Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-02
FROM HARRTSBT TRG.
HARRISBURG, Feb. 25, 1865.

a Joint resolution sent up from the House, asking
the President of the United States to remove Maj
II. J. Dodge, from the Office of the Provost Mar
shall General of this State. On the motion to pass
to the second reading of the resolution the pre-
yious question was called. Then commenced
system of dodging which | think must have origi-
mated with Maj Dodge himself Senators refused
to vote, so that quorum did not respond to their
names. of course the resolution was not adopted.
A call of the House was moved by LONG, of Erie.
The Sergant-at-arms was ordered to not allow any
Senator to leave the House until the vote was ta-
ken Mr. BEARDsLY, from Wayne refused to vote
because the Senate had no power to make him vote
until vote to that effect had been taken, which
had not been done. The Speaker decided that he
must vote or be arrested for contempt, unless he
was excused by the Senate, Mr.. CoNNELL of Phil
adelphia, who was in one of the side rooms, re-
fused to answer when called, a motion was made to
excuse him, which was promptly decided to be out
of order, the Senator being within the House he
must answer for himself which he finally did. Mr..
HALL of Blair, and Mr.. HOPKINS, of Washington,
asked to be excused from voting and gave their rea
sons they were excused One other member made
similar request but it not granted. Several
desired to make explanations, but they not
allowed the privilege.
The yeas and nays called upon from every
vote The resolution passed finally by vote of Is
to 8. 1t was not party measure Democrats and
Republicans voted on both sides. Republicans
and Democrats tried their best to get rid of voting
The whole scene was amusing.
Now what are the charges against this Maj. r.
l. Dodge about whom this whole state is so anx-
ious Mt this particular time? He is accused of neg
lect of duty, of unkindness to the recruits as
they into the camp, and general untitness for
his position. have no opinion to offer to the
truth falsity of these charges, for know moth
! ing about them. do know that almost everybody
who does, or attempts to do business with him
complains of his treatment, but with how much
reason / cannot tell.
The House adjourned over from the 10th to the
| 2lst, to enable the committee of ways and means
to visit Philadelphia and inspect some of the be-
nevolent institutions that receive aid from the
State. The chairman of this committee, COCHRAN,
of Philadelphia, is most laborious worker and
with all, kind, gentlemanly man, he has associa-
ted with him many of the ablest men in the House
More labor is performed by this committee than by
any other in the House Speaker OLMsTEAD was
a
body of legislators before which comes the mos
important matters that are acted on by the whole
body when together.
The of Maj. Dodge was again brought VI
in the Senate, and NICHOLS, of Philadelphia pre-
sented several papers and afidavits to show tha
the Major had done all he could to make the re
cruits comfortable, and if they had not been made
so, the fault was not his. The Senators, several o
them at least, became satisfied that they had acet
too much in haste in condemning officer un
heard, and the whole matter was postponed til
Thursday, when presume we shall have expos
of the whole subject One thing has been mad
clear by this action so far. That is the State au
thorities and Major Dodge do not agree, and 81
long he is in his present position, military mat
ters in this State will not move smoothly 1t j
useless to inquire who is in fault the matter is
fixed fact and unless he is removed there will il
all probability continue to be jange.
Oil now has the possession of the Legislature
Oil rail roads, oil companies oil charters oil turn
pixies, and oil booms are in full vogue. | do no
know but some of the members have so much go
on the brain, that they will take fire and consum
away, certainly some of them getting quit
frey. 1t is now proposed to authorize a compan
oil that escapes from its rightful owners and run
away down the creek This meets with strong op
position and will probably be defeated.
On the evening of the 21st, there was an extr
session i'll the House to consider an oil bill whic
proposes to SELL lease out to parties, the beds @
all the creeks and rivers in the State in order tina
they may be bored for oil. There was some shar
practice at the commencement of the session, tn
object of which to get rid of the bill. Their
were motions to postpone indefinitely to postpon
for four weeks, for one week till the fourth of July
motions to divide the questions. There were am
mendments, and amendments to amendments, an
motions for reconsideration, and points of orde
and questions for information, and explanations
and calls for yeas and nays upon every question
and requests to withdraw motions and amend
ments but finally all were voted down. and the
Nh. SHARP, of Franklin, offered bill as a subst
tut for the original, which he said had been draw
up by the committee, with the assistance of tn
Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretar
of the Commonwealth, If such plan should b
adopted at all, this bill appears to be good on
as could be passed. The great plea is that it vii
bring revenue to the State. The board of trade, G
Pittsburg sent i'll strong remonstrance agans
the project in every shape The matter was fnall,
postponed to some future time.
On the evening Of the Goth, the ffty-first ami
versary of the Harrisburg Bible Society was cele
brated. No church in the city is large enough t.
accommodate all who desired to be present on til
occasion consequently exercises were held in tn
NJ. E. church, and the old school Presbyterian
church, both of which were filled. Rev. Mr. MTrCH
ELI. of the Presbyterian and Rev. Mr.. SNYDER O
the German Reformed churches preached ON tn
occasion, both young men and both just settled
over their respective congregations Their dis
courses We're prepared with great care and evinceC
a superior order Of talent. 1t appears from the re
port of the Society which made at the close o
the sermons, that there had been raised over tive
thousand dollars during the past year for and b,
this Society. This, in addition to the continue
calls made upon the citizens of Harrisburg fo
other benevolent purposes, and for the aid of sol
diers is certainly a respectable sum.
On Wednesday evening the second annual meet
ing of the Christian Commission was held in the
New School Presbyterian church. The house was
crowded, notwithstanding the unpleasantness O
the weather. Addresses We're made by NJ. REss
the Secretary of the Commission, and by Dr. PAT
TERsoN, of Chicago. If the men and women al
| oyar he land nould know what this ;s