Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-10
FROM HARRISBURG.
Correspondence of the Bradford Reporter.l
HARRISBURG March 5, 1859.


very material some progress has been made
in its second reading it is about the same as
last year, but in many respects higher than
! in 1851. The chairman of the committee of
Ways and Means has been accused of follow
ing the very unsgf gfe precedent of the democratic
Legislature of last year he acknowledges the
corn, but says, it is so much easier to increase
expenditures, than to reduce them, that he
very naturally and easily fell into the error
On the whole, however, it will be less than last
year.
| An attempt has been made to fix the 26th
| inst, for the final adjournment, but there was
so much buncombe connected with the ques-
ton, that the day was not finally fixed There
are great many ways for members to set
themselves fright on the record" and none
more prolific than on questions of adjournment.
If any gentleman should move for an adjourn
ment over night some member who is seldom
i'll his seat, and seems Indifferent to business
will hop up and call for the yeas and nays,
vote against it, in order to place himself right
before his constituents, and then in moment
more will move and carry an adjournment
"sharp practice"
Mr.. SMEAD has read in place bill to incor-
porate the Towanda and Wapposennng r r.
Co, and also bill to incorporate the "Towan-
da Library Association" The bills are both
reported 10y the proper committees.
Mr.. KINNEY read in place, in accordance
with the prayer of numerous petitions, q bill
with reference to fences in Franklin township.
The bill has been negatired by the. committee
on Agriculture, on the ground that no legsla-
tion should be had on such subject which af
fects one township only
Mr.. MEHAFFEY, of Lycoming, and KINNEY
have prepared and presented bill compelling
the Williamsport & Elmira r. r. Co., to fence
their road. They had considerable difficulty
in getting it passed by the r. R. committee,
but it is now reported q6irmatirely and will
soon be reached.
The bill for assessing canal damages as
agreed upon by the Luzerne, Sullivan and
Bradford members has been reported adirma-
tIriy by the Judiciary committee. A severe
struggle was had before the committee, the
company opposed it strenuousy from the first
to last. Much credit is due KETCHUM, of Lu-
zerne, and JACKSON, of Sullivan, in urging it
through. The committee is regarded as its
severest ordeal short of the Senate What its
fot uil bo q %
mine. The Canal Company evidently stands
in its own light by fighting so persistently
against the people and a fair and judicious
law.
When the general appropriation bill was in
the committee of the Whole long and inter
esting debate was had on proposition of LAW
RENEE, the Speaker, to appropriate $50 900
to erect monument TO the citizens of Penn
sylvania, who lost their lives in the Mexican
War. Such an exhibition of patriotism and
military glory has been rarely witnessed since
the days of the "Buckshot War" The vol
unteerS in the war of 1912 were called upon the
stand by LAWRENCE and handled rather rough
ly and uncourteously, claiming as he did, that
the volunteers from Pennsylvania never were
in any actual engagements, and deserved no.
| thing at our hands. He was answered by
Judge Mill, of Franklin, who very successfully
defended those men, the character of the war,
and of those Pennsylvanians who were enga-
ged in it. | thought if Major HUNT of your
county had been present the young Speaker
would have met with the rebuke he deserved.
The appropriation was refused by large ma
jjority.
Quite amusing errors occur in the House,
by reporters confounding THOMPSON, of Butler,
and KINNEY, Of Bradford. Should you see
some inexplicable and funny things in the Re
cord with reference to their sayings and doings
you must not be particularly astonished.
Business is rapidly accumuating in both
Houses, especially in the Senate That body
does not sit so many hours per day as the
House, and it has been discussing very thor
oughly, if not windily, some important public
bills. 1t is feared the session will be prolong-
ed beyond former calculations, or business left
undone. 1t is fact, however, that more bills
were passed by the House the first two months
of the session, than ever before during the
same length of time.
The Fry divorce case is now awakening
much feeling about Harrisburg. On Wednes-
day evening last the Divorce committee held
meeting in the Hall of the House, and the case
argued before them by two of the ablest men
in the country. THos. CoRw1N, of Ohio for
Mrs. Fry, and GEO NJ WHARTON, of Phila
delpha, for Mr. Fry. The House was crowd