The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-30
At the State Capitol.
A COLUMBIA COUNTY BOHEMIAN ON HIS
TRAVELS TAKEN IN OUR
HALLS OF LEG
ISLATION..

DEAR OLD COLUMBIAN.
Private business and a strong curios-
ity to see the Capitol of the State in
duced your correspondent to make
slight detonr on his way home, in or
der to get fair conception of how the
distinguished statesmen who are sent
from various districts in the State con
duct the affairs of the Common
wealth.
Arriving in Harrisburg in the even
ing and being duly registered AZ the
U. $. Hotel near the depot-a house
which for Accommodations in the shape
of good rooms, an excellent table and
reasonable charges, can fairly compete
with any of its class in the state--we
thought that the best thing to do was
10 take in the night session being held
in the lower house, so in spite of the
bitter weather and frosty surround
ings we wended our way to the Hill.
To attempt description of the Cap
itol would be superfluous in this letter,
although we may say for the edifica-
lion Of such of your readers who have
never seen it that as to architectural
design both in interior and exterior, it
compares favorably with any thing in
the United States
We arrived late, but just in time to
meet our old friend Hon. w. Bryson,
who smole smile when he saw us.
William was the essence of courtesy
and good will and would have shown
us the legislative elephant in all its as
poets had we possessed sufficient time
to appreciate it but as it was late we
adjourned.
The next morning, however, we
took in the scene by day and were am
ply repaid for our visit The lower
house certainly is composed of very
fair aggregation of men representing the
varied interests of the state, and We
must in common fairness say that the
Hons. Bryson and Fritz are as respecta-
BILE and dignifed in their hearing as
any members of the body, The latter
gentleman courteously took your cor
respondent through the State Library
which is very fine, and does credit TO
the state in its completeness of equip
ment in good solid literature.
We were struck with the absence of
fictitious literature especially as we
saw lying round loose, a few novels
near the desk, and on enquiring of the
librarian we learned that quite a num-
Der of years ago ar act was passed
prohibiting fictitious literature in the
State Library, our forefathers having
more dread in those days of the demor-
alization of their representatives than
have the parents of children IN modern
times, who allow their offspring to
read indscriminately the dime novel
trash of our day.
We took in the senate, and as a
good democrat we were simply DISCUS
ted TO hear in a state representation of
the intelligence of the commonwealth,
Republican idiocy so intollerantly dis
played as was manifested by speakers
who, in discussing an appointment of a
Notary Public took the position that
although the appointee was good re-
liable citizen, a practicing attorney,
and an honest gentleman, that because
during the late rebellion he had taken
up arms for his native state, that there
fore he should not be permitted to hold
any office IN the gift of the state
We wonder when the war will be
over If such zealots are to be allowed
TO keep on mouthlng about issues
which have been burned long ago.
There were very many points obser-
we'd which would interest your readers