The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-30
TUESDAY, MARCH 80, 1859.
The Pennsylvania Bear Garden.


TuR Pennsylvania Legislature is rapidly sink
ing beneath contempt. The oldest inhabitants
of Harrisburg, who have seen many disre-
putable men oongregated in the Capitol, and
many disreputabe scenes enacted within its
walls, unite in the opinion that the present
body of lawmakers, especially those in the
lower house, combine in greater degree than
any of their predecessors a host of bad quail
ties with scarcely a redeeming virtue. They
are at once ignorant and corrupt, too stupid
to perfect any good legislation, yet sharp
enough to eagerly embrace every available
opportunity for earning the wages of venslity.
II they could dispose of the State wholesale
to foreign power, and pocket the proceeds,
there is little doubt that they would be as
ready to make the transfer as Russia was to
convey Alaska to the United States; but
as this species of bold rascality is im-
practicable, they are forced to content
themselves with the paltry part OF
sneak thieves, making their raids upon the
treasury and the rights of the people in the
style and spirit of the petty offenders who
smuggle themselves into dwellings when
front doors are inoautiously left open, to carry
off whatever they can surreptitiously seize,
whether it be jewelry, overcoats, or baby
linen. The Twelfth and Sixteenth Streets
Passenger Railway bill was but one of the
sneak thief schemes of the session, for dozens
of others have been under consideration; and
the resolution which, in defiance OF law, made
q large and totally unnecessary increase of the
employees of the House. for the sole purpose OF
enabling its leading members to provide sine
cures for their partisan servants, was such
fragrant wrong that it excited the bushes of
the not over-sepsitive Senate.
The House is distinguishing itself not only
by neglect of its appropriate duties, COM
bined with devoted attention to corrupt
schemes, but the general tenor of some of its
debates would disgrace decent bar-room; and
on recent occasion session was enlivened
by display OF bufoonery that would scarcely
be tolerated on the stage of a comic theatre.
A shrewd manager, in search of a sensation,
might make a splendid hit by engaging the
whole legislative troupe for characteristic
performance. The "lemen" act performed at
Harrisburg last week, with slight embellish-
ments would suffice itself for an evenings
entertainment; and If the actors would be frank
enough TO explain clearly the exact process by
which the legislative machinery is oiled and
run, valuable instruction, as well as smuse-
ment, would be furnished to the people, who
In the end must pay and suffer for the many
sins of omission and commission perpetrated
by their representatives. AT the Chestnut
Street Theatre the Field of the Cloth of Gold,
with all its extrsvagancies, might be profit
ably substituted by the burlesque feats of the
legislators, and, where the leg drama has
usurped the place of Legitimate acting, still
more profitable innovation might be made by
an honest presentment of Legislative action.
The only thing that would not be fully sup
piled Is the performance of the Japs, for one
of its principal features is the favorite declara
tion OF daring lad-"All right !" and this
can never be truthfully said of the proceedings
of the present Legislature.
We notice by the morning papers that the
officers of tho American Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals yesterday
evening broke up q cock and dog fight on
Market street, and the names OF number OF
persons who were present are published. Not
withstsnding the fact that good many OF the
grave legislators laid of the cares of state and
visited this city for the purpose of attending
the M0ya ball, and that the names Of some OF
those arrested at the cock and dog fight bear
Suspicious resemblance to the honored patro
nymios of our worthy representatives, we
spurn the imputation that they preferred the
charms of brutal contest to the bewitching
mRzes of the dance. The Legislature is bad
enough without any new stains, and, unless
absolute evidence is furnished, we shall not
believe that the "McKenna" nabbed by the
police is misprint for McKinstry, or that the
''Henzey' taken is the Senatorial Henszey,
or that the "McGinns' arrested is the man
who represents one OF the legislative districts
of Philadelphia.
We are the more inclined to caution on
this subject on account of the threat made by
the mighty Strang of Tioga county, in the
House yesterday. This grand Aurora OF the
North gave notice that he intended to "intro
duoe bill providing that no man should pub
Msh newspaper until he should have filed {
certificate of twelve reliable citizens that he II
honest and of good repute!" Oh, crue
Strangl Sarcastic Strangl Have you for
gotten your declaration that you intended ST
do NO more dirty work this session ?" Mus
you strangle the press because it echoes no