The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-04-15

now look SO very, very funny, does it
And now, that the light has beer
thrown on this little affair, and the
Republican laugh echoes wei the bills
Of Forest county, let some one gently
draw the curtain and close the shut,
tiers lest the noise disturb the patient
There has been no final legislation
this week of much interest to Forest
county, but a great deal Of work ha;
been done in both Senate and House.
Next week three sessions a day will be
held and so continue until the session
is ended. This morning a large mum.
Der Of appropriation bills we're got
through the committee and will give
hard work to members from this on.
The apportionment bills are not yet
out of committee, that is the Ropubli.
can bills, which of course ATE the only
ones that will be passed. However
Judicially your member has assurances
that Forest will be left where it is.
The Legislative bills will also pass /;
the Senatorial and Congressional will
cause much anguish of heart aud more
political figuring. An effGrt will be
made to put them through, though the
feeling is that the Republican bills
will get a veto. The ballot reform bill
will probably pass and ought to pass
though there is some opposition being
worked up against it. The Granger
tax bill is not out of committee. A
brief history Of that bill is a necessity.
The tax commission was composed of
nine members. Five made a majority
report, four a minority report. Elk.
perts say the minority report was the
best, however the Republican party
was pledged on tax revision and the
Changers adopted the majority report
and it so came to the House. A large
number of copies of the bills we're
sent out as soon as printed, but few
objections either by newspapers, letters
or remOnstrances appeared. But few
opponents of the bill appeared before
the Ways and Means committee while
many advocates appeared in its favor.
The members, and especially the coun.
try members, were deluged with letters
and petitions praying for and instruct.
ing them to do all in their power to
pass the bill. The rain of letters and
petitions were simply a holy terror,
the demand was imperative, the in.
structioDs definite. Many of the
members knew that while the principle
aimed at in the bill was good, yet its
construction, its requirements and its
burdens were something fearful to con.
template. What was to be done?
Only one of two things: obey iustruc.
tions or take the bit in their teeth and
defeat it. To do the latter with the
feeble opposition and in the face of
positive instructions, was political sui.
eide; for mark you, it's harder to sat.
isfy people that you did right in dis.
regarding Instructions than It is to
satisfy them by following instructions
and letting them see it afterwards. So
the House, knowing hat there was
ample time for the people to once more
express themselves before it passed the
Senate, put it through the House. No
sooner was this done, than the news.
of the State, that up to that
time had taken but little notice, and
had but little advice to give, began to
slam" it to the House. 1t was a ter.
rible bill, u fearful thing, a damna5le
etc etc. Constituents wrote in
and came down to tie Capital
in wrath. "Why in Joppy did you
vote for such a bill as that" was the
question, and the calm answer was and
lie: "Your name is on the petition; 7
here not as Tom Jones, but your
representative, l obeyed your instruc.
tions and those of nay constituents,
you are now sorry for it, end 80 am l."
That's the history, bot we all know
that it will be amended in the Senate,
sent back to the House and wo will
get at it again, and now that the peo.
pie understand what they did cot be.
fore Senators will have e good deal
more latitude than the House had.
IL E..A...I ALL