Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-03-19
Pennsylvania Legislature.

Pennsylvania Legislature.
A proposition is now before the legislature
for the lease of our whole line of public works.
Four of the firms of principal transporters, at
present doing business on the Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh Line are named in the PROPOSE
ton, which, in effect, is to allow the Common
wealth one million of dollars annually for ter
years, for the use of the whole work; the
money to be paid in monthly lnstaImen,s. On
the first year, SS00000 is to be paid on the
second 100000. The balance of the million
on each year to be expended for the widening
of the locks of The Delaware Division of the
Pennsylvania Canal, as we'll as on other Sec
tions of the works. The State is to complete
the Improvements now commenced and con-
templated on the Columbia Railroad and on the
Portage Railroad. The same proposition offers
to pay per cent. on the 81 800, 900, supposed
to be necessary to the completion of the North
Branch Canal.
In the Senate, on the llth, the bill to provide
for the better regulation and management of
the public works came up in order on third
reading.
Mr.. Muhlenberg asked and obtained the
unanimous consent Of the Senate to change the
title of the principal officer contemplated by
the bill from " Secretary of Internal Improve
ments," to toF'Comptroler of the Public Works"
The bill was then read third time and
passed by the following vote:
YEAs.-Messrs. Baly, Barnes, Carothers,
Carson. Crabb, Darlington. Guernsey, Hami-
ton, IlasIett, Kinzer, M'Murtrie, Malone, Mat
thlas Mghlenberg, Myers, Robertson, Sinner,
Sllfer, Walker, Speaker.-l9.
NAys.-Messrs. BuckaIew, Evans, Fernon,
Forsyth, Frailey, Fulton, Hamln, Hoge, Jones.
MCasln, M'Farland, Packer, Sanderson.-13
On motion of Mr. Sitter, the bill to authorize
an examination of the claim Of Watson g. Ja-
cob and for other purposes was taken up. read
a second and third time, and passed.
In the House, on the 18th, Mr.. Hsnsecker
from the select committee, appointed TO in
quire into the cxPediency of reporting bill to
abolish capital punishment, made report at
length, accompanied with bill to effect the
object proposed The bill substitutes solitary
confinement of long duration for the high order
of felonies.
In the Senate, on the 10Th, Mr.. Fraiiey, from
the Committee on Finance, reported with ne
gatIVe recommendation, the bill relative to IL
censes for selling merchandise on canal boats.
The bill authorizing the banks to issue
small notes failed in the Senate by vote of I6
to II, but was subsequently reconsidered. The
section authorizing the circulation of The small
notes of foreign banks was lost by vote of I
to 2G.
The democracy has got up an apportionment
bill in the House making Bedford, Huntingdon,
Mitfiin, Junlata and Centre the 18th, and
Blair, Cambria and WeStmoreland the 10Th
district We do not think the bill will become
a law in this shape.
In the House, on the l7lh, Mr.. Miller, of
Philadelphia, moved TO discharge the Com
mittee on Vice and immortality from the further
consideration of the bill in reference TO the
sale of intoxicating drinks similar in its pro-
visions to the Maine Liquor Law, and refer it
to Special Committee of FIVE members.
MIR. Schel moved to amend the motion, by
lnstuctag the Committee Of Vice d immortality
to report the bill on Monday next.
A spirited and excited discussion ens1ed.
Mr.. Bonham moved 10 postpone the Whole
matter for the present.
The question being taken, the motion to
postpone was agreed to-Yeas 10, nays IS.
The Committee or new counties reported,
with negative recommendations, the bill lerect-
ing a new county out Of parts of Berks TO be
called Lee, and the bill erecting a Ire county
out OF parts of Bedford, Blair aud Huntingdon,
10 be called jackson.
bill was introduced to annex part of Hunt
ingdon county to MIfflln.