The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-05-30

UlIlONilll NlllNIl llt ltNtiNN's iiio NdS
the result of collusion between the con-
tractor and an officer of the Senate.
During the session of the Legislature
these facts were brought to the atten-
ton of the House committee on Print
ing The chairman of that committee,
who was pretending to make an inves-
| tigation of the charge visited the per-
son responsible for the gossip and got
all the facts. But he never brought
| the matter before the committee or at
tempted to pursue the inquiry in any
| way. He knew the State was being
robbed, in II small way, perhaps, but
of "A considerable amonnt i'm the aggre-
| gate. and made no effort to check the
| outrage. The contract was void if
| there was fraud and collusion in the
| letting. But Chairman Hapgood of
the Printing Committee didn't try to
stop it.
The incident reveals the unregenerate
character of the Republican machine.
| 1t is pressing the investigation of the
capitol graft because State Treasurer
Berry made that iniquity so plain that
| it couldn't be ignored and the investi-
CATION is making n virtue of neces-
| sity." But this other fraud which,
| though representing a lesser aggregate
is just as great in turpitude, was per-
mtted to continue because only few
persons knew of it and there was
chance to suppress it. 1t makes no
difference to the public, however,
| whether the amount is large or small
or the fraud in printing or chandeliers
There would have been no investiga-
tion in either if it could have been
avoided.
GOVERNOR sTUART's HARD TASK.
Governor Stuart is busy on the six
hundred or more bills left for his con-
sideration by the Legislature and he
has an Herculean task before him.
The appropriations are far in excess of
the revenue and it is up to him to make
ends meet. This can only be achieved
by cutting the appropriations and the
problem is as to the method of going
about it. The constitution authorizes
the Governor to veto distinct items i'm
an appropriation but not to alter
amounts in an item, Former Governor
Stone violated this provision of the
fundamental law and Pennypacker fol-
lowed his example. But Stone is
moral pervert and Penuypacker men
tai inbecile.
1t is not likely that Governor Stuart
will adopt that course. He has shown
in various ways respect for the law
and disposition to obey his oath of
Office. Fixing the amount of an APP
preparation is prerogative of the legis-
lature-it is legislating. The consti-
tuition declares that 1.-THE legislative
power of this commonwealth shall be
vested in a General Assembly which
shall consist of II Senate and House
of Representatives If the Governor
would undertake to legislate, there
fore, he would be usurping authority
and infringing upon the Legislature. 1t
would be violating his oath of Office,
moreover, and Governor Stuart is not
disposed to do that.
Under the circumstances it may be
expected that some of the chrrity ap-
propriatious will be vetoed and some of
the benevolent pla is of philanthropy
disappointed. But that is the fault of
the Legislature and particularly an of
fense of the Chairman of the House
Committee on Appropriation, John o.
Sheath, of Philadelphia. Mr.. Sheatz
has been provided with a carefully
drawn estimate Of the revenues of the
State. He knew within few thous-
and dollars of the amount of money
which will be collected for use of the
State Treasury during the ensuing two
years. Yet he went headlong into
making appropriations and put upon
the Governor the onerous burden of
holding the disbursements within the
revenues.
WORK OF THE CAPITOL PRoBERS.
There will be plenty doing in the
capitol Investigation next week and be-
fore long the conscience of the State
will be shocked as it has never been be-
fore by the revelations of iniquity.
The expert accountants are bringing
their work to a close and it is conf
IDENTIFY asserted that their report will
show where every dollar of the loot
went A check for $4,000 which was