The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-02-23
LEGISLATURE.

By MT. BuckaleW, dcU dDOll5nlnE tne
Northern district of the Supreme Court.
BY Mr.. Deehert, act extending the
of persons to be witnessC
in certain criminal cases, as follows:
An act to extend the competency of PER.
sons to be witnesses in certain crimi-
nal cases.
SECTION l. BE enacted, etc., That in
the trial of any Indictment, complaint or
other proceeding against any persons or
persons charged with the commission of
crimes or otfensos, any persons so charg-
ed shall lat his or her own request,and not
otherwise, be deemed competent wit
ness; the credit to be given to sarh testi-
mony being lefC solely to the jury, un-
der the instruction of the court: Pro.
pided, That this act shall not extend to |
the trial of any person or persons on an |
indictment charging capital offence.
The remainder of the session was
occupied in the discussion of the Gray |
Mcclure case.
In the House motion to adjourn
from the 18th to the 9th of Feb. on
account of the unhealthiness of Har-
risburg was not agreed to.
A number of bills were introduced,
including one.
BY Mr.. Gatchell, to regulate and
classify borough and school taxes on
real estate in boroughs.
BY Mr.. Rogers, of M'KeaD, to regu-
late the sale of proprietary medicines
and remedies made from any secret
recipe or formula.
BY Mr.. Stock, relative to the invest
ment Of trust funds.
The senate bill relative to a change in
the law governing contested elections
came up on third reading. Before the
final reading, a motion was made to
adjourn, which was not agreed to, the
democratic side voting for and the re.
publican side against the motion.
The bill as amended finally passed on
a call of the yeas and nays.
In the Senate on Thursday of last
week after the introduction of mum
Der of bills, the Gray Mcclure case was
taken up and discussed at length.
In the House, on motion of Mr.. Meek
y
were ordered to be printed for the use
of the house.
Senate bill No. /, entitled a supple
ment to an act relative to changes of
venue, was passed, as follows:
SECTION /. BE Ic enacted etc., That all
the expenses incurred in the trial ofany
suits by the county to which they may
be removed under the provisions ofthe
act entitled an act relative to the change
of venue, approved April twenty.
eighth, Ammo Domini one thousand
eight nundred and seventy, shall be
paid hy the county from which such
suits have been removed.
CHARTERS OF INCORPORATION
Senate bill No. 36, entitled an act to
enlarge the jurisdiction of the courts of
common pleas of the commonwealth re-
lative to granting charters of incorpora-
tion, was amended and passed.
House bill No. 10, entitled an act re-
lative to appeals from the judgments of
justices of the peace passed as follows ;
SECTION /. That before any appeal
shall hereafter be taken from the judg.
ment of a justice of the peace. the party
appellant, his agent or attorney, shall
make oath or affirmation before the
justice that it is not for the purpose
of delay such appeal is entered, but be-
cause he firmly believes injustice has
been done, and that the justice shall
enter said oath or affirmation upon his
docket.
SEC. 2. That upon appeal from the
judgment of justice of the peace, the
: party appellant, his agent or attorney
shall pay all costs that may have accru
ed in such suit or action.
Provided, That whenever the appel
liant makes an affidavit that he is una
BILE to pay the costs, he shall be allowed
to appeal without paying costs: Pro
, cided further, That the provisions Of
e this act shall not apply TO the city o
t Philadelphia.
In the Senate on Friday last, the bill
1 abolishing the Northern District of the
t supreme court was reported negative
: ly. On motion Of Mr.. Buckalew tn,
a House was requested to return for fur
J. ther action the Senate bill extending
C the time for drawing Committee il
. the Gray Mcclure case.
'. The Speaker appointed Mes5rs. Bucka
!, lew (Dem.) and White and Strans
4 (Rep.) as committee to confer with tn,
\ House Committee and adjust the differ
n ence between Senate and House OF
d the Mcclure Gray bills.
l. Nothing of interest was done in tn
It House.
i In the Senate on Monday, the follow
8 ing bills were introduced.
. Mr.. COLLINS, preventing the sale 0
q deadly weapons in Luzerne county
e also, compelling corporations to pa.
d wages in lawful money, and prevent
e ing the keeping of corporation stores.
= In the House the bill, calling Con
y vention to revise the Constitution, wa
o considered and discussed.
l. Mr.. WHITE moved to amend so as {
o elect delegates on the cumulative plan
d so as to give minority representation
o Lost.
Among other amendments was on
offered by Mr.. GATCHELL, of Lancas
n ter, allowing woman to be delegates t.
T. the Convention. Lost--3l yeas, to 3
70 nays. No definite action was taken.
In the Senate on Tuesday, Mr.. Bucka
= lew reported from the conference com
y mittee on the Mcclure Gray contest
the fact that the committees of bott
N Houses had compromised on his (Mr
y Buckalew's) bill, sent the committee o,
= Friday last. The report was unani
mously adopted.
j. In the House, Mr.. Hewitt chairman @
Il the Committee on Ways and Means
reported the General Appropriation bill
. which was ordered to be immediate
i" printed. This is the earliest date 6
- which this bill has been prepared for 6
| least thirty wears