Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-04-29
Leifcr from HARRISBURG.

letter from Harrisburg.
IIARnHRuRs. April 2s, 1874.
Mn. Error: few days ago It was tho gener-
al topic of conversation here that the Senate Of
Pennsylvania, contrary to the letter OF the new
Constitution, confirmed the nomination of John
II. 0rvis, member'of the House, to be Judge 10
the twenty-6lth district. Senator Ernantrout, Of
Derks, protested against this confirmation by the
Senate, as being contrary TO the law, and that
Democratic Senators in voting for it would he
obliged to vote for all other appointments for
judges nominated by the Governor. That, rs the
Republicans were in the majority In the Legisa-
turc, and in view Of the fact that the apportion-
ment bill which was before the Legislature, was
grossly unjust and unfair to the Democrats, no
Democratic Senator (because it requires two-thirds
Of the Senate to confirm an appointment) should
vote to confirm these appointments without the
Republicans should first pass just apportion-
nent bill. In this position Mr.. Ermantrout stood
alone, Notwithstanding the fact that he was ur.
gently solicited by Democratic Senators to make
the nomination Of Mr.. 0ryis unanimous. When,
day or two ago, the balance OF the judicial ap.
pointments came to be acted upon by the Senate.
the Democratic Senators receded from their pasi.
tion Of last week, and came TO Mr. Rrmantrouts
standard. Now, we should have an apportion.
ment bill fair to all parties and II the Republican
majority Is unwilling to eoncede; the Democrats
should not abandon their constitutional rights,
but strictly adhere TO them, that simple justice
may be done TO the people OF Pennsylvania. As
the case now stands, the advice and reasoning Of
Senator Ermantreut was right, and many think
his action in this ease emlncntly fits him for aud
places him in the position Of leader Of the Demo
Gratis in the Senate. Mr. Ermantrout is undoub,-
edly entitled to credit for his action In the above
case, but to make him out the leader Of the De-
ma in he nd okah H.. "A.
perior in his knowledge Of legislation 20 that
veteran Democratic leader, w. A. Wallace, is not
to be considered for single moment. Just here
/ extract from letter written for the Philadcl-
phia Di,pafch by a Harrisburg correspondent; I;
''Ihis Senator Wallace Is a curious compound of
statesman and civilian. You may not believe H.
but he works as hard for the State as IL she was
bis client Rather novel idea this, in these
days. Imagine the labor Of prepariog two bills
--onc being complete system OF organizing and
governing all sorts Of private corporations, from
those which manufacture shoe pegs 10 those which
build telegraph, aud the other a complete elasid-
cation OF all the cities Of the State, with deGni
tion Of the municipal duties Of their people
councils and officers. The FIRST bill covers hfty
long printed pages, and the last one forty pages.
Any man who Is equal to this sort Of thing--and
that, too, without extra oompensaton--ong to
command big premium, in a business and legal
point Of yiew, outside the game OF politics"
House bill No. 23 being on second reading in
the Senate, II being an act to regulate the taxa
ton Of corporations, and Mr.. Rutan having offered
an amendment to the fourth section, providing
that every railroad etc, shall be subject to tax
Of nine-ienths Of one mill upon its capital stock
for each one per cent. dividend made or declared
by such company, Mr.. Payford remarked that be
did not sec the necessity Of increasing the reve-
nuc OF the State in the manner provided by the
bill, II the statements Of the financial officers and
the Governor Of the State, made last yenr >rcpre-
sent the true condition OF Affairs. Taking their
figures, there would be enough inouey In the
Treasury to meet the current expenses Of 1874 and
leave n balance Of about $4,000 to apply to ex.
tinguishment of the State debt. Mr.. kutan also
offered an amendment imposing tax on the
franchise Of corporations OF three cents per ton
on each ton of coal mined by them. Mr. Wallace
thought corporations engaged in mining bitumin-
Gus coal should not be taxed as contemplated In
the bill. lie represented constituency largely
represented in tho business, and he was unwill-
ing that the oncrous burden should be placed on
them. lie offered an amendment to that Of Ru-
tan's making the tax apply only 10 anthracite
coal. lie believed the bill was unconstitutional
tax was put on corporations mining coal while
individuals In the business were untouched. IL
IL unjust onerous and illegal. Mr.. Wallace's
amendment was not carried, Rutan's was aud the
bill was passed to third reading.
The appointment of the following, among 9TH
ers, as Notarics Public, were conhrmed John W.
Wrigley and Cyrus Gordon, both Of Cleardcld.
The following bill has been introduced in the
Senate;
BE il enacted, &c., That the proper authorities
Of any county, city, town or township, OF this
State, respectively be and they arc hereby author
izcd to enter into contracts with any Of the rail
road companies whose roads enter their limits
respectively, whereby the said railroad companies
may relocate, change or elevate their railroad.
within said limits or either Of them, In such q
manner as In the Judgment Of such authorities
respectively, may be best adapted to secure the
safety Of lives and property and promote tho In.
tcrcst Of said county, city, town or township, aud
for that purpose the said authorities shall hav,
power to do such acts as may be necessary and
proper to efcctually carry out such Contracts and
any such contracts made by any railroad company
or companies as aforesaid with such authorities
or either Of them, are hereby fully ratified and
confirmed.
The Speaker Of the Senate signed the following
bills, which bad passed both Houses, Relating
to the privilege and distributing the New Consti
tion Of this State; to provide for the submission
Of civil cases to court and dispense with the tria
by jury.
Mr. waream introduced supplement to an
Act, allowing parties In interest to be witnesses
approved April 18th, 1869, providing that nj
party TO any civil proceeding shall be witness
| in action by or against committees Of lunatics,cx
cept in certain cases.
In the Senate, on leave given, the following
was read in place by Mr. Davis; Joint resolution
directing the Attorney General to prosecute Ger.
tain banks and bankers in this Commonwealth
WnsnrAs. The General Assembly Of Ponnsylva
MIA has just appropriated sixteen hundred dollars
for the purpose OF paying expenses Of the llous'
Committee for investigating the attempted bribery
Of the Legislature, on the part Of certain bank
and bankers Of this State; and phereas, That In.
yostigation clearly demonstrated that certain larg,
and influential banks and banking institutions O
the city Of philadelphia, and other parts Of thii
Commonwealth, did send checks with the avowct
and express purpose of bribing the Legislature
therefore,
Be Il resoircd By The Senate and House qf Penn
syirania ~ General Assembfy met, That tho A.
tornoy General be and Is hereby directed 10 pro
ccod immediately against all said brokers ant
banking institutions thus implicated.
The following bills passed the Senate finally
One allowing the homestead Of the value Of al,
hundred dollars aud certain personal property fo
tSc use Of the family to be exempt from levy ant
salc, and one to provide for geological survey o
tho State.
In the House, on the 22d inst, 10 the bill dcsig
mated An Act to permit the voters OF this Stat
10 vote every three years on the question Of grant
ing license 10 sell intoxicating liquors, amend
ments were offered but mono passed. The bill
was laid over for tho present.
Yours, truly, y. L. n.