The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-05-21
Harrisburg Letter.
HARRISBURG, May 16, 1879.

ED. REPUBLtCAN:- -
In the House tn,
past week the main subject of discuss
ion has been the Revenue Bill. In
corporated in it is a proposed tax oil
oil for State purposes, which, as nigh
be expected, is strongly opposed by
Representatives of the Oil Regions
More bitterly since the defeat of th'
Anti-discrimination Bill. Ex-Gov
Hartranft in his message stated further
taxation was unnecessary. Auditor
General Schell corroborated the same
Col. Davis, Chairman of the Ways anG
Means Committee, Speaker Long and
others asserted on the floor of the
House that tax OH oil would be un.
necessary, even if the State should
assume $3,000.000 or $4,000,000 oi
Riot losses. 1t was rather difficult for
these gentlemen to explain the neces-
ity since the measure was defeated.
Some have been so uncharitable as to
suggest Chat the necessity arose from
the desire to punish the oil delegation
for opposing the Riot Bill. The first
vote on cents per bbl., State tax, re-
suited 50 yeas, 104 nays. Then the
coal men asked and received reduc-
tion from cents to 1 cent per ton
where mined by corporation, (individ-
ual, or miners in copartnership pay
no tax and tax of cents per bbl.,
was placed on oil, and afterward re-
considered, when the hour of adjourn
ment arrived. This morning the tax
on oil was defeated by vote SO yeaA
and 103 nays. 1t is pretty certain the
House will not submit to the taxation
fany industry by way ofpunishment.
The Investigating Committee on the
Riot Bill has had many witnesses
before it. Several members testified
to having been promised various sums
from $500 to $1,000 to support the
Bill. In fact, it has been pretty well
developed that $500 was the sum of
arguments considered worth Offering
members at first; then $500, and
finally 81 1000, as the prospects of the
success of the Bill diminished. 1t has
not so far been shown that any mem
Der yielded to such arguments. When
we reflect that for weeks the vote was
SO close that change of three or four
votes would change the result it argues
well for the integrity of the present
Legislature of Pennsylvania. The
newspaper men were before the com.
mittee. Only one, The editor of the
Phil'a Sunday Times, swore to being
offered any money, and he $500 by
Kemble, to withdraw his opposition.
The committee meet again Tuesday
evening.
Mr.. Wheeler of your county called
mp "Bill to prevent firing wild
lands" OF rather more stringent law
on the subject, which passed second
reading Wednesday afternoon. The
present fires now destroying so much
Of our valuable forests, argued strongly
IN its favor.
Some one who has taken pains to
canvass, states the different religious
denominations are represented as fol-
lows in the present House; Methodist
q, Presbyterian 33, Baptist s, Luth
eran IL, German Reformed IA, Roman
Catholic II, Congregational 2, Quaker
4, United Brethren 2, Episcopal 7
Christ Church l, Morarian 1. An il
lustration of the freedom enjoyed il
this country to worship God according
to the dictates of ones own conscience
When final adjournment will tax,
place is not decided, but probably no
until the full 100 days have expired
VERTIAs.
o.