Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-29
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. J

rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
HARRIsBURG, April 2s.-The business
of the Legislature is much more advanced
than at the same time last session, thanks to
the manner in which business has been ex-
pedited during the past week. The Senate,
since the return of the Appropriations Com
mittee from its tour of inspection, has spent
comparatively little of its time in debate,
and the gentlemen who are won't to practice
their elOquence on the defenseless members
of the House have given themselves over to
oratory to a much less degree than usual.
On Friday night the Senate cleaned its
calendar, and the House calendars are being
rapidly cleaned up. So busily is the work
progressing that all Senate bills will be
acted on, as well as the House third reading
calendar and possibly its second reading
calendar, which was temporarily suspended
until its own more advanced calendar and
the Senate bills could be disposed Of
The appropriation bills, including the
general appropriation bill, are all in the
Senate's hands, and that body is pushing
them rapidly. On Wednesday and Thurs
day nights the Senate Appropriations Com
room and sent them out to the Senate in
patches, where they were Immediately put
through first reading. On other matters the
Senate has been similarly expeditions.
PENDING LEGISLATION.
There is some important legislation pend
ing in addition to the general and special
appropriation bills. The general revenue
bill is now in the hands of a conference
oh g. IL,
York trip, TO eliminate a Senate amendment
which, after mature consideration, Auditor
General McCamant has decided to be OBJ
jectiOnable. Senator Hines EMPLOYERS liza
bility bill is on third reading in the House,
and is likely to pass, though there is evil
dence that it will be fought hard on final
passage. Two important items of iegisla-
Jion that are hanging fire and likely 10 be
in that condition when the Legislature ad-
journs are Mr.. Wherry's anti-discrimina-
ton bill and his sinking fund resolutions.
The granger equalization tax bill is in the
hands of the Senate Finance Committee.
The revenue commission resolution intro
duced by Senator Delemater is the out
growth of the discussion over the bill, which
Is considered crude measure but with
principles worthy of study. The granger
tax bill is considered dead now, but the
grangers think the revenue commission an
acceptable compromise.
The general street railway bill is a most
important measure, which is now in the
hands of a conference committee. It will
validate the charters Of some 20 street rail-
ways that were invalidated by the Supreme
Court decision and will permit the construc-
tion of new roads which the same decision
prevented. Many features acceptable to Mr..
G. /. Magee were carefully and painstak-
ingly kept out of this bill, and the confer
ence committee is so constituted that it is
not likely to admit them now.
THE SHIP CANAL ALL RIGHT.
The Lake Erie and Ohio ship canal reso.
luton having passed the House is now in
the Senate, and will go through that BODY.
The Legislature is merely paving the way
for Congressional action, but the intention
Of the Republican leaders is to at least solve
the railway discrimination problem for
Western Pennsylvania, and also for large
portion OF the northwest and of those DOR
tions of the solid South accessible through
the Ohio and the Father of Waters. The
proposed canal will supply the missing liak
between these sections.
The soldiers orphan question will he set
tied in some manner before the Legislature
adjourns. The settlement will not be ac-
ceptable to even all of those who have the
best interests of the children and the State
at heart, but there will at least be some
thing approaching fair compromise of diff
ferences.
The grade crossing bill, applicable to
cities of the first and second classes, will be
reconsidered next week. The PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad officials are so anxious to protect
the lives of people in these cities that they
are determined to put this bill through, even
If 1t does shut out those wicked railroads
vra 10 IN,
terms with existing railroads
The bill for the government of third class
cities, having passed the House earlv in
February, passed second reading in the
Senate on Saturday, having been reported
last week from the committee where II had
so long slumbered.
Senator Browns general road hill is nm
second reading in the House, but the whole
vexed question of road laws will be gone
over before the next session by the commits
sion appointed under the provisions of Rep
resentative Foight's resolution. The next
Legislature may, perhaps, with this aid.
bring ORDER out OF chsos on this subject.
AN IMPORTANT LABOR MEASURE.
Senator Hines bill for the protection of
women and children in factories is one of
the most important labor measures before
the Legislature. 1t has passed second read
eAS --OASO3 hAAC1S IL hdSHNdrmlV QlS- 1
cussed and amended in some particulars.
In all probability it will become a law.
The increase of the appropriation for the |
public schools by the House, on motion of |
State Chairman Andrews, was very accepta-
bic to the rural members, and reyiyes in |
Colonel Bean, of Montgomery. the hone that |
manual training may, with the increase of |
Einews of war, obtain foothold at last in |
the public schools. Full of this hope he |
will make another effort to have his manual |
training bill, with important amendments. |
passed. The increase OF the salary of Super- |
intendent of Public Instruction to S. 600 |
for which Colonel Bean has been working |
will probably not take place at the present |
session Of the Legislature.
The much amended Fow bill NAV run nm |
against snag in the House Mr.. Brooks |
will object 20 it possibly, but Senator Della |
mater and Chairman Andrews seem to favor
it, and his feelings seldom run counter to |
theirs. The amendments to this bill as |
pointed out have already been before the |
Legislature, Senator Cooper's own idea of |
limiting saloons to not more than one to
each 500 of population was merely talked of 1
before by him. 1t was never presented in a
DILL Representative Smiley's idea of per-
uniting liquor dealer to obtain his security
rom anywhere in the county is also included /
an sne new Fow-Cooper measure. Mr.. Smi-
ley Dill was negatived in the House CON-
iult.ee' out the highest Republican author
i.y ls now indorsing it. Likewise it in
4ofses Iso!' the bill presented by Representative
y ne, oI Allegheny, permitting security