Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-02-23
Number Al.

"Bill" Finn, of Pittsburg who have un-
dertaken to lead the so-called reform
movement against the candidate Of the
Republican party.
They are acting as though absolutely
unmindful of the interests of the people
or of their sworn obligations to pro-
tect and guard the welfare Of the state.
The tactics resorted to by these bolt
ers to prevent the passage of the Nc
Carrell jury reform. bill have complete
iy clogged the wheels of legislation and
prevented the consideration of many
measures requiring immediate atten-
ton. Without taking into consideration
the loss of time or the cost of their
action to the state. these boilers, in
order to gain a temporary advantage,
have been carrying motions to adjourn
from day to day in the house, thus cut
ting off debate on bills of vital impor-
tance and in most cases preventing
their contents from even being brought
to the notice of the members. There Is a
demand from officials Of the treasury
department for the enactment Of laws
which will at once divert funds to meet
the requirements of the schools hos
pitals and other Institutions which re-
ceive financial support from the state.
There will be deficit in the state
treasury if something is not done al
once to raise revenue. Less than year
ago there We're $3.0000OO at the com
mand of the state treasurer for the
needs of the commonwealth. This sum
has been reduced to less than 81. .OOO, 900.
and there is continuous drain upon
these funds for current expenses.
Through the Vaccinations of the Mar
tin Finn wanamaker members In the
house, there has been no opportunity
to seriously consider a single one of the
several propositions to raise revenue to
cover the usual appropriations made by
the state. There is a suspicion in cer-
tain quarters that some of the big cor
poratioas, railroads and others, fear
that the plan to increase the taxation
on corporations might be carried out
and that they have their agents Sc
cretly encouraging certain of the Re
publican boilers to keep up the fight
against Senator Quay, in order that no
bills raising the tax on corporations
may have a chance to pass this legis-
laturc.
Something will have to be done soon.
and from the protests that are coming
here daily against the action of the
boilers, public sentiment may yet drive
these freebooters into line with their
party stop this awful drain upon the
state funds and maintain the credit
and honor of Pennsylvania.
REAL REFORMERS DISGUSTED.
Sincere reformers like Herbert Welsh
and others. who take an interest in
public affairs for the good of the state.
have no sympathy with the men nor
the methods of the leaders of the fight
against Senator Quay. Though. as an
independent of the most radical type.
Mr.. Welsh naturally says he still hopes
for the defeat of Senator Quay, yet he
holds that if this is to be accomplished
by bribery and corruption. he cannot
see that the cause of good govern
ment will profit much thereby" In his
paper, The City and State. Mr.. Welsh
calls attention to the scandalous
charges of bribery and corruption made
against the anti Quay leaders in the re-
cent Lebanon county fight. He calls at
tention to Senator Quay's reward Of
$4,000 for the discovery of evidence of
bribery in this contest and intimates
that part of Mr.. Quay's money might
be fairly earned. Mr.. Welsh rises to in
quire why John Wanamaker does not
exert his moral influence to prevent oc-
casion for such scandals. and why he
permits a struggle, ostensibly for hon
est government to be conducted by
men OF the type of the VanValken-
bergs.
BOSSES MARTIN AND FLINN.
Commenting upon Martin and Finn.
Mr.. Welsh says:
"One feature of the Harrisburg situ-
alton which is discouraging to those
,ho for TO n
sake irrespective of party, Is the promi-
nence given to the lesser bosses who
are opposed to Quay. Philadelphians
know that Martins political methods
are not a whit better than Quay's. 1t
was reported last week that three more
| Quay voters who owed allegiance to
| Martin had been ordered over to the
opposition side, and would shortly take
such a p'blic position. The news was
/ welcomed as denoting weakness in
/ Quay's candidacy, but men who. under
| such conditions, follow the order OF
| their local boss are no better represent
| atives of the people than those who
take their orders directly from Quay
| himself. The people are using q two
edged sword in their efforts to defeat
] Quay. and after his ruin is accom-
plished. it may and probably will result
in the same degradation Of Pennsyl-
vania politics with simply change of
| masters"
The people of the state are gradually
getting familiar with the character OF
the anti-Quay leadership. Both MAJ
tin and Finn having laid the founda-
tion for immense fortunes by working
politics. trafficking in city contracts and
| controlling legislation in city councils in
| Philadelphia and Pittsburg. respective
! ly. have now. like Tammany Boss
Croker in New York. turned their at
tention to the stock market. II II stated
! on the best authority that each of these
men has made upwards Of tl,oee.oee
in speculation during the last two
! years. They seem to care very httle.
while here. about their legislative
duties. but when not scheming to de-
/ feat Senator Quay, they are working
the stock market and piling up big
bank accounts. while the interests OF
the public suffer.