Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-04-10
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The people are beginning to inquire
When will. the Legislature adjourn
The Harrisburg Patriot, in abiding to
the question recently, says;
"In the present condition of legisla-
ton no attempt is likely TO be made TO
fix a day for final adjournment of the
General Assembly. II half the bills on
the calendar Of the House ARE TO be
considered ali adjournment will hardly
take place before the middle OF May.
None Of the special appropriation bills
for charities and other objects have yet
reached third reading in the House.
II they should pass that body they
will be subjected TO considerable dis
cusslon in the Senate. The chief cause
of the obstruction TO the business ofihc
session has been the abandonment OF
the old calendar. Had the calendar
been retained in accordance with the
judgment OF a large majority Of the
House the work Of legislation could
have progressed without interruption
from tho very first day of the session.
BY the change II months time was
thrown away, Tor ii vas that long be.
fore any bills were reported from com
mittees for the consideration Of the
House. The legislation in which the
people ofthe Commonwealth are really
CONCERNED was postponed by this
manDuvre for the Bank Commissioner
bill, the Recorder bill, and other per-
sonal and partisan jobs. When these
bills have passed, those who are inter.
csted in them will be ready for on ad-
journment without troubling them
selves about the real business Of the
session.
"What was predicted on this subject
by the opponents OF an abandonment
OF tho calendar has already been real.
lied. The schemes for the promotion
Of personal ends have been advanced
while bills that are necessary to relieve
the people in various portions Of the
State from irksome and oppressive local
laws have been pushed TO the bottom
Of the calendar. That this was the
object Of throwing away the calendar
OF the first session is betrayed by the
eagerness with which the Bank Com
missioner bill, the Recorder bill, and
the rest of the jobs we're urged in adj
vance of almost all other legislation.
Had the calendar been permitted to
stand, these bills would have taken
their turn and their promoters would
have been compelled to wait until more
important Legislation could be disposed
of. On the other hand, those members
who would be naturally in favor of an
early adjournment will insist that the
session be prolonged until the measures
in which their constituents are inter.
ested can be reached on the calendar.
They are thus forced into q false posi-.
ton and made 10 bear the reproach Of
protracting the session when the mis-
chief was done IN throwing away the
old calendar Of bills in spite Of their
protests. Thus the position Of mem
bers is completely changed, Those
who urged that the work Of legislation
should 20 on without interruption or
delay as 1t was loft at the close OF the
session Of 1877 will now be compelled
to ask that the present session DO con-
tinuod until the measurcs of~importance
to their constituents can bc reached.
Those members who voted to throw
away the old calendar, partly in order
to promote the jobs that were Matched
in tho vacation and partly to obstruct
the public business, can regard the
question of adjournment with compare
tive indifference. They have accom-.
plished their object by compelling those
who would favor an early adjournment
to demand that the session be con-
tinued in order that the most impor-
tant legislation can be considered. In
the confusion of aims and motives and
in the accumulation of business the
prospect Is that the session will epro-
tracted a month beyond the usual time
OF adjournment. 1t is well that the
public should understand where hes
the real cause Of the delays and Oh.
structions in the work Of legislation"