The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-09
Legislature.

I Ihe senate was called to order at p. nj.
on Tuesday last by Speaker Brodhead.
The secretary of the commonwealth present
ed the returns of the recent election.
| The roll of the Senate was called SO Sen
ators being present. The speaker gave
notice that proof having been received of
the death of Senator Connell, he had issued
writ for an election to fill the vacancy
Adjourned. The Senate was called to Or
der again at II A. M. ON Wednesday. Six
ballots were had for speaker the vote each
time being 10 for Rutan and 10 for Brod-
head after which the Senate adjourned
The Senate met again on Thursday,
when another ballot with the same result
was had for speaker. After an adjourn
ment for halfan hour the eighth b allot
was taken resulting in the election of Mr.
Rutan the vote being Rutan II Broadhead
To- On assuming the chair the newly cleo
ted speaker returned his thanks in "a speech
which cannot fail to commend itselfto every
person. The following quotation is worth
reading.
"Important duties are to be performed
during the session now opening, the first of
which is to provide for the election of dele
gates to convention to amend the State
Constitution, in obedience to the over
whelming voice of the people expressed at
the ballot box. Many reforms are demand
ed, such as prohibiting legal legislation,
improvement of our judiciary system, and
regulating representation, that can only be
secured by an amended Constitution.
There should be no delay in passing bill
| calling this convention
| The division of the State into Congress
sional districts in another important dues-
tion to be disposed Of Our duty to appor
tion the State is imperative, and i'm dis
charging it trust all will be actuated by
aspirt of fairness and a determination to do
what is just and right, rather than by de-
sire to advance party interest. The policy
controlling such legislation should be to Sc
cure fair representation of the people in
| Congress.
Unnatural combinations simply fUr polit-
ical purposes should not be tolerated, and no
party making them will be permanently
benefited. The masses of the people of
all parties are honest, and will not endorse
unfairness and wrong even for political pur-
| poses.
| We should all be actuated with a desire
to secure prompt dispatch of the neces-
sary legislation, and of that only which is
necessary, and an early adjournment in
view of the approaching constitutional con-
vention and our quadrennal political strug-
| gle.
| Let us commence the work of reform,
and make this session a model one for
brevity, economy and wise legislation.
We are admonished that the people mean
the reform of all abuses, and let us earnest
ly begin the work"
Should the Senate be guided by the above
advice it would be happy session for the
State. ...
Considerable time was spent in an inef-
fectual attempt to elect clerk. A short
session was held on Friday but no business
of importance was done and the session adj
iourned until Tuesday. -
.HisI THE HOUSE ,a.a
was called to order by the clerk of the for
mer session at noon on Tuesday, The
election returns were duly presented and
the House proceeded to organize by the
election of its officers.
On the first ballot VIM. Elliot Of Phila,
was elected he having received OF votes to
81 cast for Adam Woolever of Lehigh.
Other officers were elected as follows
On the first ballot Gen. James l.. Self
ridge was elected Chief Clerk, Capt. Hugh
Morrison, Assistant Clerk and John A.
Smull Resident Clerk. Their opponents
were, I. Sprole Leisenring for Chief Clerk,
IL Ace MT 4 m
Alexander Resident Clerk. The vote was
strictly party, except for resident clerk,
John A. Smull receiving just half the Dem
ocratic vote.
The Senate not being organized the
Governors message was presented TO tho
House, read and properly referred. After
sessions on Wednesday and Thursday at
which little was done tho House adjourned
until Tuesday ~