The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-24
THE STATE CAPITOL.
HARRISBURG, March 81, 1876.

HARRISBURG, Marcn Il, 1910
The bitumnous coal mine ventilation bill
having been disposed of after running the
gauntlet of House opposition and amend
ment during the earlier part of last week, AN
other bone of contention succeeded it in the
shape of the new county bill, introduced by
Mr.. Plummer, of Crawford county. In days
gone by bills for the establishment of new
counties were in no pleasant odor with the
people, and lest unpleasant recollections still
linger in their minds, Representatives are a
little chary about meddling with bills of this
character for fear they may prove veritable
"edged tools" to cut their fingers. Although
the measure az present pending, unlike some
of former years of which mention might be
made, has not for its object the aggrandize-
ment of some particular individual, yet IL
is meeting with most determined opposition.
Those opposed to it claiming that if the bill
becomes law it will be prolific of evils Of
which, if we believe current reports, the
possible division of half the counties OF the
State is the least to be feared. All that is
required for the formation of new county
by this bill is to have a petition signed by
800 citizens an area of 400 square miles
without having the boundary lines within
10 miles of any county seat a population
of 20, 600 within the area of the proposed
county and two-thirds of the vote within the
same. The whole of last Thursday was ex-
pended in the discussion of this bill and its
passage is bcset with many difficulties.
The session of Monday night was charac-
terized by legislative action of startling?l
character. Last Monday was rendered mem
orable by the introduction of a measure
which, if successful, will tear up, root and
branch, noted corporation. A movement
Of last night, made by Mr.. Christy, of Ale
gheny. may be looked upon as rather more
startling.
A fight between western dealers and the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company has long
been upon the tapis. A variety of means
have been attempted to bring the refractory
corporation to terms and prevent them from
making determinations in the carrying OF
freight, but without success. 1t was at last
determined to try the Legislature and see
what could be done in that direction. Yes
terday evening, when petitions were in or
der, Mr. Christy, of Allegheny, presented
and had read a petition signed by a large
representation Of the above mentioned deal
ers. The petition, after setting forth the
various violations of charter and wrongs com
mitted by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, closed with request to the Legisl Ia
ture to appoint committee of investigation
to inquire into the various wrongs alleged,
| and if said committee find the same to be
true that the Legislature direct the Attorney
General to proceed by quo ,carrents to forfeit
the charter of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, claiming that the inalienable
rights of the people and the Constitution
shall be declared paramount to the charter
of any corporation whatever. After the read
ing of this petition the intention of Mr.
Christy to read in place a joint resolution
appointing committee of investigation fol
the purposes named in the petition was very
manifest. So whenever Mr.. Christy endea
yored to get the floor objections were raised
and an adjournment was effected before the
resolution could be read in place. Thii
morning Mr.. Christy again attempted to &c
in the resolution, but the motion to do s.
was tabled on call of the yeas and nays
The general appropriation committee hat
under consideration for some time the bill
making an appropriation to the Colored Sol
diers' Orphans School at Bridgewater, Buck
county, and finally negatved the same o.
the grounds that by the bill an appropria
preparation of $40 more to every colored sol
diers orphan was asked than was given
white soldiers orphans. Last night certai
members of the House under the spokesman
ship of Petroff, of Philadelphia, dissatisfie
with the action of the committee forced tn
bill from their hands and had it placed upo
the calendar, where it will probably NEE
with rather more summary defeat than
did in committee. A Democratic House {
Representatives is not likely to give to tn
orphans of colored soldiers $40 head NOR
than they do to those of white soldiers.
Both Houses have adjourned over to-mol
row on account of the Democratic State Coz
vention to be held in Lancaster upon whic
a large majority of the members will be i
attendance. Next week like adjournmeI
will take place for the Republican Stat
Convention. b.
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