Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-16
CRUMBS FROM THE CORRIDOR.
Legislators Slowly Getting Down to Busi-
ness-senntpr Rutan in Reminiscent
Mood-The Elder Cameron Hearty-Gos-
sin Going on the Hill,

Le9lefatOrs SLOWLY Uettine Do"h ~ Dusi.
ness-senatpr Rutan in a Reminiscent
Mood-The Elder Cameron Hearty-Gos-
sip Going on the Hill.
tFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
HARRISBURG, January 1.-THE work of
legislation has not yet begun to keep the men,
bers of the Legislature too busily employed.
The mill has begun to grind, though, and ere
long there will be plenty to do. Now bills are
being read in place and ground through the
mill of the transcribing clerk to the various
committees. A little later date will be fixed
after which no bills will be read in place, and
then the work will commence on the material
in hand. Opinions differ as to the length Of
time that will be required to dispose OF the
business that may accumulate, and the ma
jority of the older members look for a long
session, though all cannot see the necessity for
it, and many of the new members VINO have
business at home think that If those in charge
had a mind to work diligently the Legislature
might 60 home by the first of May, at least.
There is little before the House now to cause
much excitement, but the experienced MEM
bers say the unexpected is always happening.
50
SENATOR RUTAN sincerely regrets his con-
finement to his apartments and chafes under
the restraint. Although continually advising
with members who call on him, he longs to
actively participate in the work of legislation.
His several outings have not been with the
consent of his physician. While in a reflective
mood, induced by the presence OF the Pennsyl-
vania Republican electors, the Senator recalled
the first election of Grant and his adventures
at Washington, when, as the messenger OF the
Pennsylvania Electoral College, he wended his
way to Washington with the Official declara-
ton of the States electoral vote. He was the
first messenger to arrive, and had a hard time
finding where to deliver the returns. Ben
Wade was the presiding officer of the Senate,
and when Mr.. Rutan called on him in the even
ing he found him surrounded by bevy of
ladies and utterly at a loss as to the proper
course to pursue So embarrassed was he con-
cerning his official obligation that at last he
blurted out to the Keystone messenger: Keep
'em, my boy, until morning. They're just as
safe with you as with me, and We'll see what to
do with them then"
Ex-SPEAKER GRAHAM, referring to his
visit to ex-senator Cameron on Sunday, said
that the veteran was looking much better on
that occasion than when he visited him some
months ago. Like good wine, the aged chief of
the Clan Lochiel improves with the passing of
the years. His memory of bygone days mellows
and his "reminiscences of the stirring events
during the times he was helping to make his
tory seem light by the bright glow of an un-
clouded sunset. The political scepter may have
departed from his house, but it was not lost by
him.
50
SENATOR PACKER, of Tioga, says the legis-
lation his people are at present most inter
ested in is the repeal of the fence law, which
had Its origin in colonial days. This law COM
pels the horny handed granger to maintain a
strong fence, the exact proportions OF which
are specified, to keep the cattle, hogs and
horses of his neighbor from his fields. The
Legislature passed law giving counties the
right to repeal this law for themselves by pop
lar vote A number of counties did so, but the
Supreme Court, on case from Venango, de-
cided the law unconstitutional. The court
held the law to be indirect special legislation
and ruled that the Legislature could not do in
directly what 1t might not do directly. In
Tioga and elsewhere farmers had in many
cases leveled their fences, and now are COM
PEELED to re-erect them for self protection.
Packer has introduced one bill in the Senate,
and Representative Orr of Venango, has in
troduced another in the House for repeal of
the law, and people may be compelled to re-
strain the wanderings of their own live stock
after all.
BILL for miners hospital near Connells-
vile, and another for mining school, will
soon be introduced from Fayette county.
~
REPRESENTATIVE WHERRY, of Cumber.
land, who knows considerable concerning the
framing of the Brooks high license law, isn't in
favor of Mr.. Brooks recently proposed amend
ment. Mr.. Wherry thinks, though, that there
are three points in which the bill might be
much improved. In the first place, he thinks
the law should be changed to give the estate of
a deceased person who held license rebate
proportioned to the unexpired term of the Ii
cense. He doesn't think the present rule,
which makes the estate lose the money paid
for the license, good one, and he
Is strongly opposed to any attempt
to make such license a salable asset.
He also thinks it unjust to restrict bon dsmen
TO residents of the ward or borough in which
the lcensee resides. He believes any qualified
person within the jurisdiction of the licensing
court should be made acceptable. As to the
Sunday clause. which prevents private citizen
treating a friend, he considers it should Ger
tainly be repealed. AS to the effect the pro-
posed municipal bill will have on the price of
licenses, he believes SO many of the smaller
cities will return to the condition of boroughs
that it will not be necessary to revise the scale.
Mr.. Wherry was the Democratic caucus nomi-
nee for Speaker of the House, and stands high
in the estimation of his Republican colleagues.