Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-10-19

made Mr.. Plummer county chairman
in 1883, and that year the county gave
Benjamin Harrison, for president, a
majority of over 230O, the largest ever
given any candidate up to that time.
In 1889 the Republicans of Blair
county were looking for a good man
to fill the Office of register and re-
corder. They nominated Mr. Plummer
and the people endorsed the nomina
ton by electing him and re-electing
him three years later. He instituted
many radical reforms in the office, per
forming its duties in the same ener
getic and original fashion that had
marked his previous life. While serv
ing the people as register and recorder
he utilized his spare time in the study
of the law, so that few months after
his retirement from Office he was ad-
mittcd to the bar. OF which he is now
an honored and useful member.
CrearHeaded Legislator.
In 1902 Mr.. Pmmmer was chosen as
one of tho representatives from Blair
county in the legislature, being re
elected in 1901 At the opening of the
session of 1908 he was appointed
chairman Of the elections committee
OF the house. and was a member Of
several other important committees.
He displayed qualities which com
mended him to the attention of the
leaders OF the party and naturally
marked him for higher hOnOrs He was
prompt in his discharge of all his leg,
islatiye duties. He was total alb,
stainer from intoxicants and always
| had a clear head.
It was not surprising, therefore, to
his friends to learn that he had been
appointed chairman of the committee
on appropria tions for the session of
1905. The W : Of the committee un-
der his direction from start to finish,
is the best possible testimony to his
sincere purpose to serve the people
of the state and bring about the best
possible results for suffering human
ity, as well as the public at large. More
than 500 bills were passed upon by
the appropriations committee OF the
| house, upon a large majority OF which
hearings were granted by the commit.
tee, at all of which the chairman pre-.
sided. These hearings we're free to the
! public. and all applicants were given
| courteous treatment.
The appropriations were made after
wards upon merit. For one thing. the
| chairman insisted that each institu-
| tion asking for state aid should submit
a certified statement of the number of
| free patients provided for and treated
| during the preceding three years, 1t
being his belief that the money so ap-
| propriated should be used for the re-
lief OF the suiferings of the state s
poor. This was so obviously fair and
! equitable that the auditor general has
adopted 1t for the future guidance OF
his department.
Backed Even BY Democrats.
One OF the most important duties
devolving upon the chairman of the
house appropriations committee Is the
preparation of the general appropria
tion bill which Is the budget" for
! running the state government for the
ensuing two years. When the bill left
Chairman Plummer's hands II carried
appropriations amounting to si6.5O0
600 II passed the house by a unani
nous vote, not only all OF the Republi
can members voting for II. but MIR
Greasy the Democratic leader. and al
Of his party associates giving II the
compliment OF their support
The bin vas transmitted TO the sen
ate and was amended there. and upon
ne return fo the house for concurrence