The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-10-19
concluded From Last Week.
The Session OF 1905.


ion of 1908 made him a prime favor
te at the beginning Of the session of
500. During the two previous sessions,
Ward Il. Bliss, OF Delaware county,
rad been chairman of the committee
m appropriations, admittedly the most
important position in the Legislature
rom a machine standpoint, with the
possible exception of the Speakership.
Recording TO precedent Mr.. Bliss, hav-
ng been reelected stood to succeed
,imself with Mr.. McClain, of Lancas-
.er, the fittest man in the body, meas
ired by experience and ability for the
)ffice, first in the line of succession.
shortly before the session opened, how
sver, Mr.. Bliss died, and Plummer was
'umped over McClain's head into the
coveted position.
Few outside Of those intimately as
iociated with legislation understand
he vast power for good or evil vest
ID in the Craftsmanship of the house
ommltt0e on appropriations. He is IN
act In control of the purse-strings Of
he Commonwealth, and supported by
well-disciplined machine can dispose
" the revenues of the State almost at
aiB pleasure. For years it has been
me of the principal sources Of revenue
or the machine, the rake-off from ap-
1ropr.ations to charitable and educa-
lional institutions amounting to a vast
sum each session. But to make this
graft available, it is necessary to have
N absolutely obedient and entirely
,onscienceless man at the head of the
committee In the contested election
;ases, Mr.. McClain showed that he
,ouldn't be depended upon, and Plum
ner proved that he could. Therefore,
olummer was taken.
State Charities Perverted.
The record of the appropriations
committee OF the last Legislature Is
so notorious and rotten that it's hard
y worth while to cite 1t In detail. The
managers of every charity in the
State know how their recommended
ions were ignored, the members of the
committee remember how they were
sighted, and the general public has
,ome to understand that political eX-
>ediency rather than the merits of in
ititutions or the necessities of the
wards of the Commonwealth was con-
suited in dispensing the charities. Rep
-esentative Hays, of Butler county. a
ifelong Republican and member of the
committee, openly charged Chairman
plummer with usurping authority and
oetraying public interests by shaping
he appropriations to serve the politi-
al machine rather than the interests
II the people. Plummer was silent
lnder the accusation because he knew
t could be proved.
His relationship TO other vicious leg
Station of the session of 1905 may well
Ie examined by the voters who are
isked to entrust him with a closer as
ISOLATION with the treasures of the
State. It can be said without fear Of
contradiction that he supported with
toice, vote or personal solicitation
very iniquitious measure considered
furing the session, and that he didn't
yote for a single measure in the inter-
est Of the people unless It was some
rife which the machine consented to
s a sort of sop to the reform whale.
For example:
He voted against a resolution in
structing Pennsylvania Senators, and
'eQuesting our Representatives in Con-
gress to vote for the legislation ad-
faI hv
libitlng discrimination In freight
charges and the payment of rebates.
Legislative Record, pages 200-204.
Against Personal Registration.
He voted against the resolution offer
I'd by Mr.. Sheath, of Philadelphia, to
discharge the elections committee
rom the further consideration of his
personal registration bill for cities OF
the State. Legislative Record, pages
T7-7S. The measure had been held In
committee so long that the purpose to
smother 1t stood revealed, and the OBJ
ject Of the motion was to put it on
The calendar in order that II might
have chance Of passing. Mr.. Plum.
mer and most Of the Republicans un.
der orders from the machine managers
voted against the motion and defeated
t.
He lodged the vote on the resolu
tion offered by Mr.. Greasy to put the
bill allowing trolley railrads to carry
freight on the calendar. Legislativ,
Record, pages 2219-22. That measure
was also being stifled in committee by
machine orders.
He voted against the resolution offer
ed by Mr.. Scofeld, Republican, O
Clearfield, to take the employers liza
bility out of the committee on judiciar,
general and place 1t on the calendar
Legislative Record, pages 2224-27. Thi
bill was advocated by the United Min,
Workers and other labor organizations
and Is already in successful and salts
factory operation in number o
States.
The Infamous Vice Bills.
He voted for the atrocious Publ bill
Legislative Record, pages 1039-40.
This measure was designed to de
Stroy the philadplDhia Law and Orda