The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-03-07
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.
Harrisburg, Pa, Mar.

harrisburg, Pa., Mar. 2, 1907.
Though everybody expected that
legislation would run at the highest
rate Of sp, ed during las; week as a
matter OF fact only one bill has
reached the Governor since the
close of business week ago aud
the SUM total OF legislation com.
pleted duriNg the present session
Of two months and two days is two
laws. This makes legislation ex-
pensive. That is TO say the aggre
gate cost of the two bills completed
is little if any less than million
dollars bu, the future output will
be less exp .nsive.
There is gre,t deal of tall; in
the corridor, about tax bills which
are to be Introduced in the near
future and if half the additional
revenue is secured that the pr pos
ed sponsors predict the problem for
he futur- will be how to dispose Of
the surplus. Governor Penny.
packer S idea of taxing anthracite
coal appears to he meeting with
more favor now than when it was
first suggested Two years ago and a
bill putting small tav on that ex
elusive produ:t may BE- loo %e |
for. OF course the people will have
to pay the tax as they have 10 pay
all other taxes and the bulk of the
burden will fall on those who can't
well afford it. But the expendi-
tur,s are to be increased so vastly,
according to the talk, that every
subject that can be made TO bear
taxation will have to be brought
into the service.
Of course nobody ever thinks Of
decreasing the cost Of government.
During the last six years the cost
Of building the new capitol has been
taken out of the revenue in addition
to the ordinary expenses of the
government and when it is figured
up it will be found that this bill
amounted to very nearly fifteen
millions of dollars or an average Of
two and a half millions a year.
This draft will not continue, uow
that the building is completed bnt
there is talk Of adding a million a
year to the school appropria ion
and as much 10 the charities. That
would still leave half million to
be disposed of even if the revenues
are not increased at all and as a
matter of fact the charity appro.
priation needn't be increased per.
manently. At present bli'dlng
aud repair that are needed will cost
good deal Of money but after ade.
qua,e buildings are secured the cost
OF maintenance will be great.
1t is safe to say that with the
present revenues the school appro-
priation might be increased a mill
ion and half year and ample
provision made for the charities of
the State were administered econo.
mically. But the aim of those in
authority is to spendas much as pos
sible and there are commissions of
all kinds to facilitate the work.
Every Office is crowded with clerks
and other employees and there are
oversee.s, watchers and policemen
enough to patrol big city. But
there is constant demand for more
and the legislators are being i'm,
portuned all the time to create new
Offices. The Health Department,
it is said, will involve All immeiise
expenditure during the next few
years. In fact it is whispered about
that this department has already
cost a great deal more than the law
allows and that an examination o.
its accounts would reveal condi-
tion very much like that which Mr.
Berry discovered in the capito'
building. That is to say money
appropriated for one purpose ha.
been used for another, the rumor:
60, and that is not strictly accord
ing to law.
One of the Philadelphia member.
was heard in one of the hotels o
the city, the other evening, announ
cling that the liquor men woulc
get busy or else the local optlor
bill will te passed. IF it ever get.
out of the committee" he declared
"it can't be stopped and it will gel
out" he added, unless something
is done pretty soon" The plair
inference was that the gentleman
wants to be paid for killing the bill
in committee and It remains to bt
seen whether or not such means O
controlling legislation prevails tC