Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-02-14
LAWYERS ARE TIM|D
Many Refuse to Act as Counsel
for Capitol Investigating
Commission.
POPULATIONS WOULD SUFFER
dutiooN Is That Inquiry viii Not
Amount TO Much Although Berry
Seems TO Think Quadruple Prices
Prove His Case.
lSpeeial Corresnondence.l


Harrisburg, Pa.-"If anyone thinks
that investigating the capitol is an
easy Job just let him try it,
Although this is probably not the
Gzact language Gov. Stuart would use
Il asked how he felt about 1t, it comes
pretty close to it. The governor is
having troubles of his own in getting
the probe started to work. Six or
eight prominent Democratic lawyers
Of the state fatty refused to have
9nythihg to do with it when asked
by the governor to act as counsel for
the investigating committee And
this Notwithstanding a good, fat fee
was attached to the assignment.
The trouble is that the good law
Eers are fearful of risking their reDu-
cations in taking hold of a case of
the kind, the outcome of which is
doubtful Former Attorney General
Champion l.. Carson gave it as his
opinion that there was nothing upon
which to base prosecution. This in
part accounts for the refusal of such
eminent Democratic talent as Con
gressman John T. Lenahan of Wilkes
barre; w U. Hensel of Lancaster,
David Z. Watson of Pittsburg, Jere
s. Black of York, Simon p. Wolver.
son of Sunbury, and Charles H. Ber.
ger of Harrisburg, to associate them
selves with the case.
locks Like a FizzIe.
Whether one thinks there was cor
Tupt1on in connection with the build
tng Of the capitol or not, it must be
admitted that it does not look a.
present as if much would be devel
oped by the investigation. One thing
seems certain, and that is that the
commission will not be ready to sub.
NIT its report to the present legisla.
ture. II may be made to the gov
ernOr
And there is another thing which is
most apparent and that is that the
governor is sincere in his efforts to
nave an honest investigation, what
ever some Of the other fellows may
want. re governor went over into
New York for his auditors, having
employed the New York Audit COM
pany, and it cannot be charged that
any ef its members have political af-
citations which would prevent them
irom making a thorough investiga-
io0 Of the accounts.
But State Treasurer Berry says
lhe accounts are all right. as the
5oD.s nave been kept straight enough
but that the overcharges and "steals"
viii have to be unearthed by methods
other than by auditing the books. Mr..
Berry feels that his personal integ-
rity and the standing Of the Demo-
cratic party are at stake in this capi-
tol inquiry and he purposes taking an
active hand in the investigation. He
mad quite a row with some of the
Democratic leaders in the matter of
deciding upon counsel to represent
him at the inquiry.
Constitution Badly Wanted.
It is now generally believed that
new state constitution Is an absolute
necessity. The present constitution
IS constructed in such a way as to
make it impossible In some instances
10 comply with its provisions. A bill
has been introduced by Senator Jo-
seph \. Largftt CT Allegheny calling
FOR IN election to be held next Nov
enlber at the time of the general
election to decide upon whether to
mold a constitutional convention or
nat f'6o convention win be compos-
ed Of $50 members, three from each
senatorial district, and each member
wiz rc pai S1.500 rs compensation
Ior lie services together with $3.50
lor "osi9~c and mileage.
Aw0.e the subjects to be consid
cred in constitutional convention
Gre: 20 abolish spring elections. and