The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-01-19

L
well go to Florida, or anywhere else.
as remain in Harrisburg to witness his
own defeat.
Both sides Profess Confidence.
! The antiQuay people are positive in
their assertions that after the first
joint ballot a considerable number of
the members who attended the caucus
in Harrisburg on Jan. will drop away
from Senator Quay, If indeed he does
not lose some of them on the first bal
lot. That he will have more on the
first Joint ballot than on any succeed
ing ballot, they declare as an absolute
certainty, and also that his election is
an impossibility unless he can obtain
enough Democratic votes to accomplish
1t, or his friends can persuade enough
of the minority party legislators to alb
sent themselves from their seats. They
scout the idea of the Quayites making
any inroads upon the contingent that
refrained from taking part in the eau
Gus, and signed the anti-Quay pledge.
Chairman Elkin this morning re-
iterated his oft repeated prediction that
Senator Quay would emerge from the
contest a winner.
I'm addition TO Senator Chisholm and
Representatives Clark and Baldwin"
he said, 1--WE have received positive as
surance that five members from west
ern counties who did not attend the
caucus viii vote for the senator. There
is also an intimaton that Representa-
tive Garvin, of Delaware. will be found
( on our side when the balloting begins,
and we have good reason to believe
that we will succeed in capturing other
IN ambers now claimed by the oppos-
ton"
Mr.. Elltin took occasion to remark
that there was nothing in the story
that Representatives Krepps and Brit
! ton, of Franklin county, would desert
quay to vote for Judge John Stewart.
and expressed the opinion that Judge
Stewarts name was used in connection
with the senatorial candidacy without
his consent He also said that in his
judgment no Democrats will be needed
to assure Quay's success. but that
enough Republicans will be won from
the other side to land him a winner.
Mr.. Elkin did not care to discuss the
question as to which ballot would
bring victory for his candidate.
Attorney General McCormiclx's Report
Attorney General Mccormick, who
retired from office today, presented his
| biennial report for the year 1S97-9S.
During the past two years 1921 suits
were brought by MIR. Mccormick for
the collection of delinquent taxes. Their,
| were also taken in the Dauphin county
| court 352 appeals from settlements
made by the accounting officers of the
state.
| Collections were made during the
period covered by the report by adverse
proceedings amounting to $500, ,599 93. In
addition to this commissions to the
amount Of $22,413.S4 were paid by the
defendants and through the attorney
generals department into the state
treasury. Mr.. Mccormick thinks 1t is
rot unsatisfactory to predict that 1t will
not be necessary for the legislature to
seek any new subjects of taxation In
order to meet the appropriations that
Will properly be made by that body.
| Mr.. Mccormick calls attention to the
condition Of affairs in the auditor gen.
erals department without any reference
to particular occupants of that office.
1t has come to the attorney generals
notice in repeated instances that in al
most innumerable cases settlements
have been made against corporations
owing taxes. and in other cases al
most as numerous, where settlements
have been made, no efforts have been
made to collect the taxes.
| Mccormick Suggests Reforms.
He recommends the enactment of a
law creating the office of additional
deputy attorney general, additional law
clerk and messenger During his ad
ministration the system of taxing the
capital stock Of corporations was revo-
lutionized the effect of which will be
to increase enormously the basis upon
which corporations have heretofore
been taxed, and may in time require
the reduction in the millage now i'm
posed upon capital stock.
Mr.. Mccormick says he has come to
know officially that in many cases set
Elements have not been made for ten
years or more, and in numerous in
stances where settlements have been
made they have not been paid or certi-
fed to the attorney general for colec-
| ton for as great a period of time great
ly to the injury of the commonwealth
He agrees that the vice of the system
of making settlements against corpora
tions for tax is that this vast power
| without check or hindrance, is vested
in one man, and that the power of one
man, whoever he may be- to discrimi.
nate in favor of corporations against
certain corporations should be permit
ted to continue no longer.
Mr. Mccormick says further that HI
makes no reflection upon any officer ol
employee of the auditor generals de.
partment, but that in his judgment tn;
system opens wide door for fraud anC
for inequality of taxation. He suggested
that some tribunal of revision be Gre
ated by which it could be determined
in judicial or semi-judcial way tn,
amount of taxes that corporations
should pay. He regards it unsafe anC
dangerous to give to one man tn
power to say upon what valuation
corporation should pay it's taxes, anC
recommends that this evil be corrected
by legislation.
McCarrell's Jury Bill.
= The bill introduced by Senator Nc
r Carrell to limit the power of the dis
. trict attorney to stand aside Jurors 1,