Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-03-07
A Most Shameful Record.
PHILADELPHIA Ledger.

Mr. Quay's reelection to the United
States Senate was antagonized not Sc
much ON personal grounds as because OF
were involved in his success. 1t was
contended that Quayism meant bao
government, excessive taxation, ex
travagant appropriations, the multiple
cation of useless offices, the promotion
of jobs and the putting aside of all gen
uine reforms. When the election re
turns came in the people believed that
they had triumphed over the ring; that
the Senate was at least a tie, and that
the House had a working majority OF
Independent Republicans and Demo
Gratis. But the resources of the machine
proved too powerful, and, by pressure
and persuasion, a sufficient number OF
Anti-Quayites was procured TO give the
ring organization control of both
branches of the General Assembly.
Since the election of Mr. Quay to the
Senate not legislative day has passed
that has not witnessed an exhibition of
the characteristic Indifference of the
machine to public opinion and popular
| interests. Despite the wishes of the
| Judges and the sentiment of the COM
munity. bill has been passed for an
unnecessary court in Philadelphia. An
other bill has passed that is even more
vicious, depriving the dirtrict attorney
of the right to stand aside jurors under
certain circumstances.
Then there is the ripper act, passed
yesterday, to give the Quayites control
of Pittsburg and other cities. Many OBJ
| iectionable measures have been intro
duced by members of the majority and
their Democratic allies. The machine
proposes to abolish the buildings COM
mission and turn the City hall over to
Mayor Ashbridge. The commission is
entitled to no sympathy whatever, and
were the conditions other than they are
the Ledger" would cordially indorse
the movement, but the present propo-
sition means from the frying pan into
fire. Senator Stiles, one Of the Quay
Democrats, has offered two very OBJ
jectionable bills, one to dam the Dele
ware river, which would incidentally
impair the shad industry, and another
70 legalize race track gambling in every
county in Pennsylvania. Representa-
tive Voorhees, ADVOCATES an amendment
to the law relating to the licensing of
detectives, which would emharass the
Law and Order society in its efforts to
close up disorderly resorts. many of
which are in Voorhees, district. Sen
ator Fox has bill for State Capitol
commission to spend So, 900, 600. Senator
Muehlbronner wants so 900 appropriate
ed to give an unlimited number of
favored workers in Philadelphia and
Pittsburg jobs as inspectors of weights
and measures Representative Nc
Glatherty has little scheme for six ex-
aminers of engineers. at $1,000 per an
mum each, and the exaction of fees from
applicants for license.
Representative Beacon proposes to
take the disposal of liquor license from
the courts and entrust the same to excise
boards. Senator Focht wants to in
crease the evils Of the existing ballot
law by perpetuating the party column,
denying to independent organizations
the right of equality or representation.
and forbidding non-partisan nominal
ions. In addition tc these there are
bills requiring cities to buy up electri:
light plants before attempting munici-
pal lighting to create new and unneces-
sary counties; to impose burdensome
mercantile taxes; to oppress building
associations and impair existing legis
lation, and sundry measures to provide
more places for tax-eaters.
On Wednesday was witnessed the
spectacle of the passage by the Senate
of an unjustifable bill to interfere with
the courts in their oversight of trustees
This scheme was vigorously objected to
but as it had the machine stamp it was
rushed through, the spokesman content
ing himself by saying that if the courts
were against the bill it was because
they did not want their privileges cur
tailed. On the same day the press re-
ported the passage by the House of fee
bill. pretending to lop off emoluments
forbidden by the constitution, but itself
clearly unconstitutional in form
In both branches at Harrisburg there is
only semblance of debate. The minor
ity makes an effort to discuss disrep-
utable bills on passage, but is gagged
wherever possible by calls for the pre-
vious question, and the majority votes
according to the cue given by the
machine leaders
Everything goes in the Senate that is
vouched for by Grady or Scott and no
bill introduced by an anti-Qusyite has
any show Of passage, unless an in
Huential member of the majority agrees
to foster it. In the House the proceed
ing is much the same. About the
only machine measure to meet with n |
set back was that to muzzle the press
Some of the Quayites are in the aewS
paper business themselves, and objected
to being hoisted by their own petard.
This is a conservative statement Of |
the record of the Pennsylvania Legis |
lature to date on bills that are political |
or quasi-political Not one single
measure in the interest of political re-
form has been suffered to leave the com |
mittee room with favorable report. |
To clinch machine control and make it |
binding, the State has Governor who |
is an adherent of Senator Quay. The
moral Of all this we leaye to Che re
Election of our readers.
The monumental gateway OF Che I
Paris Exposition with its surmounting
statue has been sold for 81. 600 TO a deal
er in scrap iron.
A LARGE Milwaukee concern recently
made casting weighing 110,O 600 pounds,
to serve as bedplate for a blowing
engine for the Carnegie Steel Company,
Pittsburg, Pa About 1926, 900 pounds
of metal were poured in the process of
founding.