The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-30
nmR HARRIsaURc LETTER.

railroad Law The GOnstitutiOnal
Amendnent-ChAnge in the Tinae for
HoldinE the Extra Assessnients- Nice
ASyvn Lane Vacated-LOeonOtives Rum
Aing Through the City-Harrisburg
YOstrna ster-A New Military LaVv-In-
creased Pay Of fAssessOrs-saltiDg Pas
aeuger Railway Tracks, Etc. Etc.
JRVERIRa TELEeRAPH SPECIAL CORREsPoEDENCE.l
HARRISBURG January 29
The Legislature is just beginning to assume
business shape. The committees arc at work,
aud are freely reporting bills, mostly of a trivial
character. The only important bill on file is an
act creating Railroad Bureau, and providing
tor free railroad law. Efforts have been made
for the past three years TO pass similar bill,
bpt for certain reasons il could never be forced
beyond second reading. If the heavy railroad
soTporatons in the state do not object, this bill,
with some necessary amendments, will un-
auestionably pass II establishes a Bureau
which shall be charged with tine execution of
AZ laws that may be passed by the Legislature,
respecting the creation and maintenance of rail
roads in this state, the chiet officer of which
shall be denomnated the Comptroller of State
Railroads, to be appointed by the Governor,
by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. The Comptroller is to be appointed for
three years, at salary of two thousand dollars
per annum, with the privilege of employing all
clerks necessary at salary not exceeding tit-
teen hundred dollars each per annum. The bill
provides that companies for locating and con
structing railroads, under the provisions of this
act, may be formed by any number OF persons,
not less than five. They are to name the
places near which the railroad proposed to be
located and constructed shall begin and termi-
hate. The bill is quite lengthy, and very closely
drawn. Should it become law, several railroad
enterprises Will be commenced at once, in the
. middle and northwestern portions of the State.
The market will then be flooded with all kinds
Of railroad stocks and you may naturally anti
oipate another smash-up, equal, almost, to the
famous oil stock tzzle. Let the people be
warned in time.
There are quite large number OF railroad
contractors here, old hdbuues of the Third
House, but whether they are lobbying tor or
against this bill have not yet learned.
The Constitutional amendment, it is expected,
viii be pressed to a vote tomorrow. The dis
CusslOn SO far, on both sides has taken wide
range. 1t will pass by strict party vote.
The bill providing for q change in the time
Oi holding the sessions of the Assessors tor
making extra assessments in your city, came
up ON second reading. The bill alters the time
from 3 to 10 O'Clock in the afternoon and even
ing 10 10 o'clock in the morning until o'clock
IN The evening" Mr.. Quigley moved to strike
cut o'clock in the evening, and insert o'clock
Mr.. Hood moved further to amend by insert.
ing o'clock. He gave as his reasons for the
amendment that a large majority of mechanics
and laboring men went to their work before Z
o'clock in the morning, and did not return to
their homes until alter O'Clock. If this bill
should pass in its present shape it would
deprive them of getting assessed. MIR. Freeborn
said that the bill was designed to prevent a
recurrence of the disgracetul riots which took
place in one of your lower wards last fall, on
she night of the extra assessment. Both amend
ments were rejected, and the bill passed finally.
Mr.. Glatz, from the Committee on Roads and
Bridges, in the Senate, has introduced bill
opening Juniata avenue and vacating NiceJOwn
iane from the west line of the Old York Road to
Fifteenth street. The title OF the soil vacated
is restored to the several owners of the ground
The gentlemen forming the Committee ap-
pointed to take testimony III regard to locomO
lives running through your city, are the subject
OF much comment III the lobby, and even on the
hoor OF the House. When Mr.. Hood first intro
duced the bill on which this Committee was
raised, MI. Gregory informed the House that the
foImer gentleman had taken an unfair advan-
tage of private conversation, and stolen MS
thunder. Both gentlemen manifested consider
able feeling on the subject, leading many to be-
lievc that there was something in ir." VIII 1t
will be the result OF the investigation the Com
mIttee is now making remains to be seen, but u
is believed that it will not amount to enough to
require any further legislative action.
Several of the members are making complaints
against Postmaster Knipe. They allege that
his clerks are not competent, and, in Conse-
quence, they receive their letters very irregu-
larly. One member has gone so far as to pro-
pose that all the House mail matter should be
sent by express. Persons writing to members
should be careful to add TO the superscnptions,
''Ho. OF Reps" or "Senate," as the case may be.
They would be more promptly answered, and
prevent their letters from being advertised as
As the case now in several instances.
The Military Committee, in connection with
the Adjutant-General and Auditor-General, are
devising means to reOrganiZe the volunteer
military system in the State. 1t is understood
that some military gentlemen in your city are
preparing a bill somewhat similar to the New
YORK law, which they intend to submit to the
gentlemen who have charge of this matter.
They mad better hurry along, or they may be
too late.
The sleighing continues delightful. gen.
tleman just returned from Cambria county
informs me that the snow was very heavy there
on Sunday. The Ebensburg trains were DELAYED
for several hours.
The assessors of Philadelphia have a commit
Tee here for the purpose Of lobbying bill tol
an increase Of pay. They made the same effOr
last session, but failed, and they are not Ii kely
TO be more successful this session.
Mr. Subers suddenly sprang upon the House
this afternoon, bill to prevent passenger rail
way companies IN your city, from sailing theil
tracks, making the penalty tor every Oiens(
one hundred dollars. Mr.. Hood moved tC
strike out one hundred and insert Eve hun iccr
dollars, which was agreed to. Mr.. Adair >.
that the City Councils had the matter il
charge, and would probably pass similar bll
at their next meeting, and he did not see an,
occasion for Legislative interference Mcssrl
Subers, Hood and Quigey stated that Council
had had the subject before them for two o
three years past but had not yet and proba
bly, would not take any decisive action on It
The bill passed finally without dissentin
AJAX,
One of the Great English LandhOIder
A IN no ROgt1I A0y'icuJIllTnI iS0ojsfa