The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-22
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special CORRESPONDENCE,

Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. 10, 1907.
State Treasurer Berry had
couple of busy days in this town
last week. On Tuesday and We'd
nesday he attended sessions and
participated in the proceedings of
the Boards of Public Grounds and
Buildings, Revenue Commissioners,
Sinking Fund Commissioners, Mill
tary and Accounts. The proceed
ings at these sessions were not of
the perfunctory sort either. They
were deliberative and thorough.
They were conducted as business
men conduct important affairs.
Moreover they resulted in vast adj
vantage to the State.
For example one of the features
of the session of the Board Of Pub
lie Grounds and Buildings was
making contracts for furniture for
the State Library, The Board wise
ly determined to furnish that build.
ing with the same style and char
acter of furniture as had been put
into the capitol building. But the
presence of Mr.. Berry in the Board
made a vast difference in the cost
of furniture. He had the "per
foot" and 'per pound" rule cut
out and desks which cost $500 a
year ago were obtained on this oc-
caslon for SIG4 each. Proportiona,e
savings were effected on all other
articles of furniture.
The furniture bill for the State
Library as agreed upon between
the furnishers and the Board of
Public Grounds and Buildings last
week amounts to So, 900. For an
exactly equal amount of furniture
of precisely the same character, the
old Board paid Sanderson and Cas-
sell $40, 900 The difference is the
consequence of minority representa-
tion on the Board. If Mr.. Berry
had not been elected State Treas
urer two years ago there would
have been no exposure and no i'm
provement in methods. If minority
representation is eliminated the old
conditions will be resumed.
MARVELLOUS CHANGE IN METHODS.
After the meeting of the Board
last Wednesday Mr.. Berry conf
mented upon the change which has
occurred since he was installed.
Then Governor Pennypacker and
Auditor General Snyder laughed at
his insistence on business methods.
Now Governor Stuart and Auditor
General Young are eager to adopt
his suggestions with respect to
making contracts and purchasing
materials. But in the matter of
selecting agents or appointing Off
cials there is no change. 1t required
nearly three months time for him
to get John E. Stott out of the Office
OF Secretary of the Board, and when
he finally succeeded Stuart and
Young put another servile machine
politician in his place. The obvious
purpose IS to be ready to resume
business on the old methods the
moment the machine RECEIVERS COM
plete control of the Boards.
This reveals the insincerity of
the Republican professions of re-
form. There is not only a willing
ness but All eagerness to profess re-
form now because the machine
managers understand that such
pretenses promote the chances of
machine victory. But they intend
to be in shape to take advantage of
that victory the moment it is
achieved.
when the Devil was sick, the
Devil Monk would be,
When the Devil got we'll, the Devil
Monk was he
The election of Democrat to the
Office of Secretary of the Board
would not have impaired the Re-
publican control of the body AS
the salary is only about $500 a
year, the Office is of little conse-
quence from pecuniary stand
point. But it is of the greatest
significance if machine Board
wants to restore machine methods
and for that reason the majority
wouldn't allow the minority men,
Der to name the Secretary.
ANOTHER BERRY BENEFIcENcE.
The benefcient effect of Mr..
Berry's membership of the Board
of Revenue Commissioners, was