The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-04-05
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Legislative Correspondence.
HARRISBURG, April 3, 1877

HARRISBURG, April 8, 1873.
The absence of the Senate in ten days
vacation gives an opportunity to the House
of putting itself in proper shape to supply
the Senate with work upon its return-that
is, IL the House takes advantage of the OPP
portunity, which 1t seems very little inclined
to do. 1t was with the utmost diff Guilty
that the Speaker, the clerks and the Ser
geant-at-Arms last night succeeded in secur-
ing temporary quorum to do business, and
it was only for quarter of an hour that the
requisite l0i members remained in the
House liz full force to take part in the unin-
teresting and, in the present condition of
work, entirely useless task of reading bills
the first time.
Before leaving on Thursday the Senate
cut and slashed at its calendars in reckless
sort of manner, disposing of large num-
Der of bills, and leaving its files compare
lively clear for the reception of House work.
The House also before leaving on Thursday
afternoon grew very much excited over the
consideration of local bills, dsposing of a
large number.
OF Revenue and Pension bills the follow
ing passed second reading Providing for
the collection of borough taxes, and county
and township rates and levies.
Granting State pensions to surviving SOL
diers of the Mexican war.
Amending and consolidating the laws for
the assessment of county and municipal
taxes.
In the House last night some twenty odd
bills were read the first time, and the bill
authorizing common carriers and commission
merchants to sell unclaimed and perishable
property was passed on second reading, with
an amendment requiring all corporations
benefited by this act to accept the provis-
ions of the Constitution.
There having been considerable newspa-
per comment on the manner in which the
present Legislature has been doing business,
Mr.. Long, of Allegheny, made statemen
of the business which has been done by the
Legislature, showing that GIL bills have
been real in place in the House, 159 Senate
bills have been presented in the House,
making total of S33. OF these, 566 House
bills and l34 Senate bills have been favora-
bly, reported from committees, n bills have
been passed finally, II negatived by the
House, 104 negatived in committees, 26 are
on first reading, 435 passed first reading, and
Al passed second reading.
All is quiet along the line of investiga'
ton. 1t is not known when the Union Line
tax investigating committee will meet again
and Sergeant Gaines committee seems to bt
sleeping The Pittsburg Riot commission
is the only one heard from at present
They are in Scranton unearthing startling
facts replete with terrible stories Of MOllit
Maguires and other deadly secret organiza
tions. The rooms where the committed
, meets are crowded with spectators and tn,
deepest interest is evinced in their proceed
ings.
The Board of Pardons failed to hold
meeting yesterday, but it is announced tina
they will hold a meeting next Tuesday t
consider the cases of Jack Kehoe and Den
mis- Donnelly, Schuylkill county Mollie Ma
guires, sentenced to be hanged on the 16tl
: OF April. ...
Auditor General elect William p. Schell
who assumes the duties of his position o.
: the 7th of May next, has announced hi
corps of clerks, &c. Their names and posi-
! tions as at present determined upon are a
follows:
Chief clerk, Edward Herrick, Bradfor
county.
D Corporation clerk, Edward F. Kerr, Bed
| ford county.
Z County clerk, Benz. NJ. Mead, Frankli
, county.
t Warrant clerk. John McMurray, Jeferso
3 county.
/, Clerk, VIM. l.. SAMSON, Indiana county.
: Clerk, A. J. Sanderson, Lancaster county
. Clerk, Walter Dieffsnbach, Clinton coun
, ty.
: Clerk, F. G. Churchhill, Tioga county.
. Clerk, +. l.. Everhart, Huntingdon coun
ty.
. Clerk, NJ. S. Shortwell, Harrisburg.
5 Clerk, Ii. L. Acker, Montgomery county
Messenger, c. Ben johnson, Luzern
! county.
8 Watchman, Thomas Tidman, Erie cour
> ty.
OF the above mentioned clerks John Nc
Murray, B. M. Mead, w. L. SAMSON, A. ]
, Sanderson and Walter Diefenbach hav
been reappointed from the present force j
D the Office.
d b.