The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-04-07
THE STATE CAPITOL.
HARRISBURG, April 4th, 1876

HARRISBURG, April 4th, 1876.
The attempt made by the minority in the
House on Thursday last to force the passage
of the general appropriation bill in the teeth
of the protest of the ma ority, and the sub
sequent action Of the Senate in clearing up
their calendars, and adjournng over for
two days with the intmation that they
would not in future consider any but appIo-
priation bills coming from the House, has
been talked of very considerably, some MEM
bers taking the view that it will eliminate
in deadlock between the two Houses. 1t
seems to be very evident from late events
that the House will not at present fix any
date 70. final adjournment though extra
daily sessions will without much doubt be
inaugurated during the present week 1t is
the disposition of the minority to fix day
for final adjournment at once, which action
would necessarily endanger, perhaps entire
ly defeat all the work upon the House cal
endars at present which has not been sent
to the Senate. The majority OF the House
claim that the Senate has no right to die
tate what the time of adj jOurnment shall be.
That the adjournment should be made to
conform to the work and not the work to
the adjournment. Notwithstanding the threat
of the Senate to consider no more house bills
the House has been pursuing the even ten
or of legislation, passing number Of bills
on 2rd and 3rd reading. The appropriation
bills remaining in Stdtu quo.
Last night repeated attempt were made
by the democrats in the House to fix sessions
for Friday and Saturday but every attempt
was frustrated. A caucus of House demo-
Gratis is in session tonight and it is expected
that plan of action as TO the issue between
the House and Senate and as to the pro-
gress of business will be adopted. The Sem
ate majority holds caucus tomorrow.
The House to day progressed very rapidly
with work, Notwithstanding many important
bills were up for consideration. The interest
OF the House was principally excited during
the morning session by the new county bill
which was upon third reading Mr.. Pc
ter Herdics manipulations of this bill have
become so notorious that when his finger
marks were noticed upon the bill this morn,
ing it stirred up quite Il breeze. Just before
the original new county bill was reached
upon the calendar, Mr.. Gunster a most wor-
thy member from Luzerne County especial
ly interested in the passage of bill Of this
ch aracter which will suit his county, rose to
a question of privilege and called attention
to a printed copy Of a bill entitled "an
act for the establishment of new coun-
ties' bearing an imprint as follows "As
proposed to be amended by Mr.. Gunster."
Mr. Gunster disciaimod all knowledge of
the bill and stated tnat his name appeared
upon it without any authority and demand
ed TO know whence the printed copy had
emanated. Upon inquiry it was discovered
that the copies had been received from Mr..
w. c. Plummer of Crawford county by a
page for distribution. This caused quite a
sensation in the House and Mr.. Plummer
rose and in explanation stated that the bills
had been sent to him by Mr.. Peter Herdic
and that he had distributed them out of
courtesy and not cut of any sinister
motive for he was in favor of the original
bill and not Of the proposed amendment.
After some discuss ion during which Plum
mer acknowledged he had been sold the whole
matter was dropped, and the original new
county bill taken up for consideration and
finally passed in such shape as to render
its application to any other county than
Luzerne impossible.
Peter of Minncqua, was most woiully de-
feated in this matter as he was again this
afternoon when his bete noir the boom bill
cutting down his rate Of toll from $l.25 to
81 90 passed the Legislature finally by
ote of 1903 to 46. Unless Peter circum-
vents the Governor he isgone.
Among the other bills which passed the
House finally this morning were the public
printing bill an act cutting down the rate
of fare on Philadelphia Street cars to five
cents per fare, instead off cents the present
rate.
The Senate is in session tonight and Mr.,
Rogers Wisconsin clergyman is holding
forth in the Hall ofthe House in the in ter
ests of bill (already defeated in the Senate)
exemptng from the penalties ofthe Sabbath
law, those who observe the seventh day OF
the week as the Sabbath. Is.