The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-03-16
OUR HARRISBURG LETTER.
HARRrsBuRo, March, l4th 1877.

The great sensation Of the week in Har-
risburg is the resignation Of United States
Senator Cameron and the rush of the party
leaders TO the capital to smooth the way for
Don to step into his fathers shoes. As events
have proved there was no occasion for the
slightest anxiety in regard to Cameron yfls.
The opposition to his nomination was so
feeble and lacked organized effort to such
degree that practically there was no opposi-
ton at all.--Three or four republican MEM
bes of the legislature did not attend the
caucus and in the caucus but one vote was
recorded against the late Secretary of War.
Mr.. Chaplin Of Erie who cast the solitary
vote afterwards moved to make the Hon. j.
| Donald Caperon's nomination unanimous,
and 1t was done. The caucus was held yes
terday afternoon at one o'clock and was over
in about a half an hour. A committee was
appointed to inform the Hon. Don of his
nomination and the spokesman of the COM
mittee, the Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, who
will be candidate for the republican uomi-
nation for Governor, conveyed the nforma.
ton in neat aud appropriate speech. The
prospective Senator replied in kind, pledg-
ing himself to hearty and earnest support
of the administration of President Hayes
and watchful care over the manufacturing
and industrial interests of his native state.
The Senate and House will assemble in joint
convention on Wednesday the 2lst inst,
when unless a physical or political earth
quake should occur on or before that time j.
Donald Cameron will be elected to fill the
unex pired term of his father in the United
States Senate.
Tue political cauldron begins to seethe
and gen eDtlemen are beginning to be urged by
their friends to come out for this that and
the other ottice. Candidates for Governor,
Auditor General and State Treasurer ART
numerous. Some are old customers whose
claims are long ago worn thread-bare and
and some are 50 fresh aud so free from any
unpleasant antecedents rs to be almost IL
known. As buth parties are 80 anxious for
reform the many old party hack. who turn
up At every nominating convention will
probably be thrown aside and younger and
better class of men, not known as trained
politicians, will come to the front. This
may be brought about by more honorable
element being infused in the nominating
conventions. AS the last hours Of the ses-
sion draw nigh the noisy, rough-and-
element of the House begins to assert itself,
and members addressing the House and fire.
guently interrupted by cries of "louder,"
Question" "orders Of the day" and other
rude demonstrations that detract very much
from the dignity of legislative proceed
ings.
On Thursday evening special session was
held for the consideration of bills on first
reading. About l20 were passed in about
two hours. After these were disposed Of a
motion was made to take up and consider q
bill ON second reading entitled "An Act To
prohibit sheriff's in counties co-extensive in
boundaries with cities Of the lst class from
appointing any deputies to be present at any
election polls" As this bill only affects the
powers Of the democratic sheriff of Phila
the democratic side of the House immedi-
ately arose in noisy protest and declared,
that the motion was out of order. The
, motion was put, however, by the
: speaker and carried by vote of IS yeas to
t 81 nays, whereupon the democrats claimed
. That it required two-thirds vote to bring
up the bill. The speaker decided that it re-
, quired only amajori.y and amid much noise
' and confusion the democrats appealed from
o the speakers decision, and finally BY per
. sistent filibustering succeeded in consuming
:, the time of the House until the hour of ad
i journment had arrived and defeating for the
!, present the consideration of the bill. A
, bill fixing the legal rate of interest at six
4 per cent and prohibiting the takiug OF usury
j, passed second reading a lew days ago. There
: is much interest exhibited throughout the
State in regard to this bill and the fight owe,
!, it was quite protracted all amendments in
I cressing the legal rates Of interest were voted
!. down.
:, The bill to reimburse certain counties fo
q extra expenses in bringing to justice mem
bers Of the secret order known as Molli,
Maguires passed finally in the House.
b.