The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-05
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

HARRISBURG, April 5.-The Judiciary Committee
TO investigate the manner in which the Delinquent
Tax bill passed. reported that the bill ad gone
through the regular channels in both branches OF
Mr. Randall was satisfied that he had lone injus-
tice to the Philadelphia Senators by his original
assertion that the bill as approved had not been pro-
perly passed. II he had been present when the bill
passed he would have opposed 1T.
Mir. Connel made an explanation Of the designs
and purposes Of the bill which has been passed The
original Public Building bill had provided that the
commission should issue bonds to an amount neces-
sary complete the buildings, and Councils should
provide for the interest and principal OF those
bOnds.
This proposition had been stricken out on motion
of Mr. Elliott and new one inserted, that the Com
missioners should make an estimate or the amount
for each year, and that special tax should be levied
annually to meet this outlay, The bill as amended
by Mr.. Elliot passed both houses last evening This
morning, however the Senate reconsidered its ac-
ton and struck out the amendment leaving the bill
as originally proposed.
House bll creating Thomas Nicholson Commits
sioner OF Pensions was passed finally, amended as
follows-Mr Nicholson will receive $2OOO Tor one
year only, and make report to the next Legislature
the Auditor-Gen to strike of the pension list such
individuals as the Commissioner SHALL upon a re-
view OF all the evidence in each case, decide to have
committed perjury.
Resolutions from the Senate, urging Congress to
pension the soldiers OF the war OF 1872 were called
up by Mr. Bum.
Mr.. Niles. from the subcommittee on the Judi.
ciary to investigate the manner or the passage of
the Delinquent II AK BILL made report. They say
during the various shapes OF its passage they sum-
moned before them the chief and resident clerks OF
the House, the transcrlblng ana comparing clerks,
the chief clerk of the Secretary OF the commonwealth
the chief clerk of the Senate four Senators from
Philadelphia and Messrs. Elliott Hong, and other
menbers Of the Philadelphia delegation, and they
have taken one hundred pages of testimony. They
arrive at the following conclusion-That the bill
was reported from the House committee on the 2Sth
OF February and came up regularly on the calen-
dar and was objected of by Mr.. Daley OF Phiadel-
phia, who afterwards withdrew his objections.
These were renewed by Mr.. Hong on the following
Tuesday, March S.
The bill again came before the House on the
calendar Of objected bills, and passed the House,
after being amensed by striking out three or four
lines. From the printed report 1t was transcribed
and sent TO the senate March l6, and In that body
was referred to committee or city Senator's, OF
which Mr.. Connell was chairman. from the evi-
dence before your committee IL appears that the
city Senators had no formal meeting III reference to
the bill, nor Is such meeting usual In consideration
OF bills referred to that committee.
Senator Conuell consulted Senator Henszey in rea-
ton TO certain amendments which he proposed TO
make, who approved them after being informed OF
their import. Mr., Connell and Mr.. Henszey are OF
opinion that Mr. Watt was consulted In reference To
| the amendment to be made to the House bill.
On the other hand, Mr. Watt Is very positive he
never was consulted and states he knew nothing o
the change until he was so informed by reports
which he saw In the daily papers. He further states
he placed the bill on the calendar or the Senate
ignorant OF the fact that 1t had been amendedn the
Senate committee. When the bill passed the Senate
he informed Mr. Elliott Of the philadelphia deega
ton In the House. or ts passage, supposlng 1t TO be
the same bill that had originally passed the House.