The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-08
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.


HARRIeBUR0, o.-1u0 AOhONihE
House hill to open Fifteenth street, in Phila-
delphia Laid over on third reading on motion
of Senator Nagle, seconded by Mr.. Connell, Mr..
Watt, the author OF the 6lll, being absent -
Byberry and Moreland into one district for the
support of the poor, was called up by Mr.. Con-
nell and passed finally. 49,.
Senate bill to authorize the opening and I'M
proyement of Allegheny avenue, between the
river Delaware and Sixth street, in Philadelphia,
was objected off by Mr.. Henszey.
Senate supplement to an act approprlating
ground for public purposes in Philadelphia,
locating the roads, ETC.. in the Park, was OBJ
iected to by Mr. Connell, the author of the bill.
Senate bill to incorporate Saunders College
was called up by Mr.. Connell, and passed finally.
House bill to change the name of the Board
of School Controllers of the First School district
of Pennsylvania was called up by Mr.. Connell,
and passed finally.
House bin to authorize the Governor to APP
point five additional netaries public In Philadel-
phia was called up by Mr. Connel, and passed
finally.
Senate supplement to an act establishing the
mode of selecting and drawing jurors for Phila-
delphia, approved April 20, A. d. 1853; rela-
tive to exemptions from service as Jurors; re-
quiring parties who wish to be exempted to file
an affidavit, to be approved by the Court. Called
up by Mr.. Connell and passed finally.
House bill to incorporate the West chester
and PhGnixville Railroad Company, In Chester
Guilty OhllSu up Wy N'1i' OiNNtAOi Civ P't7oSN
finally.
-" House.
An act to prohibit the erection of public build
ings on Independence Square was discussed
Mr.. Davis said that the newspapers were divided
in opinion. Those who owned property in the
neghborhood of the square, which would be in
creased in value If the new public buildings
were erected upon 1t, were all in favor OF the
desecration. Among those papers was the
| Ledger, which had half million invested in
real estate. 1t was simply human nature for
parties to regulate their views to their interests.
! The other parties, located from Third
biased and held that it was not
| right thus to trample on some of the best and
| most sacred feelings of the State. The original
| contract between the city and the State had
| been that the square should be kept as public
| green forever. 1t was true that some subse,
| quent legislation had authorized some small
| buildings upon the ground, but that legis-
| lation could easily be annulled by the present
act. Mr.. Davis spoke at some length of the
| sacred character of the square in the
| eyes of our countrymen. 1t was certainly in
| their view the garden-spot OF liberty,
| and was halloWed by associations which had a
| meaning. The man who would pile bricks and
mortar upon this spot would almost build upon
| the grave of his father. Mr.. Davis asserted, in
| the course of his remarks, that this square has
been one of the first spots visited by him on hid
| first trip to that city. Mr.. Smith, OF Dauphin,
made speech particularly in reference to the
Il
| it was one of the first spots to which his steps
| had tended on his first visit to that city:
Mr.. Josephs said, jocularly, that from his
| association with the gentlemen who had JUS
| spoken, he would have supposed other places in
the city would have been more attractive tt
| them.
Mr.. Davis replied, at the time of which h'
| spoke, he had not been acquainted with Mr.
Joeephs, but had visited the grounds will
country simplicity and honesty of heart.
Mr.. Elliott was grieved to find the American
eagle had been loosened and would take such
an extended oratorical flight. He said tina
the city had legitimate claims on the square
at one time had purchased portion of GROUND
from private associations for about fifty
thousand dollars; had erected cour
house, which has cost over hundred Thousand
dollars; if there was any sanctity about the Hal
there was certainly none about the square. No
body proposed to interfere with the Hail. excep
perhaps to clear it of neighboring shantes
which burdened and disfgured its origina
shape; it was unjust to depreciate the value o
property in that central neighborhood to oblig'
| twenty-five people. .
The bill was passed by "a yeas to to nays.
The bill authorizing the people to vote for
site for the public buildings was laid aside for
second reading this afternoon by 73 ayes to l.
| nayS,