The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-15
HARRISBURG LETTER.


1t NAV be confidently predicted
that the investigation of the capitol
graft scandal will result in the trial
and possibly the punishment Of two
or three of the looters. Architect
Huston and former Superintendent
of Public Grounds and Buildings,
lanes NJ. Shumakcr. will be sacri-
feed to the popular demand tor
reparation. Contractor Sanderson
may be added TO this list If he can
be caught. But he is out OF the ju-
risdiction of the courts and will
probably stay out. Huston may
take header for some secure asy-
lum, also, and that would leave only
Shumaker, Of those who the ma
chine is willing to throw overheard.
He can't get away because he is
sick.
That there are to be any prose-
cutions, however, is attributable to
the minority representation on the
probing commission. 1t is clear
now that the majority of that body
intended to make a white washing
report. Senator Fisher had a dou-
Bile interest in that sort OF pre-
sentiment. He wanted to save the
Republican party from the injury
that is inevitable from complete
exposure, on one hand, and he de-
sired to save the followers of his
friend Justice Elkin from just pun
ishment on the other Senator Sis
son has recently been highly favor
ed by the Machine and naturally
wanted to prove his gratitude, and
the other Republican members of
the Commission were willingto go
along"
DEMOCRATS DEMANDED JUST RE
PORT.
But the Democratic members of
the Commission wouldn't stand for
thai kir1 of a travestv on justice.
Senator Dewait and Representative
Ammer nan promptly and emphati
cally declared that The Commission
should do its duty or else they
would present a minority report.
They know that Pennypacker is as
guilty as the others and that there
is ample evidence TO convict Payne
& Company of forgery as we'll as
fraud. Therefore they insisted on
inculpating those men with the 9TH
ers. Of course they can't go fur
ther than the report. After that it
will be up to the Governor and the
Attorney General, who will proba-
oily allow the high uck-a-mucks"
to escape, even if the others are
sacrificed.
If the people hadn't elected a
Democrat to the Office OF State
Treasurer, two years ago, nothing
would have been known of the cap
itol graft. IF there had been no
Democrats ON the Legislative Com
mission charged with the investiga
ton of the scandal, no one would
have been punished for the crimes.
In this statement | am not aspers-
ing the character Of James Scarlet,
the distinguished Danville lawyer
who has conducted the investiga-
ton. l have the utmost confidence
in his integrity and the highest re-
spect for his ability. But the song
Of the machine Siren, promising fa-
vors of the most substantial form,
is sweet melody to his ears and
we'll things are different now.
VALUE OF MINORITY REPRESEN-
TATION.
When the late Senator Buckalew
was urging the adoption of the
principle of minority representation
as feature of the Constitution of
the State, he didn't pretend to
think that one Commissioner Of the
minority party would control the
board or that the minority Auditor
would have things his own way.
he simply said that minority repre-
sentation in these fiscal departments
would serve as check against the
excesses as well as the cupidity of
the majority. In that idea he was
singularly prophetic. The minori-
ty official is a sort of watch dog on
his associates. He may be inau-
enced by no higher impulse than to
prevent the other party from get
Ting undue advantage, but at that
he is conserving the interests of the
public,
Suppose Berry had been defeated
for State Treasurer two years ago
and his machine antagonist, ]. Lee
Plummer, elected. Plummer is no
better and no worse than Samuel
w. Pennypackcr, William p. Suy.