New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-15
TIE STATE LEGISLATURE.


EFFECT OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION ON rHE cHARAc-
TER OF lis wORK-How THE CUTTING OFF OF
SPECIAL LEGISLATION HAS DECREASED CoRRUP-
TION-sMAIL NUMBER OF LAWS PASSED. SHORT
SESSION.
FROM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE 'rRrBUSE
HARRISBURG, Penn, March 12.-Newspaper
readers have seen very little this Winter IaDOu the do
ings Of the Pennsy Legislature. The truth L. not
much has been done worth printing. 1t has been
noisy fussy session. with trng results to show for all
the talk and worry. Remembering the old adage thai
the world is governed too, much" tho people OF the
State will not presume feel badly because the volume
OF statutes turned out by their legislators this year
promises to be unusually thin They should not feel
themselves bound, however to thank these rep
reseptayes for tho reform OF Dtte legislation
II the new Constitution had put tho brakes upon
law there telling how many brand new laws
the $50 men who been work since the LIST Jan
ary In the old red brick State House. with the dumping
dome might have produced. so hampered by consuu-
ona restrictions IL the Legislature nov that more thau
three fourths Of work laid out in tho two Houses VIII
fail OF accomplishment. There ID no more rsilroadins
Of bills through as the old times Every Dill must Dc
read on different days each House. 50 that If the high
cat possible speed attained it takes six days TO make
tho simplest enactment. Every proposed amend
meDt though it be but the smallest scrap,
must TO printed and laid upon tho desks OF memuer'
before It can be voted upon. But more Important
than these to hasty and needless work are
the constitutional requirements prohibiting all special
lecisIation Al one stroke tho Constitution destroyed
the most fruitful Of corruption connected with
the State Government and cut OF over onehaf OF the
ordinary work OF the Legislature. Old members return
ing this sesson wore astOnshcd to find how many things
once order could no longer be DONE ana inc oDoy'
for vears the most successful and corrupt which in
fesod any State capital except Albany ound lIS occu
patton almost entirely gone The only way TO accom-
ln-
stance q city wants authority to contract
debt 10 build water works it eau got 1t only by gem
law giving the privilege to all cities ofis Class
II railroad company seeks legislation for some partcu-
lar PURPOSE It obtain 1t only under law
appcabe alike 10 ali tho railroads in the State Many
attempts have made to accomplish special results
for cities counties corporations ana individuals in the
only way now possible namely, By general laws, but In
most cases such arouse the anagoniSm OF con-
G,ctnc interests and defeated In this way we are
saved fro OF Laws, general in character but de-
.igned for local or private cnds
TIE ABILITY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The increased membership OF both houses has proved
IN additional hinderaDce TO legislation The Senate IS
now 90 strong but the addition Of noarly score OF
members here has made much difference. the body
keeping ahead OF the House all the time IN its work II
il IN The House with It's go members that tho wheels
arc ofn cogged by the number OF men anxious 10 turn
Them Crowded into room entirely TOO sualt LOT s
PURPOSES with Speaker inexperienced ana hcsIng 10
the tact force and vcrVe ehsentli 10 aRoou Preihs
officer and with OF members new to their duties
aud stupid to learn them this body mas Numbered
along IN dp confusion Nearly all the experience aud
skill are on the EepuOlcan sue anu tnoSe
possessing them have employed ther ttlenh III Worrying
The sneaker confounding the Democratic party and min
dorng generally They have Dadgered and bul
ned their opponents much that when they Try 10
GOOD :atl 10 get House out OF snar ana hep some
measure along their efforts are misunderstood anu re-
si.ed purpose Of the trainers OF tue COnstltu'
tion in doubling the bershp OF the use was to
prevent @ as nuon nwpodv and IN
effective | suppose, however that che chief OBJECT
suueht virtue IN legislation DIV max
lug the legislators so numerous that W0hlu co5t
ore deal OF money corrupt majority OK them Tnls
would seem al unnecessary precautlon after taking
away ulnetentns OF the temptations ana opportunities
for corruption IS was done when lho SECTION pr"no!.
ing specia legislation put IN tue CONSTITUTIONS Bnt,
men there was harm III taking double preeautoL
QaIust the continuance OF tho corruption that had
rcigned al Harrisburg for generation.
PROMINENT MEASURES BROACHED.
The holly OF the session have been
the New Counties bill, the Oh Pipe BILL the Local
Ootion Repeal Dill and the Boom bill Up this time
the fate OF none Of them has been decided. The FIRST
named is designed to divide Luzerns County,
TO make new county called Minnequa out of portions
Of Lycomiug, Bradford, aud Toga, and ~ revive the
scat Of "A new county 10 De taken from Warren,
Crawford, and Venango Soma money Is said
TO have been spent IN lobbying TINS Dill
through the House; The on Pipe oiil has been
spondence. While authorizing the laying OF pipelines
tnroux the Sate its particular purpose Is To enable
The Columbia Conduit Company To carry It's pipe across
The Pennsy Sana RIr0sd and reach PittsDurgh, SO
10 convey crude oil from the Butler Wells to that city
Pittsburgh supports It, and Philadolpha, fearing the oil
will be diverted 10 Baltimore, opposes II pertnaciousiy
tolls paid collected ny the
busQuehauna Ut WiiIiansp0rt. or course the Boom