The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-10-22
MEN WHO HOLD THE SURPLUS
Republican Managers Advantage In.
variabiy Consulted In the Geo.
graphical Selection OF Deposi.
tories Ct Taxpayers Money.
PARTISAN RULES MAINSTAY
Treasury Plum Tree Shaken For the
Benefit Of Men Who Lead Against
All Movements For Honest
Government

Nearly fourteen million dollars Of
tAe taxpayers money, not counting the
three and three-fourths million In the
states sinking fund. were held by the
Republican machines favorite banks
and trust companies, at the beginning
of this month. for the mutual benefit Of
themselves and that machine. The
exact amount was 1895, 1914, an in
crease of more than 100000 over the
total amount in the lis repositories a
month before. And yet during Septem-
ber 81. 500. 600 Of the school appropria-
ton was paid out This vast diversion
Of the public funds as a matter of par
tisan favoritism and profit exceeds the
record for any previous month in the
history Of the commonwealth and
proves the timeliness OF the Democratic
state platforms condemnation Of the
financial system which results in the
accumulation of large and unneces-
sary surplus in the state treasury for
distribution among political or of ia
vored banks and presents a constant
temptation to extravagant appropria-
tons and expenditures"
Apart from consideration OF the TAX
ing of millions annually from the coun-
ties in license money, which the Demo-
cratic platform contends should be left
with them to pay for local improve
ments and thereby reduce local taxa
ton, this enormous surplus is used to
maintain the machine which makes the
public interest subsidiary to the pur-
poses Of a corrupt partisan leadership.
Republican managers when accused Of
this have pleaded that the treasury
must keep a great balance to meet such
drafts as those made by the public
schools. But the surplus grows stead
lily from cause to which they never
refer-the constantly increasing reve-
nue. which the state does not need. The
manipulators Of the fund trample upon
the principle that the money the tax
payers pays to the tax gatherer should
be as sacredly held in the keeping of
the. state for solely public uses as
money put into the hands OF trustee
for specific purposes and that any di-
version Of the public funds for personal
or partisan advantage is a breach Of
trust.
Treasurer Selects the Banks.
The repositories favored with this
money are selected by the state treas
urer, with the approval OF the revenue
commissioners, one of whom is him
self, the two others being the auditor
general and secretary of the common
wealth. The maintenance of Republi-
can control in the Offices Of the auditor
general and state treasurer is a direct
warrant from the voters of the state
for the continued maintenance Of these
conditions AS the auditor general and
state treasurer are to be elected next
month the continued partisan control
Of the idle treasury surplus is di-
rectly involved in the result Two
trusted machine leaders have been
named for these important Offices. One
Of them earned his nomination by
faithful support of obnoxious legisla-
ton. Both can be depended upon to
maintain the present conditions. They
will keep the state funds where they
will do the most good for the machine.
After studying results OF the law re-
luiring per cent, interest for the
tate from all repositories except the
I've active" banks, which pay on
sheir daily balances only one and one
aalf per cent, the late Governor Hast
lngs publicly declared that II would be
,ar better for the state to hoard its
money in vaults and receive no in
;erest upon it than to suffer the sys-
'em which he saw continuing. He de-
lared that the public funds were
used for political purposes by depos-
ting them in favorite banks where
such deposits are expected to yield
returns In the shape of political influ-
snce.' He denounced the empowering
of the state treasurer or any man or
men controlling him to say what
banks shall handle the millions annu-
ally paid into the state treasury"
Brlbed to BE Blind to Misrule.
The names OF the repositories OF the
sinking fund are never disclosed, as
the authorities say there is no Law
compelling such publication, and they
IRE evidently glad to have that excuse
or maintaining secrecy Publication
II all the other deposits is enforced
however, and IL shows that most Of thu
favored financial institutions have
Zach one or more persons in the man
agement who are either conspicuou
machine workers or are in a position
% command favors from the Republi
san leaders. The other depostorie
are practically bribed through the us
81 the states money to be blind Il
machine misrule in Pennsylvania an,
to repel all efforts to win assistanc
from them in moves to make the gov
ernment honest. These bribed de
aositories not only keep out of reform
agitation themselves but also infiuenc
vide circles of friends and acQuaint