The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-05-22
FRIDAY MAY ~, 1891.
THE LEGISLATURE.
Special correspondence Of THE COLUMBIAN
HARRISBURG, May 10, 1891.

wen. as was pTeulCteu ny your cor
respondent the final adjournment will
take place on Thursday, May aS, at
high noon. The Senate Republican
caucus agreed to the House resolution
at an early hour on Monday evening,
and when the Senate met its action
was confirmed by strict party vote,
the Democrats voting against It be-
cause of the important legislation
which will be left unpassed, of course,
everything is on the rush now. 1t is
the old, old story. Too much time is
frittered away in the beginning of the
session, too many adjournments, and
when the flowers Of May come then
there is hurried passage Of
measures which have never been
properly matured or digested, and by
this means many laws are engrafted
upon the statute books which have
been lily conceived, and in which in
many cases can never undergo the Or
deal Of the Supreme Court. But of
all the Legislatures which have met
since the adoption of the Constitution
of 1873, the present caps the climax
for the most gabbing and least work.
There is little hope for the people Of
Pennsylvania as long as such state
of affairs continues to exist, and the
remedy will never come until the rule
of the Republican bossism is forever
squelched in this good old common
wealth.
AN ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE.
The usual serenity of the Senate
chamber was considerably disturbed
on Monday night. 1t came about in
this way. Senator Green, Democrat,
of Berks, offered resolution that the
final adjournment be postponed until
the important questions of Ballot Re-
form, Tax Revision, a Constitutional
Convention and Apportionment be
considered and disposed of. This ex.
cited the ire Of the Republican Sena.
tors, and thereupon Senator Thomp-
son, Republican, of Dauphin, made a
little speech in defence Of his Republi-
can colleagues actions. Then Sena-
tor Congressman and-expects-to-be
Chairman-of-the- Experimentation
al-League-Clubs Jack Robinson, of
Delaware, took the floor. He flung
his arms about, scowled, and endeav-
ored to be dramatic. He professed
friendship for all important legislation,
and said he would not vote for the
resolution for adjournment if he
thought it meant the death of i'm
portant measures. He said the ques-
ton of ballot reform and tax revision
could be passed within four days. He
quoted the remarks of DIR. Johnsto.,
that patriotism was the last refuge of
scoundrels," and intimated that the
Democrats were using ballot or other
reforms "as the last refuge Of political
scoundrels." This brought Senator
Green to his feet, who plainly gave
Robinson to understand that if the al
lusion was intended for him he was
prepared to meet that doughty po-
litical warrior either in or out of the
Senate chamber in any manner which
he might choose. Senator Lloyd, of
Cumberland, quiet, dignifed gentle
man, and soldier of the civil war
with splendid record, gave Robinson
to understand that such remark was
beneath the dignity of Senator or
gentleman. ard he scored him un-
mercifully. Then Robinson, craven
as he is, humbly apologies, but Lloyd
reminded him that he must be more
careful in the language he addresses
his peers hereafter. 1t looked like
'pistol and coffee for two" for a little
while, but calmer counsels prevailed,
Senator Green's resolution was de-
feated, and harmony was restored.
USELESS DISCUSSIONS.
Notwithstanding the few remaining
days of the session, the House con-
sumed over an hour on Monday night
in two useless discussions. The first
was a motion to reconsider the vote
by which the Senate bill to provide
tor publication of the digest of the
laws Of the state was indefinitely post
ooned. This gave rise to debate
participated in by Findlay Of Washing
ron, Johnson of Cameron, Whsrry of
Cumberland, Skinner of Fulton, Gil
Ian of Franklin, and Quigley of Phila-
delphia, and the reconsideration was
finally adopted.
The second was on a bill upon
which no members seemed to know
anything about. After talking upon
t for half an hour, Mr.. Wherry, of
Cumberland, asked who was its
iponsor or whether any member upon
he floor could tell anything of its
erits, and Mr.. Hayes, Republican, of
enango, said that no one reading the
lie could tell what it meant. Then,
pom motion of Mr.. Kemble, Demo
rat, Of Wayne, the further consider
ton of the measure was postponed