The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-03-12
Harrisburg Letter.
HARRIsBURe, March s, 1879.

Olnce my last letter
your correspondent has been to the
great centre of our Union, Washing
ton, to witness the closing scenes ofthe
45th Congress. 1t was difficult to
realize, as we hastened along the
broad avenue leading to the Capitol,
that within The walls of that vast,
solemn, silent temple, shining in the
starlight, "poem carved in marble
an anthem sung in stone," men were
wrangling and shouting in widest ex.
element, as rentless time steadily
shortened their hours for effectual
effort. Some of the speeches on Mon
day night were grand bursts of elo-
quence; Blaine, Thurman, Whyte of
Maryland, Conkling, Hoar, Mathews
and others all engaged in the discuss
ion of the Appropriation Bills, with
the political riders Of the repeal
of the election laws which the Demo-
cratic House had attached, gave
debate worth listening to. There was
no thought Of adjourning, and visitors
in the galleries watched and listened
until morning beams paled the gas.
lights. The Democrats were determ-
ined not to vote the necessary appro-
priations to keep the wheels of Gov.
ernment in motion unless these election
laws were repealed. When all else
failed, Garfield in the House, for the
Republicans, offered to vote the same
appropriations as in the last year, for a
period of not over six months, which
would carry it over until the regular
session in December. But no; they
were firm as adamant,-ca=ry this
point they would or have an extra
session, and at their door unquestion,
ally lies this added expense. And yet
this patty is for retrenchment and
reform. "Oh consistency, thou art a
jewell" Returning to the central
subject of our letter, Harrisburg, let
us see what are the most important
proceedings of the Legislature for the
past week. The sessions in the House
on Monday evenings are not usually
of much value as only bills on first
reading are considered. This gave
opportunity for "Buncombe" speeches
on the resolution of Walter of Dele
ware Co., on the Chinese question. AS
the President had already vetoed the
bill the speeches were unqualifedly
"Buncombs." One member stated
that We could not celebrate our ma
tons birthday properly without the
Chinese. How could Young America
eVince the required spirit ofpatriotism
on that day without FIRE. crackers and
and who could manufacture those but
the "heathen chinee" The resolution
was very properly indefinitely post
Poned. The Bill cutting down all
State salaries, making that of the
Governor 81 800, and all average re-.
duction of about % per cent on others,
passed Sd reading Tuesday and was
sent to the Senate. Bills to prevent
burning wild lands, from which every
county having wild lands, has suffered
greatly, and also special act placing
bounties on foxes, owls, and hawks in
Forest Co., have been favorably re.
ported by committees. Were they not
so far down on the calendar they
would have fair prospect of passage.
Bill No 103, (Riot Claims) is OK.
pected to come up on second reading
next week. It's friends feel quite conf.
dent of its passage. But while many
of the members would be ready to
assist Alleghaney Co., in paying an
adjudicated definite amount, they
would hesitate from voting the State
to assume an uncertain debt of$4 ,000,,
900, for which there are no vouchers
10 be settled and paid By three mer
yet to be appointed, and the larger
part of it to go to the Pennsylvania
r. f. Co. It will no doubt be warmly
liscus ed. RenresenLa.lyes rom Lht