Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-01-04
The Pennsylvania Legislature.

at the State Capitol at II o'clock on
Tuesday last and was organized for
business without much delay, and mp.
pointed the usual committees to wait
upon the Governor aud inform him
they were ready to receive any COM
muniration he had to make.
In the Senate, Mr.. Reyburn, of
Philadelphia, the Cameron Machine
candidate, was elected on the second
ballot. President pro tenn, over Mr..
Hall, of Elk, the Democratic candi-
date. by vote of 26 to 20; Thomas
X. Cochran was re elected chief clerk /;
Smiley, OF Venango, Journal clerk and
George Pearson, of Mercer, reading
clerk The election of the other oi.
fcers aud employees was on motion of
Mr.. Lee, post poned for the present
with the view of wedding out supernu.
merares, when that distinguished re-
former !? } and purely sympalhizing
patriot, Senator Tom Cooper, present
ed resolution providing for final
adjournment of the Legislature on
the 22d of March.
In the House the election of officers
resulted in the choice of the following
gentlemen; For Speaker, the Hon.
John +. Faunce. of Philadelphia,
whoon taking the chair briefly returned
his thanks for the honor conferred lie
promised to discharge the duties of
the position fairly and impartially.
The party now in control of the House
was sent here to reform abuses, and 50
far "a it is within their power, the
evils complained of must be remedied.
Public officers must be held to a strict
accountability; useless offices abolish.
ed officers to be paid 5v salary aud
the fees to 90 into the public treasury.
\ fair apportionment Is demanded in
the interest of the whole people. An
important measure which would claim
earnest attention was the readjustment
Of the revenue, 50 that the burdens of
taxation may he lightened and fall
equally upon all classes. To this and
kindred measures he invited the care.
ful attention Of all the members. 50
that an early adjournment coald be
brought about. In conclusion he hop.
ed the members would so conduct
themselves that the encnnium of well
done, good and faithful servants"
would bc bestowed on them
Hon. p. GRAY Meek, editor Of the
Democratic Watchman. of this place,
was then elected chief clerk and Mai
EIbridge McConkey, of Harrisburg,
resident clerk, and we cannot allow
the opportunity to pass to congratulate
the Democracy OF Pennsylvania for
the excellence Of the selection of
speaker and clerks thus far, in the ef
fciency and ability it brings to the
public service. They are all high.
toned, courteous gentlemen deserving
the mark of confidence bestowed IN
on them by the members of the Legi..
lature. The other officers and employ.
es have not yet been chosen, aud We
presume will not he, until the list is
brought down to the requirements of
the law and the absolute necessities of
the House Under the reform econ
omical demand of the people of Penn.
sylvania, sinecures aud snpernumerar.
les and extravaganza can no longer be
received with commendation, aud
those members who fail to come up 70
this standard will also fail to compre.
bend his duty and violate the pledges
of the party be is expected to repre-
sent in the struggle for honest govern.
ment.