Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-06-05
End Of the Legislature.

End Of the Legislature.
The Pennsylvania Legislature of 1891,
adjourned last Thursday noon, and those
who think themselves competent are now
udging of it and its works.
It contained some excellent men, and
surely improved its general reputation
during the last week Of its existence.
Its last sitting was remarkable one.
1t began at 10 o'clock of Wednesday morn
ing, and by o'clock that evening the
Senate had cleared its calendar, but was
compelled to keep in session, to act on
business as it came from the House, and
during the night took recesses of an hour
at time. At dawn. half the members
were asleep in their chairs, and the en-
ployees and correspondents were wander
ing around '1ike lost souls"-as one nereporter
put it.
In the House, however, they had it live
ly, all night.
At midnight, there were yet eighty bills
on the calendar to be disposed of, and all
night long the monotonous calling of the
roll continued. Reading Clerk Rex had
memorized the list of members, and would
stand motionless, and call the roll, hour
after hour, with his eyes shut. Speaker
| Thompson's voice gave out and Messrs
| Brooks Simmer and Baker took turns at
presiding. Members went asleep in their
| seats and the jokers exploded ire-crackers
| under them, and one member brought IN
| two big owls and let them loose in the
room. The Speaker had ordered all the
| files and calendars removed from the desks,
so the members had nothing to throw at
each other Lunch was served in one OF
the committee rooms:
.. All the apportionment bills were passed
with the exception of the Senatorial, upon
which the House and Senate Conference
Committee could not agree.
During the early morning the bill in
creasing the number of Factory Inspectors
was defeated, which made the labor men
mad, and they defeated the Judges retire
ment bill, corporation bill, and
delinquent tar bill. Then deal was
made, whereby the Factory bill and Judges
bill, lin which the Philadelphians were
particularly interested) were called up
again and the Factory bill passed but the
Judges bill failed, which caused some more
hard feeling, and the Factory bill was Kill
ed in the Senate. The other two bills
mentioned were also reconsidered and
passed.
The Worlds Fair bill, one regarding
Assessors, and several otter bills were
passed Thursday morning, and the only
other scene of confusion was caused by
somebody questioning the count on roll
call, and at 10 o. m. the House took recess
for one hour.
| In the Senate at g. m. the debate on
the unexpected appointments made by
Gov. Pattison began. The Gov. withheld
the Commissions of Supd't Waller and In
spector Martin, who had been appointed by
Gov. Beaver and confirmed by the Senate,
and on Wednesday nominated Prof Snyder
of Indiana, to be Supd,t of Public In
struction, and Robt. watchorn to be Chief
Factory Inspector. The debste took place
in the presence Of large audience, and
the principal disputants were Senators
Ross, Goblin, Packer. and Robinson, and
the Senate refused to confirm the appoint
ments by O strict party vote 81 to 10.
Immediately after this the Ballot Reform
bill, which had been defeated in the Senate
. few days before, was reconsidered and
passed by vote of 81 to IA, some of the
Republican Senators including Senator
Showalter voting against it.
| Then the Senate refused to consider the
amendment to the Factory bill and then
political and public matters were dropped,
and Senator Goblin was elected President
Pro. Tenn, some presents were given
to the presiding officers and clerks, and the
Senate adjourned.
At IL o'clock the House reassembled,
Speaker Thompson was eulogized, and
made handsome present, the Clerks were
not forgotten and the House adjourned
without delay.
| All the bills that passed both branches
were in the Governors hands by noon that
day as the constitution requires and their
total number was stated to be 414,-ap-
proved to that date 122, recalled IL, vetoed
II, and in the Cows hands 263. Resolutions
81.
The Ballot Reform bill which was one of
the last to pass the Senate, and be sent to
the Governor, will, if he signs it or permits
it to be come q law, work revolution in
our elections, as it requires an official
ballot to be printed by the County, and
containing the names of all the candidates,
also room in each election district, to be
specially prepared for the holding of the
election, with railing and booths, no elector
| to be interfered with while marking his
ballot, etc. etc. 1t may be needed in the
large towns, but for the country districts
looks like . useless expense.
Thirty acts and amendments of acts were
| passed bv the House from midnight to 10