Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-02-27
Correspondence of Inqilirer and cironicls.



Mr.. EDIToR:-It 1t is understood the SEN
ate committee on apportioninent are busy at
work preparing bill, in the hope of get
ting It reported before the adjournment next
Friday. SO that the bill may he printed. -
The aggregate number of taxabes in the
State is 597.652. BY calculation this
makes the ratio for Representative districts
1916, and for Senatorial districts 1901.
At the last spportionmeni in ls50the Rep
reseniatlve ratio was 1865. aud the Sena-
;orial l4,743. This shows a reasonably
rapid progress in taxabies and population
notwithstanding the immense emigration to
the western States and territories. The
agricultural districts, as compared with the
mining and manufacturing districts. are
falling off. Hence Bucks, Berks and York
counties will each lose one member in the
House, aud Franklin will not any longer be
entitled TO two members The same fall
ling off is manifest in all the southern tier
ct counties, west Of franklin; even old
Westmoreland will lose one member. Your
Senatorial district of Bedford, Somerset
| and Fulton is now 4,462 taxables short Of
the Senatorial ratio for this year. On the
other hand, Lnzerne and Scbuylki!l eoun-
ties each gain member Of tie House, and
Philadelphia city gains two, so that hercaf-
ter she will send no less than seventeen
members. | hear il intimated that The SEN
ate Committee intend to divide the city in.
10 single Representative districts, and thus
allow each party chance Of eleeting
share of these seventeen members in pro-
portion to the strength of the respective
parties. Heretofore il has been doubted
whether the Legislature had the power to
divide city or county into single districts,
but II seems the committee this year. on
which are several lawyers of both parties,
are pretty nearly, if not altogether unani-
NOUS on the question of power, an alto
ge'her unanimous on the question Of expe-
dency.
The committee on executive nominations
stood TWO against two for confirming the
nomination of Dr.. Dewitt as State Librari-
an; and the other members of the committee
being absent, the four asked and obtained
leave TO be discharged from the further con-
sideration of of the subject, aud no further
action has yet been had.
The differences between the Senate and
House as to the time for electing State
Treasurer have been compromised, and the
eleventh of March agreed upon as the day
for the election.
The cordial co operation of all those who
are opposed 10 the slippery platform of sham
democracy, seems TO have diifused gener-
Al feeling Of joy and cougratulation among
the Americans and Republicans throughout
the State. All 1 have seen or heard since
the eall was signed concur in the opinion
that it i. tie only sensible and practical
mode Of uniting the otherwise divided forces.
Our law makers have .. last got fairly to
work, and it is pity that the temporary ad-
j-urnmeat should have been permirted at
this stage of the session 10 interrupt the
public business. Since my last letter, the
Finance Committee has reported adversely
on the bin providing for the sale Of the
Main Line, and the investment of the pre-
ceeds in the Sunbury aud Erie Railroad, -
The same COMMITTEE introduced another bill
| providing tor the sale of this line for nine
millions Of dollars. Ii the Pennsylvania
Railroad becomes the purchaser, the tonnage
tax is thereupon repealed; and should any