The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-11
THE ANTI-CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
BILL.
LETTER FROM Mr.. BovxR.

TO the Editor Of The Etentno Tsegraph:-As
capital may feel an anxiety 20 Know what
became OF the bill which had been introduced for the
practical abolition OF the gallows desire to state
the facts as to the manner in which the bill was dis
posed Of, that the people may know how things are
managed at Harrisburg :.
the adjournment Of the Legislature, the bill was
introduced in the House and referred to the Judi
ciary Committee, OF which Mr.. johnson, OF Craw-
ford, was chairman, and Mr.. Reinoeh OF Lancaster,
secretary both OF whom were opposed to any change
According to the rules OF the House, committee
may retain possession OF bill for ten days, when,
1t be NOT reported a majority Of me House may
ration OF the same On the 2th the ten days having
expired, i waited upon the chairman OF the COM
mittee and informed him that unless the bill was
Immediately reported the committee would be at
once discharged from the further consideration
thereof t...-.H ..
The chairman replied that he would without delay
convene the committee, which was done on the fol-
seventeen members composing 1t, which / did, and
majority Of the committee ordered the bill reported
Committees were in order on the Following Gonday W
the 2Sth. The secretary, dsobeyng the Instructions
OF the committee, kept the bill in his desk instead
after to know why he had GSI failed In in his his
duty, said that the committee desired
10 ascertain Which members Of SA the commtse @ ans
desired meeting for such purpose, and found they
were those members only who were In the minority
and had opposed the bill in the first instance. How
ever, the committee again met aud again ordered
Jne Dill 1aVOraDly reported, Wnlcn occurred on the
I'd OF April, having been In their hands for nineteen
days; and then, as t werc forced from their hands
only five days before the adjournment.
AS the last public calendar" day had passed. this
being public BILL 1t could be brought before the
House only by two-thrds vote, which the friends
action had upon 1t. Had this hill been reached it
would have passed both houses by clear and deci-
sive majority. AS my personal acquaintance ex-
tended TO every member Of either house, know
precisely what say when state that there would
have been flfy-eight votes for the bill In the House.
IL he tful laa
well. In the Senate there would have been nine
teen votes for the bill and fourteen against IL,
placing the doubtful amongst them
or the delegation frem Philadelphia including
Senators and Representatives, there were sixteen
for the bill and but six against 1t. Thus was the
will OF the people defeated by the factious opposi-
tion of one or more members OF the Judiciary Com
mlttee .... .- =
| WHad the bill passed the Legislature, have the
best of reasons for believing that would have been
| tility to any change in the present law was well
known to nearly every member, and this knowledge
| did not aid our cause.
| The delay In the good work is but temporary The
public agitation will be resumed in the early autumn,
and unconditional repean will be the raying cry
be found ready TO complete the work which was
only delayed by mere trick Of the opponents Of the
measure .... I|4. .I - ..- ..... .
bill totally abolishing the penalty Of death will
be introduced during the first days Of the next
sion OF the Legislature. .4H n.
/ take this opportunity Of making my public
Acknowledgements to the Philadelphia city press for
the personal courtesies extended me for the past
four months, and to the committees OF ladies and
friends who have labored so zealousy I'm the good
| work may say, "You have your own reward"
.. .. I'D. MARVIN II. BOvEE.
Philadelphia. April II, 1870. l'.-i