The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-02-09
HARRIsBURG, Feb. lib. lS16.

HARRISBURG, req. tn, 1910.
We LETT the finance bill last week
in the midst of Senate manipulations.
The bill as it went to the Senate was
considered by the House to be in just
the proper shape. In the view of
their most erudlte expositors of po-
%litical economy, it not only met all
the exigencies of the Treasury, but
threw such safeguards around the
State Treasurer that it would be i'm
possible for him to turn q penny"
TO the detriment Of the Common
wealth. The Senate however TAX
ing widely different views upon the
subject first amended the bill in sew
eral material respects, refused to in
sert a further safeguard proposed
by Auditor General Temple, but to
cap the climax, on Monday last in
one of those "ticklishn night sessions
when the attendance of Senators
was rather attenuated-that body de-
feated the bill entirely on its third
reading and final passage, much to the
disgust of certain needy Legislators
upon whom began to dawn the dread
apprehension that their present legis.
lative work would certainly be only a
guiddGm hoROrdrium and that there
would be no return for it in the shape
of dollars. The Senate however had
no intention of allowing the bill TO
thus go by The board. On Thursday
a reconsideration was moved; the bill
amended so as to provide for a quar-
terly investment of the sinking fund
surplus in State bonds and in this
shape passed and was messaged back
TO the House, which body on Friday
refused to concur in the Senate
amendments, but appointed a CON-
mittee of conference to confer with a
similar committee of the Senate. By
these committees the differences be-
tween the two houses will be adjusted
possibly i'll such a manner as will
prove satisfactory to both parties.
From present appearances the major.
ity in the House is weakening aud
giving way to the superior skill of the
minority in the practice of parliamen-
tary tactics.
From the rural districts of Greene
~county-trom the cery rural districts
Judging from appearances-comes a
Democratic representative, Wise, by
name. If any similarity exists be-
tween the name and the actions OF
the man, | have9as yet failed to note
it. The chief glory of this represen-
tatiye is the originating and nurtur-
ing Of two buncombe bills cutting
down all the salaries now paid to
Legislators and officers and clerks on
the hill. One of these bills has been
reached upon the calendar in the
House, and was then so amended
that no vitality remains in it. Its
buncombe character; was fully shown
up as well as the motives of the gen.
teman from Greene. When reached,
his o'ber bill will probably meet with
the same fate.
Some weeks ago on motion of Mr..
Plummer of Crawford county a com.
mittee Q. investigation into the af.
fairs Of the Western Reform School
at Pittsburgh was appointed. This
committee at onc repaired 10 Pitts.
bureh and entered upon the discharge
of their duties, summoning before
them the officers and inmates of the
school. The developments being
made are simply nothing. The ac-
counts of the outrages ~perpetrated
upon the inmates are shocking aud un-
less a different phase of affairs is pre
scented, the Reform School will not
have the shadow of a chance of an
appropriation from the Legislature
this year.
Serious charges against those hay-
ing control of the House of Refuge
in Philadelphia were also laid before
the Legislature on Friday, and q
committee of investigation appointed.
For the past two weeks petitions
from all parts OF the State have been
pouring in upon the Legislature, ask
ing that it request Congress to aid 10
toe construction of the Texas Pacific
Railroad. These petitions being TAX
en- as an indication of the popular
ieeiing in regard to this enterprise, q
resolution concurrent 10 character,
was adopted by the House, instruct
ing our Senators and requesting our