defeated
with a view of making the corpora
tions contribute more literally to the
proper expenses of the state govern
nent. BY these means the insurgents
were successful in their various
schemes to defeat the plans of Cover
nor Stone to increase the revenues Of
the state. and with malicious glee they
left here upon the adjournment of the
legislature satisfied that they had
placed the governor and his admins
tration in an embarrassing and unen-
viable position. They hope that the
governor will be Obliged to cut down
the appropriation for the common
schools, which has been placed at the
enormous sum of 100000 for the
next two years. Under ordinary con-
ditions this would be considered a very
generous allotment. 1t is much more
than is appropriated by any other state
in the Union for this purpose. When
the balances in the state treasury were
considerable, the Republican leaders
wisely concluded to increase the ap-
preparations to the common schools,
but they never contemplated that these
big appropriations would be continued.
THE BOLTERS ARE TO BLAME.
If the requirements of the state in
other directions shall now force the
governor to reduce this item the blame
for it all must be laid at the doors
of the Rer' blican boilers. Had they
taken hold OF work as they should
have done, had they given their atten-
tion to the public business instead of
to the attempt to revenge themselves
upon the party organization they
would have made the legislature
credit to Pennsylvania. AS it was,
they made it q reproach, and they
must bear all the responsibility for it.
1t is a positive disgrace that the state
is not to hare a capital befitting its
dignity and .reatness. It is more than
a disgrace that such q proud state
should be left without adequate funds
to take care of the great institutions
which have grown up within its bor-
dors. Those who banded themselves
together from spiteful motives to break
up party organizations and discredit
Pennsylvania Cannct escape the con-
demnation Of the people. Throughout
the counties they should be and will
be pacarded not only as the enemies
of the Republican party, but as the
enemies of TIE welfare of Pennsylva-
mia. Net one of them should ever be
trusted in the halls of legislation
again.
STONE is COURAGEOUS.
The insurgents will find that Gov
ernor Stone has the courage to face
the issue they have confronted him
with msrlully and squarely, and he
viii le, The people of the state place
the responsibility where it belongs.
The governor Gay that the first class
Of appropriations that should receive
preference are thoce made for the eX-
penses Of the state government, in
cluding the National Guard and the
various departments.
Second in merit are the state insane
asylums. the penitentiaries, the schools
for the feeble minded children, the
schools Cor the deaf, the dumb and
the blind