The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-02-02
THE STATE CAPITAL,
HARRIsBuRG, Jan. 29th, 1876.

HARRISBURG, Jan. 29ib, 1876.
The work. OF the House of Repre-
sentatives during the past week has
been confined to the passage of two
bills on third reading, the considera-
ton Of a score or more on first read
ing, and of q much smaller number
on second reading. The annual
fight for the appropriation of money
to supply the members with Purdon's
Digest, with all its coacomitant bun
combe reform speeches, was again
entered into, and although the bill
for their purchase vas negatived on
third reading, the penchat of the
members for reading matter in the
shape of digested laws, or maybe
their appreciation of the market val
ue of the work is SO strong, that the
measure has again been placed upon
the calendar by a vote Of reconsider
alton moved by a chance statesman
and lover of legal love, from Phila-
delphia.
A like action was also taken upon
the bill increasing the compensation
of arbitrators chosen under the COM
pulsory arbitration laws of the State,
from one TO two dollars a day. Once
defeated, this bill has again been
placed in position 70 another attempt
at passage, aud as the reseem to be q
strong under current in its favor it
may likely become a law.
As usual there is quite III amount
of pasquinading in the House. A
great deal of it is a useless waste of
time. Among it We note the follow
ing offered by a representative from
Schuylkill by the name Of Lorch,
who felt himself aggrieved by the
late action Of certain members of
Congress on the Centennial bill.
Wher0s, Messrs. Cochran and 9th
er Congressman, have in the diseus-
sion of the pending appropriation
bill for the Centennial announced
their opposition to the same,
Resoiped, That in view of tie high
ability, the latent patriotism, the ec-
static economy that has dntmated
their heightened corporal masses that
the thanks Of the grand old Com
monwealth Of Penna. be extended to
them.
ResOired, That in their opposition to
the encroachments OF unjust aud bur-
densome taxation we feel they
have proven that they possess the
germ of first class craftsmanship, and
it is fitting that this body should
express their substantial appreciation
of their merits.
Therefore be IL RESOLVED, That the
Secretary of the Commonwealth be
authorized to purchase a tin whistle
for their W especial use; also o
leather medal in commentator of
the one hundreth anniversary Of our
American independence.
This attempted wiiticism Of Lorch's
met with very little favor from either
side Of the House, and was with
drawn. The withdrawal, however,
not appearing upon the Legislature
Record with the resolution, Mr.. En-
beck, of Franklin, a day or so after
demanded that it should so appear,
and the Speaker accordingly ordered
the same to be placed upon tue Re
cord.
The Finance bill, as it passed the
House, has not met with much IA
vor in the Senate. it has passed a
second reading there, but the sections
requiring the State Treasurer to
make monthly statements and to in
vest the unexpended balances of the
Sinking Fund, were stricken out
The bill in its present shape provides
for a diversion of two-thirds of the
monies in the Sinking Fund into the
general revenue fund. 1t is likely
the House will insist on the adoption
of the sections stricken oui and the
matter will be settled by a commit
tee of conference, if at all.
The fight against Attorney Gener-
al Lear is still IN statu quo. The
Governor seems to be standing by
him, while his opponents are weak
ening. A new element in Mr.. Lear's
favor is limited at. The President of
the Union City Passenger Railway
Of Philadelphia was in town this
week, and it is said that the corpora
ton which he represents is backing
The Attorney General.
An important supplement to the
conspiracy act of 1872 is command
ing much attention at present in the
Senate. Its object is to define Just
what acts of combined working men
come within the meaning of the
word conspiracy. The Clear6eld
courts have lately held that any COM
ing together of worklngmen and their
persuading others to join them for
the purpose o resisting thei. employ
ers is within the meaning of the act.
This supplement requires an overt
act to be committed. The supple
ment has been modified by amend
ments which almost nullify its pro-
visions, and at present it is uncertain
whether it will pass at all.
Senator Yerkes sometime ago in
troduced a bill for the suppression Of
vagrancy, which was referred to a
special con mittee for consideration.
This committee consulted with the
convention of Poor Directors lately
held at Altoona, and the result of
their deliberations is a bill now pend
ing before the Senate, and will likely
pass. 1t defines vagrancy the same
as the law of 1886. 1t makes it the
duty of officers 10 sentence Migrants
to labor in warehouses, on the high
ways or streets for not less than 80
days; declares all alms-houscs to be
work houses; plnishes officers for re-
fusing to arrest and regulates their
fees. +.