The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-10-28
SISSON AND STOBER
SHIELD THE CRAFTERS
Tried to Prevent Investigation
Of Insurance Department
During Extra Session.
SISSON LED THE OPPOSITION

He Declared That the People Had No
Interest In the Question Involved
and That It Was None Of the Legis-
lature's Business What Officials Did
With the Fees.
The extra session Of the legislature
of 1906 afforded little opportunity for
political or legislative jugglery, 1t was
called for the purpose, mainly, of cor
recting the evils perpetrated during
the regular session of 1905 and the
principal work of Senators A. f. Sis
son and A. J. Stober was to limit the
harm to the machine to the minimum.
Sisson had become a sort of whip
for the gang and was always alert. He
interposed technical objections and
tricky eXpedieuts to defeat all real re-
forms that promised to be effective.
But the brief session was not en-
tirely without political interest.
Shortly after the session began ru-
mors of a scandal in the insurance de-
partment made their appearance. Six
months previously Dave" Martin had
become insurance commissioner. sue.
ceeding the late Israel w. Durham. In
his report Mr.. Martin had alleged that
fees to the amount of S33, ,191 had been
collected by the actuary during the
six months and withheld from the de-
partment and the treasury. An inquiry
developed the fact that enormous
amounts had been obtained by some
body in that way during the several
preceding years from which the treas
ury got no benefit.
On the 25th of January Senator
Herbst, of Berks county, introduced a
resolution into the senate for an in
vestigation of the subject. His pre-
amble quoted the statement of the in
surance commissioner and added that
the actuary had expressed a desire "to
go on the stand before a committee of
the legislature" and tell all about the
matter, and the resolution asked for
such a committee. Senator Brown. of
Philadelphia. promptly moved to LAY
the resolution on the table" That was
so coarse a proposition that even the
machine was astounded. Then Sisson
came forward and moved that it be
referred to the committee on insur.
1nce, which was made up of such men
is Brown, Ware, Keyser and McNichol
of Philadelphia, and others of that ilk
In support of his motion Mr.. Sisson
became voluble. He said the money
iidn't belong to the commonwealth
and the people had no interest in the
question and he ridiculed the resolu
ion. at seems to me-" he added
that we might possibly be inquirine
'nto things that do not concern the
legislature" To avert such a thing
1stensibly, but really to delay or de.
eat the movement, he moved that ii
le committed. Senator Dewalt, of Le
ligh replied: 1T is matter of $33, 191
belonging to the people of Pennsylva
Tia, and every man upon this floor is
Interested in knowing what became OF
hat money. What more i'm
1ortant thing can there be than the
consideration of the question in re
ard to the expenditure of public
'on) afraid of it? Is this body of fifty
1ersons, representing six million and
half of people, afraid to investigate
he conduct Of one Of its officers? II
hat be so, it is time for us to &C
;ome."
The effect of this was so obvious and
'minous to Sisson's proposition thai
e took another tack" He moved tC
efer to the committee on judiciary
eneral and promised a report from
le committee within five days. Hi:
'urpose was so palpable, however, tina
le machine was afraid to adopt it
nd his motion was defeated, the aye!
eing sixteen and the nays eighteen.
In pursuance of this resolution {
ommission consisting of three sena
RS and five representatives was ap
ointed, Mr. Sissou being a member
was proved that during Durham:
lministratiOn of the office of insur
nee commissioner Sal ,223.S0 of act
Try fees had been appropriated to his
Vn use, and that during Martins 81,
onths' service s33,191 had been re
ined by the actuary, all of which be
'nged to the state. 1t showed an i'm
ense padded pay roll containing
nong the names of men who per
rmed no work one of the Salter jur
$, a brother Of former Governor
one and many others. During the
king of this testimony Senator Sis
n was vigilant in his efforts to llmi
e inquiry SO as to shield the ma
inc, and it is safe to say that bu
l'c him the result would have beer
trial and conviction of a number
those concerned in the grating op
"ations and the recovery of the money
egally held by them.
During the discussion of this i'm
rtant question Senator Stober, pres
1T Republican candidate for state
aasurer, enlightened the minds of hi
leagues with this absurd but char
teristic speech:
Mr.. President desire to expires
' reasons why | shall vote for thi
otion to refer the resolution to tn
mmittee on judiciary general. 1t 1
80 the purpose of giving ample tim