The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-28
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Harrisburg, Jan. 25th, 1881.


Unatered still, and seemingly unaltefable |
il the situation of the Senatorial fight, and |
what an anomalous thing it is to see Penn |
sylvana Legislature thus embarrassed and
that too when the bosses have entire control
of the machinery. Time was, and it is on
ly a year or 50 agone, when the boys
knew no law but the dictates of King Cau-
Gus, and FASTENED to do his bidding ere
the crack of the party whip had died away
in the distance. Theirs not to question
why; theirs but to do or die"--politically
The present Legislative dead lock, however,
seems to have passed entirely beyond the
control of the bosses. The balloting during
the past week has been monotonous Ia the
extreme, the same old thing over and over
again until outsiders have become wearied
OF the performance. and the participants in
the same thoroughly disgusted. Last night
an effort was made by the boilers, ostensi-
bly, to break the dead lock. A caucus was
held and seven c..didstes were agreed
upon BY a two-thirds vote, whose names
we're presented to the regulars with the view
of having some one of them accepted in lieu
o. Oliver. These were First Grow, as a
matter OF course. next Bayne and Shiras,
of Pittsburg Wharton (Jos.l and Mac
Veagh, of Philadelpha; Stewart, of Frank
lin county and Wolf, of Union. Nowa
glance at these names at once convinced the
"regulars" and outsiders at the same time,
Al. Al. a.; h. III
proposition because none of the names men
toned could be placed in the category of
what are known here as compromise men"
for there is not one of them who has not
been, or is not now openly identified with
the opposition to Cameron. 1t was not
therefore surprising that the ballot to-day
was not in any particular affected by the
last nights proposition of the bolters 1t
was recorded as follows: Oliver, 80; Grow,
SO; Wallace, 50; MacVeagh 8; Hewitt, 4;
Agnew,l: Suowden,l; Baird, l. (Greenback
vote) Curtin l, and Joseph Allison, a new
candidate l. The only changes from the
vote of yesterday which created any
sensation we're four votes from Oliver
to Grow, but as no Significance was at
tached to this change, it was not COM
mented upon much afterwards. A little
breeze was created after the first ballot, by
an attempt on part of the Grow men, tc
force another ballot, which showed that they
were in better temper than the opposition
but the motion lacking the requisite number
of votes, was lost, and the movers of it were
laA IN unh tt tn adj
without accomplishing anything, except
ing that those who opposed a second ballo
were compelled to go upon the record.
little amusement was created by the Green
back party of the House Welsh of Schuyl
kilD Just before the adjournment. That no
table statesman succeeded in getting in
resolution, which after being laughed at
was ruled out of order by Speaker Stone
Mr.. Welsh, unlike the other political partie
represented upon the floor, seemed anxious
to make reform record for his party. Hi
resolution provided that the joint conven
tiou should not be permitted to leave tn
hall until they had chosen an United State
Senator. The Sergeant-st-Arms of tn
House being called upon to close the door
and windows to prevent members from get
ting aw ay.
Almost on par With this resolution bu
proceeding from rather more unexpecte
source was that offered by Senator Nc
knight from the Jefferson district. II pro
vded that on and after Wednesday that tn
Joint covention should cast not less than 8
100 hotl lata
surdi.y Of this proposition will be mantle
when the fact is stated that it requires flu
half hour to call the roll of Senators an
Members and to record the ballot.
Although there is much talk of the Demo
crafts finally assisting in the election {
Oliver, from conversation with the Demo
cratic members, / cannot find anything tbs
will substantiate the rumsr. On th
contrary, find that little faith is placed /
the promises Of the regulars in regard to th
apportionment and any talk of coneedin
anything to the Democrats in that parli,
ular meets with strenuous opposition from
great many Oliver Republicans who al
utterly averse TO any alliance with the Dem
ocrats. The idea prevails to some extent tt
day that there will positively be a break II
in the lines tomorrow, Such an event ma
trsnspire, but | cannot find any ground
upon which to base a proposition of tn
kind.
During the week one step at least has bee
taken in the direction of actual bushes,
The standing committees of both Senat
and House have been appointed. With tn
exception Of the apportionment committee.
the assignments have given as much sstis
faction as usual. The sppOrtionment CON
mittees are regarded unfavorsbly by sons
because they are punched" many section
not being represented at all by Republican,
1t is claimed by the NAL contents that thi
was done to facilitate any proposed arrange
msnt with the Democratic.
Some measures have already been intro
dnced. As these come up for consideration
Twill acquaint your readers with the con
tents OF those which are OF interest.
A.