Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-01-10
THE LEGISLATURE.

DOtu DTduCDts vi tue Leg lSldluIc tOoh
a recess over to this week in order to
give presiding officers an opportunity
to arrange the standing committees.
Mr.. Reyburn, who was chosen Pres
ident pro tenn, of the Senate, previous
to his election gave assurances that
he Committees of that body should
be fairly constituted as between the
two wings of the Republican members,
and as he is generally spoken of as
fair and honest man it is believed his
pledges in that respect will be carried
out.
Both Houses, so far, show a dispo-
sition to reform in the matter of public
expenditures. Each has appointed a
committee to ascertain if the number
of officers cannot be cut down. There
is no doubt that half the usual number
employed about the Legislature could
be dispensed with. This is especially
true as regards those called "pasters
and folders" When no other place
exists for the many seeking positions
they manage to get on the ''paster and
folder" list. And it is frequently as
tonishing to see the persons willing to
accept these sinecure places. Ex-
Members of the Leg gislature have been
known to go back to Harrisburg and
disgrace themselves and their former
constituents by seeking or accepting
paster and folder jobs in the basement
of the building The people have
their eyes on the present Legislature
and will note we'll whether or not the
reforms now foreshadowed will be car
red to completion or not.
The most exciting question to come
before the present session will be the ap-
portiJument bill or bills The State
is 10 be districted into new Congress
81 iInal. Selatls.al and Assembly dis
trictJ, according to the late census and
the law The Judicial districts are
also to be re-arranged. The Houses
being divided politically, this appor-
tionment work may be difficult one.
Blu; it should he done. And it can be
done by some concessions by each par
tv or House. 1t is always difficult
task, owing to the conflicting political
interests as regards the counties to
compose this or that district But, as
we say, it should be done. Our coun-
ty, we think, will be found entitled TO
three members of Assembly instead of
two While our population has in
creased that of other counties has de-
creased, and we think when our mem
bers come. to look at this matter they
will find our county entitled to an in
crease of one member in the House.
THE following from the Myer rsdale,
(Somerset county, Commercial, should
be carefully read by our people. There
are many portable saw mills in this
county, and we are disposing of our
timber in about the same proportions:
Every sawmill, whose steel teeth
are eating out the hearts of our Somer-
set forests, is not only banking on our
principal, thus destroying all hope of
annual returns, but it is impoverishing
the future sons of the county, besides
subjectng US to those climatic influences
that the wholesale destruction of forest
trees al ways beqneaths. Ten years
from now at the present rate of pro-
gress, orr hills, plains, and valleys
W i'll be bare of trees, unless a system
of replantiny be vigorously adopted
and followed out. There are thous-
ands of acres in this county untitled
for any other purpose, and the wide
awake farmer. who desires to leave his
children assured competency, has the
means at hand and the methods point
ed out to him. Our present forests are
doomed. The future ones are entirely
dependent upon our will.