The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-01-19
OUR HARRISBURG LETTER.

r. HARRISBURG, January Is, 1S7I
Wehaye had exciting times at the capitol
for the last five or six days The air has
been thick with rumors and fact and fancy
have been jumbled together in the almost
inextricable confusion 1t was whispered
that resolutions were to be introduced in the
| Legislature instructing our Senators and
| Representatives in Congress to "hold the
fort" for Hayes and Wheeler, on the prin
ciple that the President of the Senate had
the power to count aud announce the result
of the electsral vote. Also that bill was
to be introduced authorizing the Governor
to place the militia of the State upon war
footing and making an appropriation of one
million of dollars for that purpose. Suisse
quent events proved that the first rumor had
some foundation in fact, but up to the pres
ent time the million dollars worth of militia
story can be traced to no authentic source
Opinions differ as to the truth of this latter
fact and others just as positively asserting
| that there is nothing in it. 1t is probable
| that the matter was broached in caucus, hut
| whether it received the approval OF the ma
jority or not is certainly not known tp out i
ders. ....
The resolutions upon the Presidential
question which passed the Senate Friday
and the House on Monday are too long to-
insert in full, but the gist of them is eysl-
tainel in the 81 section which declares that
the lists which the duly appointed electors
of the States are required to make W ot the
persons voted. .for..ls President and Vice Pris-
| ident, and the numOer of votes for each
| aud which are to be sealed and transmit
| ted to the President ofthe Senate and whch
are to be opened by him in presence Of both
Houses and counted, are the constitutional
| evidence of the votes cast for Psesident and
Vice President; aaer which follows the res
olution, That our Senators in Congress BE-
instructed and our Representatives request
ed to let their actionSon this question con-
form to the spirit of this declaration"
The Democrats were not prepared for
these resolutions when they were offered in
the Senate, and consequently there was little
| concert of action amoug them their OPP
position did not materially delay their pas
rage. BY the time 6hey came up in the House
on Monday, however, the minority were bet
| ter prepared and red-hot debate eusued in
which MIR. Schnatt, ,rly of Fayette, Mr.. Nor
Ger took a prominent part. A great many
| smart things were said on both sides. but nc
| converts were made to either and the resolu-
tions were adopted in the House as in the
Senate, by a strict party vote. Mr.. Schnat.
| terly offered set of resolutions embodying
the Democratic idea of the situation and the
best remedy therefore, but the House ad-
journed pending Il vote upon them and have
not since found it convenient to call then,
up.
The House committees were appointed on
I Thursday and the result shows that there is
no want of harmony in the republican
| ranks. The warm contest over the speaker
ship seems to havellett no bitterness behind
and Mr.. Huhn and his friends have been
we'll taken care of by Mr.. Myer.
| A bill for the removal of the State Capi
tai to Philadelphia has been introduced but
appears to have little strength in the House
outside of the 3S members who represent the
Centennial city in that body. Tho Alleghe-
ny members who generally back up the
philadelphia delegation when the annual
question of removal comes up, are dead
against it this year. Country members art
| against it on the score of economy, and it Is
safe to assert that it is already dead
beyond hope of revival. Two liquor hills
have been ntrodnced--one making lower
grade of license for which the fee is fixed at
$25. and one prohibiting the sale of any al
coholic liquors excepting malt liquoss, do
nestle wines and cider Neither are likely
to pass. There is much agitation in regard
to lOoal bill and it is expected that one
will be introduced within the next ten days
| The usual buncombe resolutions to reduce
the number and cut down the salaries of al
State officials have been introduced anc
sent to their usual resting place--the com
mittee on Retrenchment Reform.
Much of the hard wor. of session i.
done in the committee rooms All the com
mittees have been hard at work and larg
number of bills-some very important one
will be reported in the course of fey
days. b.
| What does President Grant mean Sy thes