The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-10-10


It is a source of satisfaction to the
taxpayers of the state to know that
every dollar expended upon the build
ing and its furnishings was collected
in taxes levied upon corporations. Not
penny was contributed from any
other method of taxation.
Attempts are being made to manufac-
ture campaign material for the Emery
Democratic state campaign by insinu-
ations that there has been extrava-
gence in the furnishing of the building.
but every citizen of Pennsylvania has
been assured that this matter will be
thoroughly investigated and every item
examined into.
Stuart Meets "An ISSUE"
Edwin S. Stuart, the Republican
nominee for governor was the first
to meet this issue He had no hand
in the work of erecting or furnishing
the building but he has made quite
clear the course he will pursue when
he shall be elected governor.
Upon this subject Mr., Stuart has
made this prepared statement
"It has been said that we have con-
structed the finest capitol in the conn
try.
"In alluding to this, however. | do
not wish, nor do | propose. to be mis-
understood.
whether the capitol is entitled to
.he high praise which has been accord
ed to ii or not, if, in its construction
or furnishing, there has been any fraud
Or willful xtravagance-which to my
mind is almost the equivalent of fraud
surely there is no man who will not
ESree with me that those who have
participated in or protited by such
fraud should be met with prompt pun
n Nhmont, and also be compelled to make
restitution
"If elected governor promise
you, fully realizing the responsl.
biIity resting upon me, that I will
see that a thorough investigation
shall he made of the entire ques.
tion, and II such investigation dis
.closes that any man or set of men
have been guilty of wrong-dolng
In the abuse of their trust, or gull
ty of fraud or illegal profit in tho
furnishing of supplies, they shall
meet with the punishment they
surely, under such circumstances,
would Justly deserve.
IF. as | am informed, the money
spent in furnishing the capitol was
without specific itemized appropriation
first having been made for the pur-
pose, | would recommend to the legis-
lature that in the future it shall be
made unlawful to eXpend any such
large amount of money without first
having specific appropriation made,
based upon an approximate estimate
of the cost.
Amy other course Is in opposition
to correct business principles and con-
trary to the safe, economic policy that
should govern all expenditures of the
peoples money"
II Is Noble Building.
Robert S. Murphy, the Republican
nominee for lieutenant governor, in
commenting upon this issue" said;
"The new state capitol is one of
the noblest buildings to be found with
in the limits of the country.
"There is not a man or citizen OF
Pennsylvania that can view that mag
nificent structure without a sense OF
pride, without a feeling of thankful.
ness that he is a citizen OF Pennsyl.
vania, and that this great state, with
its population of seven million people,
with its great wealth and material re-
sources, with its reputation abroad as
not only the keystone of Republican,
ism, but the keystone of the republic,
is entitled to building of that char
acter."
In referring to the itemized state |
ment of the expenditures in furnishing
the new capitol made by Governor
Pennypacker and Auditor General |
Snyder, Mr. Murphy said:
mo man has ever heard the honesty |
or the integrity of a member of the |
board ever questioned, publicly or pri-
vately. | submit that before you de-
eide this case in your own mind you
must hear the testimony and you must |
analyze it, and | desire to say here |
that they themselves have furnished |
the testimony, upon which they are
willing to stand or fall. The public
statement of Samuel w. Pennypacker,
under his own hand and SEAL indicates
precisely how that large sum of money
has been expended, and it has been
spent in equipping and furnishing that
great capitol, in ornamenting it, in
decorating it, and completing it, and
am not willing to take the uncorrob-
GRATED testimony of our opponents that
there has been any wrongdoing upon
the part of the officials vested with the
power of completing that work.
But say to you that here express
myself in complete accord with my
colleague upon the ticket and that If
there is any man or set of men who
have through conspiracy or fraud rob-
bed the treasury of the common
wealth of Pennsylvania in that under
taking, say to you that every one of
them should be thoroughly questioned,
and if found guilty properly pun
shed.
"The Republican party does not and
never has stood for anything but what
was right and proper in the admins
tration of public affairs. and she is to-
Law as fair ond as honest as ever"
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